The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-07
FISH COMMISSIONER ON
PROTECTING THE MUlLET

neither tax nor license, and yet claim
protection in their self assumed right
70 deplete our waters OF their natural
food products, to the detriment of
their fellow citizens, who contribute
tc the revenues of the state IN every
avocation, save only the fishing inter
esfs It is hoped that such a storm
of righteous indignation viii meet the
introduction of the bill throwing open
Mosquito lagoon TO the devastation OF
a few individuals whose talents could
be utilized to better advantages in
other directions though possibly not
nearly so lucrative. Can some one
furnish the information relative to the
revenue derived from the sponge fish
cries by the state of Florida from
those depicting her waters? | see
that $4,000 worth OF sponges were
sold at Tarpon Springs January 81.
Why not include this natural product
in the lists for taxation or licenses.
The federal government has virtually
abandoned the propagation of sponges
by planting cuttings as the beds are
robbed, the wires to which the cuttings
were attached were stolen. Is this
indicative of prosperity or theft? The
oyster beds for miles in the vicinity
of ST. Augustine it is discovered have
been destroyed. Ny personal effort
resulted in arresting and conyicting
the violators of the law, even after an
appeal was taken, at no cost TO the
state. The rivers on the east coast
abound in shad and the result of the
planting under my supervision at no
cost to the state for either price or
transportation aggregating five cars
and 100000 fry. The result Of the
combined effort of Mr. John c. Ruge,
the secretary of the Florida Fish Com
mission and myself as its chairman
has demonstrated itself by the repeal
ing of the sections of the act creating
the commission, its duties, and COM
pensation, which, by the way was de-
MED by Mr.. Ruge, who never received
one penny while / received the full
amount for each year since 1895. the
paltry sum of $3.50 per year for the
two years last past. Realizing the
importance of the work to the state,
I have contributed my time, station
cry and postage, prepared my report
10 the governor. Simply doing my
duty as citizen of the state of Flor
ida, having neither the hope of recon-
pense, nor the fear of the misguided
individuals posing as members of the
legislature to whom we are indebted
for their influence in depriving the
people of Florida of just source Of
revenue in order that their personal
desires, (pecuniary or otherwise.)
might be gratified, and the self ap-
pointed privileges of those seeking
its control the fishing interests of the
state be perpetuated and in so doing.
the efforts Of the Fish Commission De
neutralized and the commission de.
stroyed.
Holding the position Of honorary
fish commissioner of Florida by COM
pliment of the governor, without COM
pensation. have preserved the con-
tinuity of the work 1t remains for
the public to decide by act of the leg
islature, if it shall be continued,
either by myself or successor. Com
munications on the subject of pro-
tecting the state fisheries are solicited
through the press.
JOHN Y. DETWLER,
Honorary Fish Commissioner.
New SMYRNA, Fla, March 4, 1907.