The Daytona gazette=news. (Daytona, Fla.) 1901-1922, 1907-03-09
A PLEA TO GIVE
MULLET A SHOW
From the Versatile Pen of John Y.
DetwiIer, Honorary State
Fish Commissioner.
q 2 q

Fish Commissioner.
Editor Gazette NeWS-The article
from the St. Augustine Record. under
the heading, Give the Mullet Il Show, ;"
is certainly well-timrd, and strictly i'll
accordance with common sense, good
judgment and practical foresight
Where mullet are plentiful, the pred:i
ceous or game fish abound. For this
reasoffoniy, do we. of the East Coast of
! Florida eve our splendid rod and line
4 fishing, and where ever the fishing
grounds have deteriorated, the cause
can be laid to the absence of young null
let, which are mainly the food of the
trout, bass, blue-fish, Spanish mackerel
and cavaliy. The sheephead and POM
PIANO feed mainly on custaceans, and to
their absence in their season the charge
!, can be laid to the commercial fisher
men. Mullet in their season spawn in
the surf in the vicinity of the inlets and
pass es and after Il few days the young
mullet return to the shallow waters of
the creeks and lagoons to feed and ma
4 tlre and in due time in accordance with
j the natural law, seek the ocean to per-
q petuate their species
For this reason, it has thus far not
been found possible to successfully pro-
8pogate mullet artiticially as is possible
n with shad, salmon and other salt water
4 fishes though years of effort and thous-
ands of dollars have been expended by
\ the L. S Fish Commission in the effort.
Nature has provided suitable condi-
tons found in Mosquito lagoon, with its
miles of shallow water, furnishing a
temperature 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 L. S. Fish Commission
with their Matching stations with but a
fraction of the expense. The Mosquito
lagoon is connected with canal some
90 feet wide, about 10 feet deep and
about 1000 feet long, through which
the fish pass under the proper condi-
lions of wind and stage of water.
Recognizing the Importance of pro-
tecting the fish, legislative action has
been taken to protect the waters of the
Mosquito lagoon, the North Indian
river, Spruce creek and Tomoka river
from the depradations of the violators
of the law, with their disastrous methods
of destruction, the seine and the gill
net. Only partially has this been &C
e,mplished; 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 Bre-
ward county paper that bill will be in
PRODUCED in the next legislature, except
ing Mosquito lagoon from the provisions
of the statute now protecting it. This
it is hoped, will not become a law, but
In its stead u memorial to congress ere
ating Mosquito lagoon a government
reservation for all time exempt from the
inr0ads 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 consumption
by tourists and residents.
The U. S. government awaits the mia
tory of the Florida legislature, and in
taking federal action would bring about
the same results, at virtually a trlfiing
expense with no chance of failure. Why
the State of Florida should permit a
dozen or so individuals to deplete nur-
sery, wherein millions of pounds of edi-
BILE fishes can be propogated for the use
of her citizens, and these sojourners who
pass the winter months among us seek
ing recreation among the beauties of ma
ture, and the natural advantages offered