Evening journal., 1905-06-26
MACKEREL WILL
Be A SCARCITY
President Roosevelt Orders
Fish Commissioner to In
vestigate the Matter
"CUP" PURSUED THE EXECUTIVE
Rv william WoIH smith.


Washington, ID. c., June 26.-Unless
the fears of the New England fisher
linen are groundless, there is every in
dication of a famine in that familiar
article of breakfast food known as the
mackerel. The encounters between the
hardy men of the North who "go down
to the sea in ships" and this one-time
abundant fish are becoming so scarce
that an appeal has gone out TO the
President for help. In addition to the
multifarious duties and responsibilities
OF our President in bringing about
peace between warning nations. invss-
tigating the beef trust, regulating rail-
roads. revising tariffs. ETC.. he is now
called upon to compel the mackerel Of
the New England cost to submit to the
invasion Of these Yankee fishermen.
And the President has promised to do
it.
once upon a time, when the men of
today were boys, the mackerel was the
most plenteous and the cheapest Of
fish. Every corner grocery displayed
numerous kegs of the salty denizens
OF the deep blue sea, and he was poor
indeed who could not eat fish when his
appetite yearned for it. Not so now.
Mackerel is comparatively a luxury.
The output of the New England fish
cries has grown less and less. and this
is due to new and, until comparatively
recently, unheard of migratory habits
these fishes have acquired. Formerly
they were content with the ordinary
dull routine OF every day fish life and
hoated in schools complacently up and
down the coast along well defined
channels, apparently willing victims Of
the fisherman's net. But these little
fellows now play hide and seek and
peek a-boo with the fishermen, until
liz is well nigh impossible to locate
them or keep track of their movements.
They abandon their accustomed
lhaunts and disappear for eight or nine
months at a time and sometimes for
lget to return at the proper fishing sea-
son.
The New Englanders fear they will
take a notion on one of these myster-
lious migratory expeditions not to re-
turn at all. and that fear was what
brought them to Washington. Having
lunsuccessfully grapped with the sub
lject themselves, and having vainly en-
ldeavored to run the mackerel down.
they have invoked the energy and sci-
lence of the meL who run the Fish
Commission. The President has in
lstructed that bureau to go after the
lmackerel in one of its fine vessels es-
lpecially equipped for chasing, studying
land subduing obdurate fishes, ascertain
why they have thus so unceremonious-
lily parted company with their friends
the fishermen, and take the proper
steps to bring them back 10 their ae-
lcustomed haunts.
II some deep-sea enemy has begun
IA warfare on this valusble FISH, the
commission win discover it and then
lwim begin campaign of determination
Iagainst these enemies of the mack
lerel. The habits and eccentricities of
fish form an interesting study and
Commissioner Bowers and his experts
have solved so many problems here
tofore that failure in this instance is
not expected.
There is a law in the District Of Co
llumbia governing the speed of euto-
mobiles and it is strictly enforced
against the average citizen. Last
lSunday the President, accompanied by
lhis sons and a friend, took a spin out
Into the country toward Cabin John
Bridge. Two bicycle policemen were
moving along the road at about ten
lmile gait when this particular auto
lwhizzed past at a twenty-five mile gait
)The officers started in purusit shout
ling to the chauffeur to stop. The chat
lfeur saw the numerous policemen
stationed along the route, according
Ito the story subsequently told, and
supposed in the innocence of his heart
that they we're so stationed to clear
the way for the President of the
United States.
Acting on the assumption he took
1.-THE right Of way and let her loose"
1t is also stated that the chaifeur saw
the bicycle cops following in hot pur-
suit, but thought they were secret SER
vice men out to protect" the Presi-
ldent probably to keep him from being
lrun over and acting upon that thought,
lalso. the chaffeur opened the driving
gear another cog just to make it in
lteresting for the "secret service" fel-
lows.
Finally the machine slowed down a
trife and was overtaken. You will
have 10 meet me at the police station
tomorrow morning at o'clock" said
the officer as he tried to wipe away
the sand that had been thrown In his
eyes. and speaking to the chaffeur. A
man in the rear seat, dressed in khaki
riding trousers. a negligee shirt, heavy
walking shoes and a slouch hat, re-
lplied For what reason2"
You have violated the speed regula-
tions." replied the officer, still half
blinded. you were going at the rate
OF at least twenty-five miles an hour
and the regulations allow but fifteen
When informed that he was address
ling the President the officer collapsed
According to the story, the President
took the matter good naturedly and
instructed the chaffeur to proceed at
more moderate speed"
Some time ago the Mount Vernon
Ladies' Association purchased a chair
that had formerly belonged to General
washington. The chair was purchased
from Colonel Andrew Jackson, Of
Nashville, Tenn, and the price paid
for it was $500. large enough, in all
good conscience. but some imaginative
newspaper correspondents magnihed
, the price to $500. AS the Mount Ver-
: non Ladies' Association has only one
object in view, and that a very praise
, worthy one. to collect and preserve al
General Washington's old home every
, Thing connected with the Father of His
! Country ii looks as if those who hap
pen to own any such relic could wei