Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-04
FISHING SEASON
WORST IN YEARS
Bureau Notes Conditions and
Recommends Legislation
for Benefit of Industry.

The fishing season on the Potomac
river just closing has been the worst in
forty years, and its effects will be felt
from three to five years hence, according
to statement of the bureau of fish
cries. The conditions in the Potomac
are declared to be typical of all major
streams To prevent repetitions of such
conditions minor protective legislation is
needed according to the bureau. While
the immediate cause of the failure of
the shad and herring fisheries this year is
the diminished run of spawning fish into
Chesapeake bay from the sea, the enor-
nous quantity of apparatus among which
also was responsible.
The trouble, according to the fisheries
bureau. lies in the fact that the fish
coming into Chesapeake bay have to
encounter such a maze of nets that they
are unable to reach their spawning
grounds.
Instances of Ill Luck.
AT Ferry Landing according to the
statement. the largest seine on the
river, 100 fathoms long, has discon-
tinued operations in the middle of the
former years this celebrated fishing
shore, with a smaller seine, sometimes
yielded 10000 or more herring at haul,
and up to ten or fifteen years ago took
probably 1l0G0 to 10000 fish at haul
on an average. Only few years back
from 1000 to 1,JCO shad We're frequently
taken at one set of the seine. This year
the largest haul was 5000 herring and
1Co shad while many times only six to
twenty shad Were taken
The effects of this diminished run,
IT is declared. will be seen when the re-
duced progeny Of this seasons supply
comes back to spawn.
A very unsuccessful season is reported
for the shad hatcheries maintained BIZ
the government on the Potomac and
Susauehanna rivers. and the operate
of these hatcheries. it is asserted. afford
good criterion of the condition of the
fishery in the fresh waters. because the
whole field is covered and nearly every
ripe fish that is caught by the fishermen
is stripped of it's eggs by spawn-takers
sent out from the hatcheries. At the shad
hatchery on the Potomac river the egg
collections amounted to 29.9SSOOO, as
compared with So. 127 600 in 1872.
Protective legislation is needed for shad
hatcherieS. as under present conditions
shad culture is deprived of one very es-
sential requirement. namely. an adequat tie
supply of ripe eggs for Matching purposes
Excessive Fishing One Cause.
Excessive fishing in former years the
bureau charges. is a remote cause of the
present condition. The lack of protec-
ton is also prevalent. For instance fish
entering Chesapeake bay have to run
through such a maze of nets that the
wonder is expressed that any are able to
reach .hcir spawning grounds and deposit
their eggs. The mouth of every import
ant shad and herring stream in the
Chesapeake basin. it is declared by the
fisheries bureau. is literally clogged
with nets thai are set for the special
purpose of interceptins every fish, where
as a proper regard for the future wei
fare of the fisheries and for the needs Of
the migrating schools would cause the
nets to be sci TO insure the escape
of certain proportion of the spawning
fish
The bureau suggests that adequate pro
lection would result in large and in
creaSing yield. and further says that a
curtailment of the catch of approximately
10 per cent in any given year might be
sufficient to perpetuate the species and
result in increased production.
Then. in conclusion. the bureau gives
this warning: ITO disregard a requirement
so small. and to permit the continuance
o. an evil so serious. simply invites and
encourages the destruction of most
valuable food supply.