The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-24


get a net so firmly set that 1t would
stand, it would only catch nsh during
about one hour of slack water at mgh
and low tide or two hours IN twenty
four and the tide changing would WASH
the fish out of the nets, and so nshlng
there would be failure. The people OF
Dare do not engage in fishing Tor their
health and have too much business IN
their makeup" to spend their hard
earned dollars for expensive fishing ma
terial and place it where common sense
and experience teaches them the ma
terial would probably be swept away by
the first change of tide with no return
for their investment
Il am told" continued Mr.. Crisp, that
this bill, if enacted. will drive the fisher
men from the shallow water (not chan
nels connecting sound and ocean through
which the fish can pass and if so there
is no other course open to them than to
go further up the sound and into Croatan
and Roanoke Sounds, where the tides do
not trouble them, and so crowd these
passways for fish with nets as to prac-
tically stop fish from passing at all.
Every available part of the sound is now
occupied by nets in fishing seasons ex-
where passing steam and sailing vessels
would cut them to pieces. Our people
must live and as their land is not suited
to farming they must fish.
But is it not true that the number
of shad caught last season in the interior
waters and streams showed decrease
in the number of fish passing into the
sounds? was asked.
If it be true there was a decrease,
there are two explanations, was the
reply. I'm the fishing season the fish
are passing to their spawning grounds,
and while in our county are said to be
'on the run and are more difficult to
catch in nets such as used in the vicinity
OF the inlets which are gill nets, the law
already prohibiting the use of pound
nets in this territory When shad reach
the places where they deposit their
spawn or eggs, they are less active and
a more ready prey to the numerous
pound nets and big seine fisheries oper-
ating in that part of the sounds which
nets and seines not only catch the fish
but destroy the eggs or cause them to be
deposited in the deep water where the
former nets are principally located and
where the eggs will not hatch The
gill nets used by our fishermen anywhere
within five or six miles of any inlet have
large meshes that only catch grown shad,
while the pound nets and seine fisheries
operated by steam have small meshes
and destroy all that gets into them.
again, last spring the water was I'M
usually fresh on account of heavy rains
in the interior and prevailing winds, and
as the fish are seeking fresh water in
which to deposit eggs it is natural to
suppose when this fresh water is excess
sivc in the upper sounds and tTibu-
taries and brought to the low sounds by
gravitation and the winds, the fish. find
ing what they seek, do not go further in
search of it.
AZ have not seen this bill. but am
told it also prohibits setting nets within
certain distances of the inlcts, outside
or in the ocean. From observing this
body of men during today's session, do
not believe the General Assembly will
assume to control waters that arc be-
yond the boundaries OF the State"
Capt. Sydenham b. Alexander, of Char
lotte. who withdrew from the Senatorial
race on Thursday night, returned home
Yesterday. He is one of the first citizens
in North Carolina and is justly held in
the highest esteem. AS State Senator
and member of the National House of
Representatives he served his State with
ability and fidelity. His greatest service
to his State, however, has been as the
pioneer of road building. The good roads
of Mecklenburg attest his foresight and
practical judgment.
Yesterday promptly at 1 o'clock the
ladies' assembled in an adjourned session
to resume balloting to decide who is
the best looking man in the House. The
meeting was such an animated one, the
ladies became so excited in their discus
sion of the several candidates personnel
that all interest centered in them The
Senatorial contest was a small matter as
compared with this Ray, of Yancey,
had interviewed the tailor since the last
ballot, and at once gained good back
ing The following is the result of the
vote:
Ray e - - -" - -
Mcneil ............ - -. $500
Watts ........ .''.''.' 1890
Fuller ''''''
Rucker 49, '''' ''''
Settle Dockery 80 :. ''''''''
Necessary to a choice, 49, No election.
The caucus adjourned until today at II
o'clock.
Here is a suggestion for anti dog
legislation: Dogs have become so
numerous it is now impossible to raise
sheep. Col. j. M. Wynn tells us that
out of flock of los sheep he has only ten
left, and Mr.. Thad Vann says that he
had about ninety and has lost all.
A penalty severe enough to break up
the pistol toating habit should be affixed
20 the crime. A heavy license required
of dealers, and penalty of several hum
dred dollars, with Imprisonment at hard
labor, will have tendency to disarm
the cowardly criminals rowing over the
country.-Lfttleton News Reporter.
There is a good joke on Representative
Britain, of Randolph. AS is well known
he has reputation, gained two years
ago and also thus far this session, as a
second watchdog of tho Treasury. lie
never hesitates to oppose a measure that
he does not see clearly to be a good one
IF House