The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-22
INTERESTING FISH NOTES
"Tas latter Writes Of the Rappahanhc,S
fshuies-shy Fish ars Scarce 10 Upper Part
Ct River. Etc.

When the conyiyial soul has been en-
ioting himself at bis club. and suffers
much distress afterwards, 10 Dr. aiWat +
the salmon or some OtAcreaidOie thtt
il 90 blame and never the drmkahirs.
So when fish become scarce in any cree Il
or river and the reason il sought, DO b.
ALWAYS found in some other place THAN
tue right one.
The hill introduced boz tLe Legislature
10 restrict the pound net fisheries of the
state ID less than 30 itet depth Ol water
lsa DIN chat will cause trouble and loss
90 many aud will benefit nobody. Ap-
parenuy. the idea is 10 restore tine ii-i-
cries Oi The upper RappahanuOck by CIV
mg the fish a better chance to get up tne
river before being caught The desire ls
.audabe one but mistaken one.
Taking the river from It's mouth 10
fredericksburg. probably about one
third of the number OF stake nets and
pound nets that were used ten years ago
are operated now. With the great lee
duction in the number of distinctions 10
would seem that the catch of spring fish
would be- greatly increased in the upper
river. but such is not the case. Ii every
net Of any description was removed from
the HappahannOck river and from with
IN ten miles OF its mouth, IT would III
crease the fisheries OF the river above
Leedstown 10 an extent hardly precepti-
bic. Tie natural conditions are against
IT,
Il is we'll established law in the
propagation oi fishes that the young fry
viii return at the proper time to the
spawning ground from whence they
came ana there deposit their spawn.
The United States Fish Commission takes
advantage OF this fact and deposits nil.
lions of young fish in the Potomac and
other rivers. Bat if any have been turn
ed loose into the Rappahannock it is IN
known TO the writer. 1t Is also well
known that spring fish in advancing ~
streams stop when they reach water Oi
a sufficient degree Oiireshness THIS TACT
will explain why 1t Is that some years
shad and herring cOngregate IN large
numbers in the lower part OF the rivers
and do not 60 up high II the first oil
the season is very rainy the volume Oh
fresh water poured down stops the fish
from ascending. Later, should there
come a dry spell Of weather the fish will
rush 40 until they reach the degree ol
freshness required for the proper hatch
inc OF the spawn. Ii the weather should
be- dry and cold at the beginning OF The
spring run the fish will keep IN deeI
water and will get past without being
caught. and will be found numerous at
the head Of navigation.
The farmers OF the hill country above
fredericksburg are the main cause oil the
ruined fisheries OF the RappahaunOck
They have deforested thousands OF acres
OF hillsides. and the dashing rains have
washed thousands of tons OF soil into
the streams. These floods OF water
thick with mud rush down the river
making it like duck puddle for fifty
miles or more below fredericksburg
They cover everything with a thick coat
Of mud. and il there should be any fish
spawn in its track that, too, II covered
aud generally destroyed
Another cause is the prevalence oil carr
in the upper river IL by any chance tie
fish spawn escapes the mud OF the ireshet
il il devoured by the carp.
With the destruction Of spawn by mud
and carp there are very few fish that live
to escape TO the ocean, and in time re-
turn to propagate their species. With
the passing OF the years the shad and
herring will become fewer and fewer, I'M
till hardly a single specimen will be
caught up as high as Fredericksburg.
The practicable and efficient method OF
rehabilitating the Rappahannock fish
cries is to reiorest the hills and retain the
soil. until the waters run clear. Then,
and only then, after the waters have
been cleared of carp and restOcked arti-
ficially, will there be any approach to a
profitable fishery.
The gentlemen who are sponsors for
the bin mean well. but their deductions
are founded upon false premises, and, OF
course, misleading to themselves as well
as others.
The Tattler.