Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-22
SEEMING NEAR SWANTON.
{ anndinns DO II without License and
Are Not NOIcstcd.


plain. the Canadians are drawing seine,
ut the mouth of tho Missisquoi river
and taking ont large quantities Of pike.
This is done in full view Of the Amer
lean shore and is particularly exasber-
atng to tho Americans. who are for
hidden by the state laws to take fish in
that manner. Reed Miller, "a well known
offender In this respect, has two sons
drawing scines within n stones throw
of tho shore at Swanton, though it is
two miles from tho Canadian shore. The
fishing is done through the ice but an
Ingenious arrangement permits the
drawing Of 40-foot seine almost as
easily as IL the ice were gone. Six
large scincs are being operated in the
vicinity of Province point and others
near Pike river and about PhillpsburS. |
These nets placed at tiic mouth of tho
river prevent the pike from reaching
the spawning grounds, and the result
is depletion OF the fish supply. During
tho fishing season there are more pike
in the southern part of the lake than
above the Canadian line, but in the
spawning season they rush into Missis-
quo bay by the thousand. Tho Canadi-
ans have taken advantage of that fact
for years and have taken millions of
fish every year, sometimes shipping
from Alburgh stations alone g. barrels
in single day They have been re-
ceiving IL cents each for good-sizcd
pike this season. and Boston firm has
n standing contract OF $50 barrel FOR
all fish taken up to April 10. Besides
the pike. LARGO quantities Of yellow
perch arc takcn. which soil readily in
tho local markets, and Other Varitics
known as Gull fish. which all have their
value. Occasionally Il eoodszcd black
bass is taken in the nets.
WILLING TO PROMISE TO STOP
SEEMING.
| For several years the Vermont law
provided that the Vermont commission
| crs might issue scinng licenses If the
Canadian authorities did 50. Then cf-
| fort was made to induce the Canadians
not tn issue any. They were always
willing to promise, but never willing 10
perform, or. If they refused to issue
| licenses, they would not prevent the
illegal scinnE of fish by Canadian fish
| ermcn. At length Vermont passed
a law absolutely prohibiting scinng in
the lake. in the belief that similar act
! ton might be secured from Canada. The
New York law has for some years for
| hidden SEEMING.
After the passage Of tn" act Henry G.
! Thomas Of Stove, fish and game COM
missioner for Vermont. secured an agree
mout with tho Hon. r. Prefontan, min
lister OF marine and fisheries of Canada,
that no licenses for scjning would he
granted. This WIS reached at a meet
| ing of the North American Fish and
| Game Protective association last fail.
land its announcement Was greeted with
Inppljtusc i'm Vermont. for it appeared
to put an end to matter that had boon
| troublesome for years. and to settle q
difficulty that had been potent in pre-
ivcntng Of desirable protective laws in
week that Canadians had commenced
scining in the bay Mr.. Thomas wrote to
T.. -. =. chambers. secretary of the
North American Fish and Game Assoc
Iquirics in regard to broken promises. Mr..
chambers replied:
| Thc minister of fisheries is out OF town
but | have just sent II note with your
llcttcr to Mr.. Caron. superintendent of fish
and game. who issues the licenses. and
and he replies "\o licenses nave been
given. and probably mono will be. If
soiniuG is going on IN Ni>ssquoi bay, il
is done illegally. and we attend to the
matter
PRACTICE PREVAILS. no MATTER
WHETHER LEGAL OR ILLEGAL.
1t makes little difference to Vermont
whether SEEMING is being done legally
or i'll, gally. since it is being done: but
It arouses indignation that the Cana
ldiaus should continue their old tactics
and tacitv allow SEEMING in the bay while
iapparently keeping faith by refusing to
issue licenses
The Vermont LEGISLATURE in 1900 au-
thorizod the erection Of pike Matching
staiiou at Swauton which was COM
Iplctcd and put in operation the next
year. Millions Of pike fry were Matched
most Of them being placed in the lake
and others sent TO various places about
the state where the native brook trout
was disappearing, ana where the waite,
seemed especially adapted to some codrs-
cr fish like the pike. In 1904 when tho
federal government. which had leased
the station for its own use. desired to
lcrcct Il station of its own on the lax,
1.-The Legislature voted to discontinue and
sell the state hatchery when tho federal
hatchery should bc completed. The
government hatchery is now complete ed
land Supt. T.. y. Carter will begin OPP
lcratinns this spring rho old State
hatchery il offered for sale by Commits
Toner Thomas. The placing of million,
of fry in the lake every by the govern
mout Will not compensate for the taking
tur thousands OF adult Ash from the
spawning grounds by the Canadian fish
ormen There will probably he 1,j00 bar,
rcls of fish shipped from IAlburgh ant
nearby stations this year by the Cana.
III