Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-08-18
PROTECT LAKE CHAMPLAIN FISH
INTERESTS.

While Vermont has paid ont thousands
States and our railroads and steamboat
companies are expanding yearly many
thousands more to induce tourists 10 come
to our summer resorts the people Of the
Green Mountain State. with almost GRIM
inal indifference or negligence, are allow
~ destroy one of our most allurirg at
fractions for summer visitors. Time was
when fishing in Lake Champlain waters
was a real enjoyment, but of late and
particularly during the past two years
1t has come 90 be merely a tax on the
The result is that whereas the shores Of
Lake Champlain should be alive with
fishermen and fisherwomen rejoicing in
this wholesome and invigorating pa slime.
we now have simply complaints that tine
fish which formerly abounded largely have
disappeared as regards fishing with hook
and line.
Justice Brewer of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, who has spent a
number of summers at Thompson's Point
sounded at the banquet of the Vermont
Fish and Game League last year Wig
orous warning in relation to the destroy
ing of this attraction of Lake Champlain.
and many other lovers of the sport have
from time to time voiced their ildgna-
ton over the way in which a fcw inGi-
viduals are allowed to destroy fish by
the wholesale at the very time when the
same should be most protected,
Mr.. +. :. Watkins. who with various
other gentlemen, has established a sum
mor place on Laws island. has become
aroused over the situation and he has
inauguratcd a movement looking 70 the
adoption of measures at the coming
session of the Legislature for the proper
protection OF the fishery interests of Lake
Champlain. In this movement We believe
he will have the support and cooperation
OF a host OF citizens who have the well
fare of Vermont and tho summer at
fractions OF our State at heart.
Mr.. Watkins says that when he located
on Laws island in 1898 it was possible to
go out and take from dozen to thirty
fine pike in one or two hours according
to the conditions prevailing. whereas at
the present time some of the most expert
anglers on Lake Champlain have fYhed
for days without getting more than n
single pike. Similar complaints come
from most other points along both sides
of Lake Champlain, and apparently with
good reason.
One Of the places that finds the hshrg
good is Hog island, certain of the in
ha bitants of which are depopulating the
waters of Lake Champlan of fish by
means OF seines. 1t is stated on what
seems to be good authority that as high
as 100 barrels of fish have been shipped
from the Alburgh station in single
day during the SEEMING season, and in
per barrel it is easy to understand why
this war of determination is waEed con
tinuously through the use OF day and
night gangs of men.
The New York authorities employ three
wardens to watch after yiolators of the
fishing laws passed by the Legislature
at Albany to protect fish in Champlain
waters, whereas a few individuals on the
Vermont shore are allowed to take pike
by thousands when their taking means
the destruction of millions of eggs
One result of this deplorablo situation
OF affairs is that three-fourths of the fish
used at our summer hotels are salt fish,
whereas fresh fish should be one Of the
chief attractions of our hotels during the
summer season.
1t is to be hoped that the Vermont
Fish and Game League will bend it's ener-
giles during the coming session of the Leg
slature at Montpelier in the direction OF
measures to institute at least temporary
protection for the fish of Lake Champlain,
and that this may be done in conjunction
with the authorities OF Canada and the
State of New York. This step will pro-
mote the interests of all the people along
both sides of Lake Champlain, and indi-
rectly the interests of the entire State
of Vermont, since summer tourists who
come to Lake Champlain usually make
side trips to other sections of the State
and spend money there