Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-12
STURGEON IN
CHESAPEAKE
Government viii Aid State In
Restoring These Fish,
Once Very Numerous

Through cooperation between the
the National Bureau of Fisheries there
is prospect of the restoration of stur-
geon in the Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries. The Delaware Bay will
first be stocked with a shipment Of the
fish now on its way to this country from
Roumania. in whose waters it thrives.
The restoration of sturgeon TO the Ches.
apeake Bay will mean much to fisher
men. as It's roe or caviar is valuable.
The importation of the fish is made
possible through the efforts of United
States Minister Knowles. who for many
years was stationed in Rnumania. and
who is now accredited 10 Bolivia. Mr..
Knowles was quick to grasp the benefits
TO follow the restoration of the fish in
American waters.
Many years ago the Chesapeake was
well stocked with sturgeon Some Of
the fish weighed as mucn as 250 pounds,
and from some of them as much as 100
pounds Of caviar could be obtained The
caviar sold as high as 81 pound, so
that each catch represented small
sized fortune. Fishermen were so eager
10 obtain the sturgeon that within a
short time the entire stock was depleted
Whereas thousands of these fish were
caught ON the Pacific Coast ten years
ago. not one is being caught today.
While Mr.. Knowles was minister to
Roumauia he made a study Of the sub
iect and found that the government
there took great precautions against de.
pleting the stock He found that il
would he possible TO transplant the
ROumanian sturgeon 20 American wa
ters. Recently Mr.. Knowles went To
Washington from South America and
interested ex-Secretary of Commerce
Rcdfeld in the proposal. The Fish Com.
missioner was given instructions 20
spend any reasonable amount Of money
TO obtain three carloads of the sturgeon
from Roumania. The entire amount
will he deposited in the Delaware Bay
and vii be under the supervision Of the
government. The Chesapeake will next
be restocked. In fact, it Is thought that
the fish will voluntarily seek Maryland
waters. Minister Knowles has said:
There are few matters connected with
our countrv's food supply more impor-
tant than that of our fish production
When il is considered that by reason of
the increase of our population the de-
mand is increased, and that with the
gradual and constant falling OIL of the
catch Of all kinds of fish the supply IS
lessened. il is one of the serious prob.
lens that confront our country 4
plentiful supply of fish during all sea.
sons Of the year is one of the greatest
blessings ours or any country can have.
Meats cannot sell for high prices when
fish is plentiful and cheap The best aud
surest protection the people can have
against the Meat Trust is 20 have a
certain aud abundant supply Of fish. 1t
is great economical question. and il l.
Ito wonder our government is giving
such serious attention 10 it,
So many and vast are onF waters
rivers, lakes and bays--that once stocked
with suitable fish and then properly
protected by law against the extermina-
ting methods Of the ruthless aud i'm.
provident fishermen. the United States
should have the largest aud best fish
supply per capita of any country in the
world. For the good of my country
am deeply interested in this matter. and
will be very happy II can do anything
to better present conditions.