The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
WORTH READING.

The sVirgihia Ctttzer, finds in the Baltimore
Sun alIetter from Talbot Denmead, article
On the fish question in Maryland, which IT calls
rightly Ia conservative article from "a man OF
practical experience, not d-glove sport. SEN
Eationalist 'chonic kicker" Agreeing with
the Citizen that the letter is worth reading we
think ittworth producing for the benefit Of those
OF urfreaders who are interested in the fish
and oyster question. The letter is as follows
TO the-editor Of The. Sun:
Gr,---l have noted with interest, the many let
sters IN your open letter columns lately CON
scerningf the fish question in Maryland and 1T is
very pleasing mote that some interest is being
taken in the-auestion.
Il ! think the information contained in
knese letterssi is 7zsieading. because the situation
as to tfesce .eihng4of menhaden and the laws re-
j1attngs@rsrhe samesare not generally known, and
18th your permission should like give a
little resume OF the situation the Maryland
State Game and Fish association finds it.
First, the laws of Virginia absolutely prohibit
the rsetof all food fish for fertilizer excepting
herring; tagain theysabsolutely prohibit the TAX,
ing dscatchtlg. of small listed food fish Of any
kind forsany purpose. and require such little fish
TO be Immediately returned to the water when
caught.
The State ~ Maryland on the other hand
does not prohibit the use Sof any kinds of FISH
for fertilizer nor does it prohibit the taking Of
small fish
Now. when the gentlemen from Virginia write
to The Sun and say they do not violate the laws
of Virginia, they probably correct: when
they say they do not catch food fish with their
menhaden outfits outside OF the Chesapeake bay
they are again correct Whey they say that they
do not use food FISH for the manufacture of fer
tilxef, they mistaken: for. first they use tons
or herring for the same which is n food fish but
used legally when turned into fertilizer and sec
ofd their boats regularly visit the head OF the
chesapeake bay and purchase loads Of
fish from the fishermen there during the entire
spring run. These scow loads of fish are for the
most part herring, but anyone who has them
and examined their contents will tell you that
there quantities of small white and yellow
perch and other food fish mixed in with them
This cannot be controversial contracts are made
for these fish by those in charge of the fertilizer
= faetort-- huats WITH The Maryland fishermen in
advance of the season: everybody in Havre de
Grace sees these boats arrive every two weeks or
so. lead the decayed fish on their boats and sail
south with them.
] have had many invitations to accompany
the nenhnden boats which fish for the fertilizer
factories and that they do not catch food fish
these trips, bat II is not necessary for to
accept, for ] already know that such
trape they catch few food fish but that they
get food fish in other ways and at other times
especially from the head of the Chesa peake in
the early spring. cannot be denied by any per
who IN familiar with the situation. And by
food fash do mean herring alone, but white
perch and yellow perch as well
esf,orderrts Your represen tive
will have diffculty in ascertaining this fact
M they WITH Journey 70 the Susuuehanna fats.
n xiA admit that they had contracts with and sold