The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-07
John Y Detwiler, of New
Syrnrna. Writes on Inn
portant Subject.

GREAT NECESSITY FOR PROPER
LEGISLATION TO PRECLUDE
POSSIBILITY OF THE SPECIES
BECOMING SCARCE OR EXTINCT
BREEDING PLACES AND
HABITS.
The following communication ap-
peared in a recent issue of the Jack
sonville Times-Union:
The article from the st. Augustine
Record, and appearing in your paper
of March 1st under the heading, Give
the Mullet a Show" is certainly well.
timed, and strictly in accordance with
common sense, good judgment and
practical foresight.
Where mullet are plentiful, the pre-
daceous or game fish abound. For
this reason do we, on the east coast
of Florida have such splendid rod
and line fishing, and where ever the
fishing grounds have deteriorated, the
cause can be laid to THE absence of
young mullet, which are mainly the
food of the trout, bass, blue-fish,
Spanish mackerel and cavally. The
sheephead and pompano feed mainly
on crustaceans, and so their absence
in their season can be charged
to the commercial fishermen. Muliet
in their season spawn in the surf in
the vicinity of the inlets and passes.
and after a few days the young null
let return to the shallow waters Of
the creeks and lagoons to feed and
mature and in due time in accordance
with a natural law, seek the ocean to
perpetuate their species. For this rea,
SON, it has thus far not oeen found
possible to successfully propagate
mullet artifcially as is possible with
sh2d, salmon and other salt water
fish though years of effort and thou
sands of dollars have been expended
by the United States Fish Commits
sion in the effort. Nature has pro-
vided suitable conditions found in
mosquito lagoon, with its miles of
shallow water furnishing a tempera-
ture. sufficiently high wherein ample
food is found to sustain millions of
fish, which If properly protected will
| bring about the same results that are
sought by the United States Fish
1 1.ns< Ho$ 80, 70
tons with but a fraction of the ex-
pense. The mosquito lagoon is con-
nected with canal some so feet wide
about 10 feet deep and about 800 feet
long, through which the fish pass
under the proper conditions of wind.
and stage OF water. Recognizing the
| Importance of protecting the fish, leg
islative action has been taken to pro-
tect the waters of mosquito lagoon,
| the North Indian river, Spruce creek
and Tomoka river, from the depreda-
tons of the violators of the law, with
| their disastrous methods of destruc-
ton, the seine and the gill net. Only
partially has this been accomplished;
in the most remote section near the
Haulover canal where at times dozens
| of gill nets are visible on the racks
being used nightly, to the great profit
of the owners. Notice is now being
given in a Brevard county paper that
a bill will be introduced in the next
| Legislature, excepting Mosquito lagoon
from the provisions Of the statute now
protecting it This it is hoped, will
not become law, but in its stead
memorial to congress creating Mos.
quito lagoon government, reservation
for all time exempt from the inroads
of commercial fishermen, or for the
taking of fish for sale or shipment
All appliances of whatever nature
save only rod and line and cast net,
which will provide ample fish for con-
sumption by tourists and residents.
The United States government
awaits the initiatory of the Florida leg
islature, and in taking federal action
would bring about the same results,
at virtually a trifiipg expense with no
chance of failure. Why the state OF
Florida should permit q dozen or so
! individuals to deplete nursery,
wherein millions of pounds of edible
fishes can be propogated for the use
of her citizens, and those sojourners
who pass the winter months among
us seeking recreation amidst the beau
ties of nature, and the natural ad-
vantages offered by a climate. second
| to no other in the western hemisphere.
Twenty years ago Lake Worth was
| teeming with fish. The near approach
of the gulf stream brought millions
of blue-fsh, mackerel and other ma
tive fishes to the lake in quest of the
mullet which provided the majority
of their food. With the advent of the
commercial fishermen with their miles
upon miles OF gill nets, the muller
in spawning season barely came in
side the bar. before they became the
property of the fishermen The result
today is apparent, as the sport afford
ed the line fishermen in years gone by
when this beautiful lake was the nur-
4 Serv 0f tho vo1Tr,y fry and as raSulf