The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-10
CHESAPEAKE BAY
MAY Be F|SHLESS
Industry Is in Danger of De-
struction, Is Burden of
Official Reports.
BLAME ON EXCESSIVE CATCH
Action by Maryland and Virginia
III Corporation With United
States Is Urged.

ashinston. September s-Accord-
ing TO oihcial reports. tho fisheries in
uustry or the Cheaapcake Bay and it's
tributaries. including the Potomac
ltiVer. Is doomed to destruction. unIess
mo Feoeral government and the States
OF alcryland and Virginia can provide
enent.Ve means for the adequate pro-
eecion OF the fish by the rigid enforce
ment or existing laws and regulations
governing tho placing of>iish nets and
traps In those waters and such nd
o'e'oHai legislation as may be ucemed
necessary to meet the situation
Consluerable correspondence on tho
uup1ect mas passed between tho Score
taries OF War and Commerce and no.
tween those officials and tho outhori-
ties OF the States OF Maryland ana
virginia II appears that the efforts
OF the war Department. have been dt
rected mainly TO preserving the nayt.
gaoiilty or the waters under it's 1uris-
uic'ion' ana that II has had difficulty
In preventing the encroachments Of
mo nets across the mouths OF various
streams. In order to leave space enough
Tor the passage of steamboats, and
other vessela
Inquiry by Army Engineers.
Al the instance of tho Secretary OF
COMMERCE. the army engineers in
charge OF public works in the waters
or chesapeake Bay and its tributaries,
mace special Investigations of report
go VIOLATIONS OF tho laws and regula-
''ohs governing tho placing OF nsh
nets In those waters. In their report.
these oficers agree that tho decrease
In the numbers Of nsh In Chesapealse
BAY Is due TO the excessive seininx and
destruction OF fish by the fertilizer
factories According to the reports
the only remedy Is a law which viii
prevent tho taking of fish from the
waters OF Chesapeake Bay and It's
tributaries for other purposes than
rood. and prohibiting their use BY fer
tilizer.
The excessive catch used by the
FERTILIZER factories" said the chicr OF
engineers, In summarizing tho reports.
OF the engineer officers. can .rcadil,s
be established by little invcstigation
and also by the fact that they take
the fish at amy and all times and from
an places without regard TO propaga-
tion or supply for future years
This Office would recommend thu,
the Secretary Of War bc Informed that
the only remedy Will be the enactment
OF n law by the Maryland legislature
preventing the use OF fish by the fer
tilizcr factories and prohibiting the
taking of fish from the waters of Ches-
apeakc Bay and tributaries for any
other purpose than for food II is be-
licved that II such n law were enacted
the troubles from stakes and nets would
be greatly decreased
shores Lined With Nets.
The most probable cause OF tho
diminishing annual catch OF fish in the
upper waters would appear TO - the
excessive amount caught in the lower
part OF Chesapeake Bay The shores
of the bay Itself and most OF it's tribu-
taries are almost completely lined with
Nsh stakes which extend far out from
tho shore. and besides thesc. there are
boats fishing with seine, so that II Is
almost wonderful that any fish at all
escape TO reach tho upper tributaries.
1T is believed that the cause for the
diminished run Of fish at this season Is
duo TO the excessive number OF nets
being placed at the mouth OF tho
streams and in the streams. allowing
only space enough for the steamboats,
and other traffic 10 pass.
Another cause for the scarcity OK
the run OF fish is that there are twelve
or thirteen fisheries in the tributaries
OF Chesapeake Bay on the west side.
between the mouth OF the Potomac
River and Fort Monroe These fisheries
are supposed TO conhne their catch to
inenhaden, which are converted into
'ish oil and scrap. but II has been the
observation OF this office that they do
not discriminate between ncnhadcn
ssh and food fish. In the spring large
quantities OF herring are converted into
oil and scrap. and during the season
any school of fish that is sighted by
the boats is caught up BY nets. re-
gardless OF species. From records OF
this Office one of these fisheries catches
annually about $4,000 tons OF fish. and
has in operation seven steamers en-
gagged in fishing. y days catch OF one
of these steamers OF 100 to 200 tons of
ish is not unusual II these figures
Of $4,000 tons of fish and seven boats
should be multiplied by the number OF
fishing establishments In the district
Thirteenth would probably give the
total catch OF fish for season. so 1t
can be readily understood why the run
OF fish this season was small II is
expected, IL these conditions continue.
that the run each season will be re-
duced accordingly.
Remedy for Conditions.
The remedy for present conditions
appears TO be with the States of Mary
land and Virginia If the Legislatures
OF those States should enact laws pro-
hibitin9 fisheries and fertilizer fac
tories in the States, and requiring the
men that use trap nets to pay a Ii
cense for that privilege, the revenue
from those licenses would enable the
States to patrol tho waters and control
the industry. as they do now with
oystering and oyster grounds"
In letter to tho Secretary OF Com
meroe transmitting the reports OF the