Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-06-04
FISHERIES OF
CHESAPEAKE
government Finds Serious
Condition Affecting the
Industry
SHAD BECOME
SCARCE In WATERWAY

WASHINGTON. d. c., June 4.--ln-
luiries conducted by the Bureau of
Fisheries, Department of Commerce.
show that the present hshing season
las been the poorest in many years
n most parts of the Chesapeake
basin, and the aggregate catch Of the
principal spring fish, shad and her
ring. will be much less than in recent
years. The effects of the diminished
run of fish will be. seen from three to
1--we years hence, when the reduced
progeny of this seasons supply comes
back to spawn.
The conditions in the Potomac river.
which may be taken as typical for all
the major streams, are in some re-
spects the worst in forty years. The
upper reaches of the river have been
almost barren of fish during the en-
tire season, and nearly all the shad
and herring fishermen have failed to
meet expenses. At Ferry Landing, the
largest seine on the river, 1900 faith
oms long, has discontinued opera
lions in the middle OF the season,
owing to the scarcity of fish. In for
mer years this celebrated fishing
shore, with smaller seine. sometimes
yielded 100000 or more herring at a
haul. and up to ten or fifteen years
ago took probably $4,000 to 10000 FISH
al a haul on an average. Only a few
years back. from 1000 to 1900 shad
were frequently taken at one set OF
the seine. This year the largest was
5000 herring and 100 shad while
many times only s to 20 shad were
taken.
The shad hatcheries operated by the
bureau on the Potomac and Susque-
hanna rivers have had a very unsuc-
cessfui season. Their operations al
ford a good criterion of the condition
of the fishery in the fresh waters. be-
cause the whole field is covered and
nearly every ripe fish that is caught
BY the fishermen is striped Of its eggs
by spawn-takers sent out from tht
hatcheries. At the shad hatchery or
the Potomac river. the egg collections
amounted to 29,9SS,000. as compared
with SS,727 900 in 1912. The hatchery
at the mouth of the Susquehanns
river has been able to secure only
5000, 900 eggs to date, as compared
with 10000. 900 in 1912, which season
was regarded as an absolute failure.
Shad culture on a scale that is en-.
tirely feasible can, with minor protec-
tive legislation, maintain the shat
fishery in almost any stream; bu
shad culture under existing condi
lions is deprived of one very essentia
requirement. namely, an adequate
supply of ripe eggs for Matching pur
poses.
The Immediate cause of the failure
of the shad and herring fisheries thi
year is the diminished run OF spawn
ing fish into Chesapeake bay from tn
sea. and the enormous quantity of ap
paratus. among which very limite'
catch had to be divided. Inasmucl
as the great bulk Of the yield is takei
I'm salt water. the remnant that wal
able to reach the spawning grounds
in the stream was Insignificant an'
wholly inadequate to maintain TN
supply.
The remote cause of the presen
condition Is excessive fishing in for
mer years. and the lack OF even th'
minimum amount of protection that II
demanded by regard for the most eie
mentsry principles of fishery conser
walton. Fish entering Chesapeake ba!
have TO run through a maze of net
that the wonder is that any are abl'
to reach their spawning grounds ant
deposit their eggs. The mouth o
every important shad and herrinl
stream in the Chesapeake basin is lit
orally clogged with nets that are Sc
for the special purpose of intercept
ing every fish, whereas proper re
gard for the future welfare OF tn
fisheries and for the needs Of the M
grating schools would cause the net
TO be set so as TO insure the escap
OF a certain proportion of the spawn
ing fish.
Adequate protection Of the fishes /
compatible with great freedom of fish
cry and with a large and increasin
yield. A very slight curtailment o
the catch-perhaps AS little as 10 pc
cent. in any given year-may be sufn
oient to perpetuate the species an
result in increased production in
few years. To disregard requirement
SO small and to permit the continu
ance of an evil so serious, simply IN
vites and encourages the destruction
Of a most valuable food supply.