The broad ax., 1903-03-14
LENTEN FISH STORY.
American Fisheries Valued At S6Os
100000 a Year.
Few Persons, Expert Anglers Inelud-
ed, Can Tell the True Names OF
the DenIHens OF Lakes and
Rivers.
[sD.cIal Walhington Lettsr.I

Especial Washington etter.l
IRON the depths of religious con-
4 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 a
necessary article Of diet until the com
ing of Easter; when we may lay aside
our religious cloaks for awhile, and
enjoy "the vain pomP and glory Of
this wicked world" 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 agog
with its 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 milliner 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 a little study Of piscl-
culture; to talk about fish, that
meager fare" of which the ballad
makes the abbot complain.
This is to be a 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 reeI-only one fish story. Jesse
Sarvis was for 30 years a well-known
newspaper man here, and he was also
an angler. One morning as Jesse was
lighting a cigar in the hotel lobby,
the proprietor Of the news stand told
him about a big catch Of fish at Cabin
Johns bridge, whereat Sarvis smiled
and said: Il don't believe it. I don't
believe any fish stories. wouldn't be
lieve a fish story if a preacher were
TO tell it."
Standing near by, also lighting q
-cigar, was a giant, and a fne-loohng
one, too. He asked Sarvis if he had
understood him Alright, when he stated
that he wouldn't believe a preacher, If
he were to tell a fish story. Sarvis
emphatically repeated his remark, and
was surprised when the big man re-
piled: Il don't blame you. I'm preach
er myself; and I've told some whOPpers
in my day"
I'm not a church-goer," said SarVis,
shut I'd like to be a member Of your
congregation. I'd believe you in the
pulpit"
You would scarcely believe it like
", without previous reflection, but it
is true, that the last census showed
a valuation Of upwards of S6O,0OO,OO0
in the fisheries Of that year; and these
figures only in part represent the
catches for private and immediate con-
sumption; the uncanned, unrefriger-
ated. unsaIted. Few realize the enOr-
nous extent Of the fish product in the
food supply Of this country.
For almost a score Of years the fed
eraI government has been arduously
laboring and patiently experimenting
in fish culture. The fish commission
has earned worldwide fame. And from
st., and its examples, nearly every ter
ritory and state has created a sim
liar commission. Canada has also es-
tablished and maintains a fish commits
sion of exceptional ability; and it now
seems very sure that in short time all
Of the North American continent win
become the scene Of extended scien-
tifc efforts toward stocking the wa
tiers, coast and inland, for the propa-