Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-15
CLUB SEEKS TO
PROTECT FISH
ROD AND REEL MEMBERS ASK
LEGISLATION
Edward HedderIy, Retiring President,
Calls Attention to Necessity of
Passing Laws Against
Use of Nets

Members of the Southern California
Rod and Reel club met last night in
Burbank hall for the purpose of elect
ing officers for the year 1909, to review
the work of the past year, and plan
for the future In a mastery review
Edward Hedderly, retiring president,
summed up the work of the year and
told of the plans to secure legislation
for the purpose of protecting along
shore game fish. Mr.. Hedderly called
attention to the surf fish bill drawn
by Max Lowenthal, and which was de-
feated at the last session of the legis-
lature through the influence of the
commercial fishermen. He urged every
member Of the club to use his influence
to secure the passage of the bill at the
present session of the legislature.
Plans for sending a special delegate
to Sacramento to look after the bill in
question were discussed, but no definite
action was taken. The bill in question
provides that nets shall not be used
by the coast fishermen in taking cor
blna, yellOwfin and surf fish. The men
who make a living fishing with nets
take thousands of pounds of understood
fish, which are marketed along with the
larger ones. In this way the best game
fish of the coast will be exhausted in a
few years. The retiring president
pointed out the fact that the game fish
were a more valuable asset to Cali
fornia in providing sport for tourists
and others than for providing a living
to the few Japanese and others who
drag the shore with their fine mesh
nets
Efforts of No Avail
Mr.. Hedderly also pointed out that
the efforts at San Diego to control the
wholesale slaughter and waste of I'M
n f1n6 GeL1 H. IL
the use of large mesh nets were of no
avail. ''The only way to settle the
matter" declared Mr.. Hedderly, sis to
abolish the net for the game fish and
make the fishermen use lines"
During the past year the club has
held eleven meetings at the seashore
and has had four barbecues At these
various meetings casting tournaments
and other angling contests have been
held. Prizes have been awarded many
members for fish caught during the
season. Eleven men won club buttons
for large fish taken on light tackle.
Mr.. Hedderly commented favorably
on the efforts of fishermen to abolish
heavy tackle, thus giving the fish
more equal chance in the contest, and
making fishing a test of skill. It was
decided by the members present that
the report Of the retiring president
should be printed in pamphlet form and
a copy sent to every one of the $50
members of the organization.
Members then proceeded to the cleo
ton of officers and the following were
chosen to pilot the now important and
growing organization through another
year of activity: President, Max Low
enthal; vice President, Ellsworth Sal
yer; second vice president, Edward
Hedderly; third vice president, Samuel
J. Paul. E. r. Abbott was reelected
to the position of financial secretary.
and Roy B. Shaver was again chosen
recording secretary
1t is planned to hold many meetings
during the coming year, and to in
crease the number of very popular fish
barbecues. Rules have been drawn by
a committee to govern casting tourna-
mentS.