Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-06-17
FISH NETS In BAY.
U.S.. Army Engineers Hear All Sides
OF Question.

Baltimore, Md, June with the
view to reconciling the fishing interests
OF the Chesapeake Bay with the navi-
CATION regulations. hearing was held
today in the custom house before a
board of United States engineers. The
hearing was held especially as a result
of several complaints received by the
department that pound nets and other
fishing contrivances interfered with the
navigable waters of the Chesapeake
Bay and its tributaries.
Over 200 representatives of the Ches-
apeske Bay fishing interests were pre-
sent from all sections of the bay from
Havre de Grace to the Virginia Capes.
Others present represented the steam.
boat interests which it is alleged suf
fered considerable annoyance, owing to
the large number of pound nets in the
lower bay. The discussion led to the
question Of the length Of the pound nets.
especially in the waters of the lower
bay in the jurisdiction of the State of
Virginia over that permitted by the
State of Maryland, which prohibits nets
extending 500 yards from the shore.
While fishermen in the upper part of
the bay claim that not only are the
pound nets in Virginia menace TO nav
igation. but that they had practically
destroyed the shad fishing industry and
that the edible food fish could no longer
reach the head waters Of the Bay to
spawn and that as q result it was only
a question of but short time when the
fishing industry would be thing of the
past.
The Virginia representatives were ac-
companied by strong legal counsel,
while the Maryland contingent were
headed by the practical fishermenthem-
selves and the discussion became ami
mated and general. Walter T. Jack
son. of Hayre de Grace. representing
the head of the Bay fishing industry,
stated that unless the Government took
some action regulating the size of the
pound nets that it was only a question
OF short time when the shad fishing
would be destroyed altogether. The
long pound nets permitted to be used in
the waters of the State of Virginia.
which in many instances were miles in
length. he said practically prevented the
fish from reaching the head waters of
the Bay. where they spawned each
year, iessening the supply: eventually
destroying an industry of great value
to the State and depriving thousands of
fishermen Of livelihood.
Mr.. jackson stated that thirty years
ago the head of the Chesapeake Bay
was the principal source of supply to
the city of Baltimore and that it was
no uncommon thing to have a catch of
from 20. 900 to40, 600 shada day, but that
the catch during the entire season lust
closed has not been over $4,000. Out
side OF the interference that the poles
and stakes might cause to navigation in
the lower bay in order to preserve this
valuable industry to the State of Mary
land. something should be done, he sta
ted. to prevent the wholesale slaughter
of fish before they reached the spawn
ing grounds.
Others who took part at the hearing
were Congressman William A. Jones.
of Virginia. Mr.. Sears. of Mathews
county, Va: William E. Lawson, of
Hampton. Va: representing the Vir-
ginia Fisheries Commission; Capt. G.
E. Coffe. of Norfolk, representing the
Old Dominion Steamship Company, and
Mr.. Saunders. of Virginia.
Colonel Casey adjourned the meeting
with the announcement that trip down
the bay would be made by the board,
looking over the situation from the
standpoint of the nets interfering with
the navigation regulations, and that the
result Of their Investigation would be
brought before the Fish Commission at
Washington and that what changes
would be made would be formulated by
that body.