Evening star., 1908-12-21
GIVES A WARNING CRY
Serious Condition Confronts
American Fishing Industry.
BOWERS MAKES REPORT
Failure to Protect Migratory Mem
bers of the Finny Tribe.
MOVEMENT FOR MAINTENANCE
Devotees of Lobster Informed of
Remarkable Increase in Produc-
tion of That Delicacy.

The most serious condition now con-
fronting the American fishing industry is
the failure of the states to afford ade-
quate protection to migratory fishes in
state and i..,erstate waters
The foregoing note of warning is sound
ed by George NJ. Bowers, United States
fish commissioner. in his annual report
made public today. Mr. Bowers depicts
the great destruction wrought to certain
species of fish, and makes an earnest ap-
peal for their preservation.
Pointing to the history Of the New Eng
land salmon fishery as warning, the
commissioner declares that some Of the
states seem yet absolutely indifferent 10
the crying needs of fisheries for species
of similar habits. whose obliteratlon. ne
says. is certain. unless radical corrective
measures are taken. Mr.. Bowers states
that the fishes most in need of consldera-
ton are the shad, the striped bass and the
sturgeon. on the Atlantic coast, ana the
salmon in the Pacific states.
Disappearance of the Sturgeon.
The disappearance of the sturgeon from
nearly every east-coast river, Mr.. Bowers
states, "shows how greed and indinerence
may in single generation destroy F"i-
liable fishery North Carolina staios ou'
as the only state among all the states IN
which the bureau engages in the cuItNd.
ton of shad where the general oeci''ie "a
this fish has been arrested.
1.-The immediate effect Of sensible pro-
tective measures in this state, tne coih
missioner says. "shows the resuits t.al
NAV be expected from similar leGlsiatioi
for the various important streams, IKE
the Potomac, the Susquehanna ana lhe
Delaware in which the shad mas peen
persistently destroyed year after year
without any regard for the future
OF serious concern are the trend ana con-
dition of the salmon fishery of the Column
bia river. Mr. Bowers declares that FAC
tional and personal considerations nave
been allowed to interfere with the passage
of the needed laws, and the conditlon re-
mains unrelieved. The bureau enorts
the states Indifference, and the necessity
for federal control of Interstate waters
in the interest of the fisheries is thus
again forcefully illustrated.
Movement for Maintenance.
Mr.. Bowers states that the foremost
movement for the maintenance of fishery
resources is the national conservation
commission, whose plans and purposes
are of far-reaching importance to the
fisheries. Mr.. Bowers emphasizes anew
fishery protective laws covering interstate
waters.
The devotees of the lobster are informed
of a remarkable increase in the produc-
ton Of this delicacy all along the New
England coast.
The report shows that the bureaus
hatcheres in 1905 yielded 376.OOO,OOO more
fish than in any other year, and delivered
about 45S, ,OOO, 600 eggs to state and foreign
hatcheries. The total output was over
o.s71 ,OOO, 600 eggs and fish, of which over
2.4OO, 600 900 were fish. Mr.. Bowers states
that the distribution Of fish and eggs in
most instances falls far short Of the re-
quirements. and declares it is Imperative
that the work be rapidly expanded to
meet special conditions.
Mr. Bowers urgently recommends the
establishment of a new building. to en-
able it Ito meet the increasing exactions
of modern fishery work and to live up to
its we'll earned reputation at home and
abroad