Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-22

bass at the Blue Ridge Club ten years ago
was 500 fish. But during the past two
years there has not been single entry
made of black bass caught in those waters.
The same condition prevails a. many other
points below. Many of the numerous club
houses formerly found along the stream
have been entirely abandoned. Sportsmen
in other parts of the country no longer
turn their faces towards the Potomac when
they look for the best fishing grounds The
benefit formerly accruing to the native
rivermen from the devotees of the anglers
sport has dwindled to nothing. and in some
instances this has worked a real hardship
on deserving people
In the states of Maine and New Hamp-
shire the money circulated by visiting
sportsmen is such an important considera-
ton that very stringent laws have BEEN
made protecting the haunts of fish and
game. which are still more stringently en-
forced. In New Hampshire it has been cal
culated that the increased circulation from
this source amounts to about S5.G9o. 900 of
which $3,O0OO00 is retained in the state.
Efforts for Prevention.
Locally. efforts have been made for many
years by the Game and Fish Protective AS
sociation of the District of Columbia to ac-
complish a like improvement in the cond-
lions downstream from Harper's Ferry.
The vice president of the association, DR..
Walter S. Harlan, who is recognized as
one of the most expert anglers in this sec
ton, and who knows the upper reaches of
the Potomac better, perhaps, than any
other sportsman ereabouts, has been one
of the most active IN endeavoring to save
the game-fish supply in the river from be
coming entirely depleted He represented
this association at the annual meeting of
the Maryland State Game and Fish Pro-
tective Association at Baltimore this week,
and presented extensive report OF the
causes and effects of the pollution OF the
stream, and it is hoped by anglers that his
influence will result in arousing sent1-
fhof will 11nN ha
tiles to take legal action against those re-
sponsible for the poisoning of the stream
The laws covering the case are ample, and
from time to time during years past en-
deavors have been made to have the game
warden of the state of Maryland take the
proper action, all without success, how
ever
Injurious shall be disposed of otherwise
than by dumping in the river is constd-
cred by authorities to be not In the least
unreasonable, and will entail no great ex-
penSe upon the mill operatives. This, they
argue, is proved by the fact that at the
time of the establishment of the present
mills at Harpers Ferry there was located
farther up the river pulp mill of the
same character. the owner of which. with
out being urged, provided means for the
destruction of the refuse so as not to con-
taminate the river, and afterward stated to
a member of the Blue Ridge Club that the
arrangements necessary for the accom-
plishment of this result had not cost him
over $50.
May Be Cause of Illness.
The situation is particularly serious for
the city of Washington by reason of its
water supply being tainted in a manner
that may be responsible for much illness
among its Inhabitants. The stream virtu-
ally filters through an immense area of
sawdust and shavings at Harper's Ferry
which have laid for months and years rot
ting and decomposing in a black ferment,
and IL would seem almost impossible that