Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-06-09
FISHERIES OF CHESAPEAKE.
Market Decline In the Catch of Shad
And Herring.

Washington, June g. lnqul-
les conducted by the Bureau OF Fish
cries, Departments Of Commerce
show that the present fishing season
has been the poorest in many years
in most parts of the Chesapeake anu
the aggregate catch of the principal
spring fish, shad and herring, will be
much less than in recent years. Inc
effects of the diminished run OF flsh
will be seen from three to five years
hence, when the reduced progeny OF
this seasons supply comes back 10
spawn.
The conditions in the Potomac rlver
which may be taken as typical Tor all
he major streams, are in some re-
spects the worst in 40 years. The up
,er reaches of the river have been al
most barren of fish during the entire
season, and nearly all the shad and
herring fishermen have failed to meet
expenses. At Ferry Landing, the lar
pest seine in the river, 1900 fathoms
long, has discontinued operations IN
The middle of the season owing to ti!e
scarcity of fish. In former years this
celebrated fishing shore, with small
:er seine, sometimes yielded 100000
or more herring at haul, and up to
10 or Is years ago probably took
5000 to 10000 fish at a haul on IN
average. Only few years back from
1000 to 1900 shaw were frequently
taken at one set of seine. This year
the largest haul was 5000 herring
and 100 shad, while many times only
5 to 20 shad were taken.
The shad hatcheries operated hy
The Bureau on the Potomac have had
a very unsuccessful season Their OPP
crations afford good criterion of the
condition of the fishery in the fresh
waters, because the whole field IS
covered and nearly every ripe fish
caught by the fishermen is stripped
VI its eggs by spawn-takers sent out
rom the hatcheries. At the shad
hatchery on Potomac river the esq
elections amounted to 2g,98S,OOO, as
.c::rayed with SIS, 600 in 1912.
he immediate cause of the failure
# .hc shad and herring fisheries this
rcar is ;hc diminished run Of spawn
Nc fish into Chesapeake Bay from
he sea, and the enormous quantity
If apparatus among which b vefy
limited catch had to be divided. IN
asmuch as the great bulk of the VIC q
is taken in salt water, the remnant
that was able to reach tn spawning
grounds in the streams was insicni.l-
ant and wholly inadequate to MAIN
ain the supply.
The remote cause of the present
condition is excessive fishing in To-
ner years, and the lack of even tx
minimum amount of protection that Is
demanded by regard for the most
Elementary principles Of fishery con-
crvation. Fish entering the Chcsa-
:cake Bay have to run through SUCH
| maze of nets that the wonder is
hat any are able to reach their
'pawning grounds and deposit their
ggs. The mouth of almost every
important shad and herring stream
the Chesapeake is literally clogged
With nets that are set for the special
purpose of intercepting every fish;
"hereas proper regard for the fu-
urc welfare of the fisheries and foc
he needs of the migrating schools
would cause the nets to be set so as
insure the escape of a certain pre-
portion of the spawning fish.
Adequate protection Of the fishes is
compatible with freedom of fish
Try and with large and increasing
'ield. A very slight curtailment Of
he catch-perhaps as little as 10
Yer cent. in any given year may be
sufficient to perpetuate the species
md result in increased production ii
1 few years. To disregard require
nent so small an dto permit the coy.
inuance of an evil so serious invites
md encourages the destruction Of .
most valuable food supply.