Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-05-20
FISHING IN THE DELAWARE.
Pennsylvania Legislature Passed and
Governor Approved Fishing Bills
Like Ours

Commissioners have received word
that Pennsylvania Legislature passed
and the Governor has approved the
two bills regulating fishing in the
| Delaware river above and below the
Trenton falls. The new laws are alike
excepting in few unimportant par
ticulars and slight difference in the
seasons during which some varieties
| of fish may be lawfully taken. The
new laws are the result of consider
able work on the part of the special
/ joint commission created last year to
prepare uniform laws.
Probably the most important chang
| es in the law are those restricting the
net fishing and designating the three
/ classes OF fiSh-game, bait and food.
1t is made unlawful to catch and take
or attempt to catch and take fish of
any kind or description from the Del
aware river by means of a net, or to
use net of any character in the
waters aforesaid, from Saturday at IL
o'clock noon until Monday at . a. M,
next ensuing in each week, under a
penalty of $100 fine and forfeiture of
all nets, boats and other appliances
used.
"Ihe effect of this provision will be
to extend by several hours each week
! the time when Shad may ascend to the
spawning grounds in the headWaters
of the Delaware. 1t has been assert
ed that one OF the chief causes of the
scarcity of the shad has been the OBJ
| struction of1ered by the many nets
used in the bay and lower river Here
/ to fore the closed period has been
from sunset on SATURDAY TO midnight
on Sunday 1t is MADE unlawful to
Scatch any food fish by means of a
net. in the Delaware river, between
the first of June and the first of March
next ensuing.
White and yellow perch have been
added to the list of game fish, which
consist of the various spec les of bass,
crappie, pie-perch pike, pickerel white
perch, yellow perch and charr or
trout These it is made unlawful to
/ fish for or take at any time excepting
between the fifteenth of June and the
first day of December, inclusive, in
each year. The penalty is a fine of
$40 for each fish taken.
The game fish may not be taken in
/ any part of the river, at any time,
with any device or by means or meth
cd whatsoever, excepting with rods
and lines or hand-lines, commonly
called dipsey or throw-lines, each hav-
| ing not more than three hooks, or
with trolling lines with spoon or ar
tificial bait having not more than one
burr of three single hooks attached.
The number of rods and lines or the
number of trolling lines not to ex-
ceed two of one or the other de-
vice named, and said lines must be
under the direct and immediate super
vision of the person fishing Herewith.
The penalty is fine of $40.
s'Al1 species of minnows, killfishes
and stone catfish are designated as
bait fish," All other species or var
ieties not included among the game
and bait fish are designated as food
fish, which it is made lawful to- catch
with hook and line at any time of the
4 year. Licenses must be obtained for
using nets for the purpose of catching
fish for the market or for sale," above
the Trenton Falls. 1t is made unlaw-
full to purchase, sell or offer for sale
or have in possession, any fresh, dead
game-fish or food-fish except during
the lawful period for catching the
same and six days afterward
Pennsylvania and New Jersey are
4 given concurrent jurisdiction over all
offenses and violations of the acts, and
between the wardens of the two COM
missions it will be possible to protect
the Delaware river fish. If the New
Jersey Commission had done nothi ng
else, its success in procuring better
regulation and protection of our fish
interests in the Delaware will entitle
it to commendation. Now, if it could
but suppress the pound fishermen and
menhaden 'pirates!"<