Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-16
Maryland Legislature Passed
No Law Concerning Fishing.
STATE WATERS ARE OPEN
Fee Is Unnecessary for Anglers
From the District.
INFORMATION FROM ANNAP0LI
Clerk of the Court Of Appeals Com
municates Directly With Maj.
Sylvester.

D1ngent inquiry Dy me Star has Ialleo
to show that the Maryland legislature at
its last session, as was reported last
week, passed q law requiring the pay
ment of a license fee to fish in the waters
of the state. II such a law was passed
the authorities at Annapolis are not
aware Of it. It Is believed that the ar
rests which, It was reported. had been
made In cases Of nonresident fishermen
who had no license were without author
1ty Of law. Nothing definite could be
learned in regard to the reported arrests.
DR.. William p. Young, secretary Of the
Game and Fish Protective Association,
has received a letter from c. c. Ma
gruder. clerk Of the court Of appeals at
Annapolis, in which It Is stated that no
law relating to hook and line fishing was
passed by the last legislature. Clerk
Magruder also made the same reply to a
letter Of inquiry written by Maj. Sylves-
ter. who is game warden Of the District.
"A law was passed regarding licenses
by the states of Maryland and Virginia,
in line with existing laws on the sub
ject." wrote Mr.. Magruder. 1T is in
pursuance Of the compact Of 1875 between
the two states, and legislation enacted
the license laws of the two states"
DR.. Young. in asking for information
about the reported license law relating
to angling. told the clerk Of the court
that the courtesy would oblige many
local anglers who, through active eff
instrumental in stocking the upper
Potomac with small-mouth bass.
Clerk Magruder's Reply.
Replying to the letter Of inquiry sent
by Maj Sylvester. Clerk Magruder
wrote in part:
1.-THE law, in it's preamble. seems to
be intended to strengthen the matter
for the obtention Of licenses from the
states of Maryland and Virginia, and
fixing a penalty for violations OF the
law. If non-residents of the states of
Maryland and Virginia have, since the
compact referred to in the preamble,
dated March %. 1875. fished in the
waters of the Potomac river with nook
and line, without paying for license
l should think 1t would be very unjust
and unreasonable at this late day to
pass a law requiring them to pay for
them before fishing.
This law, says Maj. Sylvester, has al
ways been applied to market or pro-
fessional fishermen only. Part OF Sec
1T shall not be lawful for any person
to take or catch fish, except by hook and
line, or oysters or crabs In any manner
whatever in the waters OF the Potomac
river, unless he be a citizen of Maryland
or of Virginia, and shall have been a res
ideut of the state of which he is citizen
for twelve months Immediately preceding.
ANY such nonresident violating this
section shall be subject to a fine Of $500;
Furthermore, any vessel. with its equip
y~Ak~ So 1th ~
pliance used in violating this section.
shall be deemed forfeited to the state"
Acknowledges Receipt Of Letter.
In acknowledging receipt OF the letter
from Clerk Magruder Maj. Sylvester
wrote:
II thank you very much for your kind
favor o fthe 18th instant. inclosing copy
of the only law passed by the late legis
lature regarding fishing In the Potomac
river, and / also have to thank you fol
the assurances you give me regarding
the effect Of the existing law. I know
that 1t will please not only great man!
of our people who are Marylanders ano
reside here, but hundreds in Maryland
and their relatives and friends OF this
District, who patronize the upper and
lower Potomac river and contribute an
nually large sums Of money to the keep
ers of hotels, boarding houses, boatmen
farmers and others, and it would, nc
doubt, be great hardship at this late
day to deprive them Of the innocent
pastime of angling.
Il think Izaak Walton would be greatly
shocked IL he knew that In this day OF
civilization, when men and women, boys
and girls, must seek pastures green to
find recreation from the humdrum of life
in the city, were being deprived of ar
OppOrtu unity to enjoy this great pleasure
in natures recesses, and i am very glad
that the state Of Maryland has mani.
tested that high sense Of fairness which
has always characterized its dealings"