The Daytona gazette=news. (Daytona, Fla.) 1901-1922, 1907-03-09

by 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
bluefish, mackerel and other native
fishes to the lake in quest OF The mullet
which provided the majority of their
! food. With the advent of the CONNER
, ciai fishermen with their miles upon
miles Of gill nets, the mullet in spawning
Season barely came inside the bar, be-
fore they became the property of the
fishermen. The result today is apparent,
rs the sport afforded the line fishermen
in days gone by, when this beautiful
lake was the nursery of the young fry,
and us IA result the feeding ground of
the game fishes exists only III memory.
The time is now ripe for action, and if
the northern half of the lake, including
the limits of Palm Beach, were created
a government reservation, the effect
would be noticed after the first year in
the increased presence OF the game
fishes. What right the opposing ele-
ment, in many instances the alien and
irresponsible individual, who pay Meth
er tax nor license and yet claim protec-
lection in their selfassumed right to de-
plete our waters of their natural food
products, to the detriment of their fell
low citizens who contribute to the reye-
! nueS of the state in every avocatlon,
save only the fishing interests? 1t is
hoped that such storm of righteous
indignation will meet the introduction
of the bill throwing open Mosquito la
COON to the devastation of few indi-
| viduals whose talents could be utilized
to better advantage in other directions,
though possibly not nearly so lucrative.
| Can some one furnish the information
!
sponge fisheries by the state of Florida
| from those depicting her waters? see
S4l 600 worth of sponges were sold at
Tarpon Springs January 81 Why not
include this natural product in the lists
I for taxation or license? The federal
government has virtually abandoned the
propagation of sponges by planting cut
tings as the beds are robbed, the wires
to which the cutting were attached were
stolen. Is this indicative of prosperity
or theft? The oyster beds for miles in the
vicinity OF St. Augustine, it is discov-
cred, have been destroyed. My personal
effort resulted in arresting and convict
ing 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 as the result of the
planting under my supervision at no
cost to the state for either price or trans
portation aggregatiDg FIVE cars and
| Is, 600, 600 fry. The result of the COM
bined effort of John c. Ruge, secretary
| of the Florida fish commission, and my
self as its chairman has demonstrated
| Itself by the repeating of the sections OF
the act creating the commission, its
! duties and compensation, which, by the
way, was denied by Mr.. Ruge, who
never received one penny, while | re-
ceived the full amount for each year
since 1895, the paltry sum of $50 per
year for the two past years Realizing
| the Importance of the work To tfie state,
I have contributed my time, stationery
and postage, prepared my report to the
the governor-simply doing my duty as
| a citizen of the state of Florida, having
| neither the hope of recompense nor the
! fear of the misguided individuals posing
as members of the legislature, to whom
we are indebted for their influence III
s-depriving the people of Florida OF !
Just source of revenue in order that
their personal desires (pecuniary or
otherwise) might be grati6ed, and the
self-appointed privileges of those seek
ing its control, the fishing interests of
the state be perpetuated, and in 50 do
ing the efforts of the fish commission be
neutralizcd and the commission de-
/! stroyed.
Holding the position of honorary fish
| commissioner for Florida by compliment
of the governor, without compensation,
+ have preserved the continuity of the
work. 1t remains for the public TO de