The Grenada sentinel., 1903-03-28
LENTEN FISH STORY,
American Fisheries Valued at S6o,-
100000 a Year.
Few Persons, Exper rt Anglers 1nc1ud-
ed, Can Tell the True Names OF
the Denixens of Lakes and
Rivers.
rSpecial Washington letter.

CROM the depths of religious con-
temptation We must plunge into
the depths of the waters of river
and sea; because the penitential sea-
son of Lent would be wholly incom-
plete without fish, which is to be
necessary article of diet until the COM
ing of Easter; when we may lay aside
our religious cloaks for awhile, and
enjoy 1.-The vain pomp and glory OF
this wicked wor,d'' again.
Although we have not the congress
on our hands at this time, the execu-
tive branch of the government is al
ways with us, and society is all agoE
with it's religious duties and the keep
ing up Of appearances for the season.
Somber gowns and more somber hats
are worn, while the gay gewgaws
which lnilliner and dressmaker are
making are kept from view. We must
keep up appearances, even with our
grocer and green grocer. Therefore,
we must have eggs and fish galore on
our order books. And this is good
time to make little study of pisci-
culture; to talk about fish, that
meager fare' of which the ballad
makes the abbot complain.
This is to be fishy tale; but all
fish have tails. We are not going to
pretend to be learned, and give marvel
Gus stories of experiences with rod
and reel-only one fish story. Jesse
Sarvis was for so years well-knoWn
newspaper man here, and he was also
an angler. One morningas Jesse was
lighting cigar in the hotel lobby,
the proprietor of the news stand told
him about a big catch of fish at Cabin
Johns bridge, whereat Sarvls smiled
and said: Il don't believe it. l don't
believe any fish stories. l wouldn't be-
lieve Il fish story if a preacher were
to tell it,
Standing near by, also lighting a
cigar, was a giant, and a fine-looking
one, too. He asked Sarvis if he had
| unde rst ood him Alright, when he stated
that he wouldn't believe a preacher, if
| he were to tell fish story. Sarvis
emphatically repeated his remark, and
was surprised when the big man re-
piled: Il don't blame you. I'm a preach.
er myself; and I've told some whoppers
| in my day.
I'm not church-goer,' said Sarvis
! ''but I'd like to be q member Of your
congregation. I'D believe you in the
pulpit
| You would scarcely believe it like
! ly, without previous reflection, but il
! is true, that the last census showed
valuation of upwards of $60,ooo,Oo(
in the fisheries of that year; and thes'
figures only in part represent tn
catches for private and immediate con
sumption; the uncanned, unre friger
! ated, unsalted. Few realize the enor
nous extent of the fish product in tn
| food supply of this country.
For almost score of years the fed
eral government has been arduousl.
laboring and patiently experimental,
in fish culture. The fish commission
has earned worldwide fame. And from
it, and it's examples, nearly every tef
ritory and state has created sim
liar commission. Canada has also es
tablished and maintains fish commits
sion of exceptional ability; and it no,
seems very sure that in short time al
of the North American continent vii
become the scene of extended scieI
tific efforts toward stocking the wa
ters, coast and inland, for the proPa