The Washington times., 1908-09-23
Speaker Before Fish Con-
greSs Discusses Practical
Advantages of Move.
DINNER ATTENDED
IS BY THE DELEGATES
Numerous Affairs Are Being Ar
ranged for Them-Secretary
Straus Will Entertain.

AS the white man protected the In
dian by taking him, his land and every
thing ne owned, so the fisheries con-
Eress might take the bottom of The
sea. owned by Mr. and Mrs. Fish and
the little fishes, and turn It over IN
large parks to private owners with a
perpetual land grant that even old Nep-
tune couldn't dispute. to raise oysters,
pearls for the adde's. sponges and coral.
At least. this suggestion was found in
the paper read BY Charles II. Stevenson.
of the United States Bureau OF Fish
cries, read TO the congress this morn
ing at the Willard Hotel
Mr.. Stevenson's suggestion was the
power that started the first ripple in the
discussions He maintained that all
the world is a big outlaw on oyster,
sponge. and coral beds outside the three
mile territorial limit within which ma
tons now have Jurisdiction He said
that many efforts are being made 10
increase these great food and comfort
products out in the open sea, where all
nations could prey on them. This brig
andage. he said. was carried on and
had even resulted in the British govern
ment excluding all fishermen from a
firth on the coast Of Scotland, although
Il could not be done.
Right by Occupation"
In fact. Mr.. Stevenson felt that as
laws had generally failed 70 stop the
slaughter Of many Of the best sea
products and as this great bottom OF
the sea didn't seem 20 have any other
owners, that those who would raise
pearls and oysters and sponges and cor
a. on II ought 20 acquire the right 10 #
through occupation"
Charles f Foyer, OF London. thought
that the national ocean front yards,
three miles wide every place IN the
world, were quite large enough for all
general purposes. He opposed the plan
of Mr.. Stevenson, because he didn't be-
Heve there are many who couldn't find
room as il now IS
The fisheries congress opened today
with a paper on Italian conditions by
Lieut.. Charles Pnster. who told of the
various regulations and the efforts OF
the government 10 propagate species
that were being hard pressed by fisher
men
Dr. kitahara told the congress Of the
beginning In Japan Of an effort to pro-
tect fish for, he said, you all know
that Japan is the greatest fsh-eaUng
country in the world. And there are
a million men engaged In its fisheries"
Program Not Followed.
The set program OF the morning was
not followed as none Of the speakers
were able to appear IN their proper
order.
one OF the suggested acts for the
congress was 10 organize an interna-
tioraI bureau Of complaint TO gather all
the evidence IN cases Of abuse by diff
fCrent nations, 50 that il might b.
directly presented to that nation by
representatives Of all other countries
with backing that would insure hear
ing and also make possible the formula
ton of an international agreement
which would make impossible the re-
curreEce OF such cases. This Idea was
given by Charles r. Freyer, Of London
Talk of Scarcity.
It seemed TO be the firm conviction OF
the speakers today that the fish world
was rapidly getting TO be a relic. foI
they told OF the growing rarity of fun
seals and whales, walruses and offers
And II Charles II. Stevenson was seri-
GUS the wbalebone whales, which are
supposed TO have been created 10 supply
stays for the women, are now ban
iShed to few remote spots in the seas
The delegates TO the congress were
the guests Of the American Fisheries
Society at a luncheon at noon. given al
the Arlington Hotel. The congress as
sembIed afterward and went in a body
gates were received by the President