The Penn's Grove record., 1914-05-08
Conserving Our Food Fish supply.

The great decline in the numbers of
shad and sturgeon caught the past few
years has impressed many that some
thing should be done nationally to con
serve our food fish supply. Sturgeon
fishing which used to be a profitable
industry on the Delaware river and
bay is now abandoned except by a few.
The scarcity of fish caught has caused
the price of the raw roe to go from so
cents up to from ST IS to So a pound
and the meat in the rough carcass to
from 6 to 10 cents a pound, double
what it use to be.
The scarcity of shad has kept the
wholesale price this year up to from
$40 to $55 a hundred in May when they
should be abundant at half that price
10 the consuming public as formerly.
What the cause are for decrease are
discussed by many and different reasons
given. The government for years has
had a shad Matching steamer on the
Delaware and millions of fry were
Matched and put into the waters where
the fish are presumed TO return to de-
posit their eggs after they have grown
TO maturity. 1t was thought for many
years that the Matching produced great
results, but during the last few years
the numbers of shad caught have great
ly decreased, not withstanding the arti-
fetal Matching.
Undoubtel lily the increased flow of
sewage fl ON cities has contaminated the
waters much, but much more has
the chemical poisOns from factories.
Some most interested in the fishing in
dustry for years believe that the oil
which escapes from the large storage
tanks at Marcus Hook, and the dregs
pumped from the holds of the large oil
tank steamers float upon the surface OF
the water and undoubtedly kill millions
of shad fry before they reach the ocean.
Another reason assigned for the de-
creased food fish supply i'll the bays and
rivers is the great increase i'll catches
made in thehugh pound Lets along the
Atlantic coast. These traps are built
OH shoals'in the ocean from one to three
miles from the shore. A few years ago
there were only a few Oh the Jersey
coast, now there are scores. There are
about 1875 all told along the Atlantic
coast. With so many traps to each
the fish which go on the ocean shoals
where the water is warmer and for a
supply of food, and an almost cOntin.
Gus line of gill nets in the bays and
rivers, is it any wonder that SO few shad
reach The clear head waters of streams
where conditions are most favOrab' for
the spawn to hatch. After the fry have
stal ted towards the ocean it is hard for
the small, delicate fish to escape sWal-
lowing The numerous poisOns in the
water.
Besides these ~unfavorable conditions
it is claimed by some that the large
purse ! els cast from steamers to catch
menhaden fish for fertilizers destroy
many food fish that should be sorted from
the fish fit for only oil and fertilizer.
Not only in the Delaware but in
Chesapeake bay and other rivers is the
supply Of food fish diminishing. The
question has become too large for States
to deal with, because there are too
many minds changeable in offices to get
in accord. The national government
will have to take it under CONTROL like
they have the migratory gfme bids.
Congressman John G. Lin!hicum of
Maryland has introduced two bills with
the object CT bringing about necessary
reform, and these will, first of all. form
the basis of a thorough inquiry into the
situation. One OF the measures is in
tended to regulate the interstate ship
ment Of fish fertilizer and to prohibit
catch of food fish for fertilizer, and to
compel fish fertilizer factories to set
farth upon all thtil interstate shipmen, S
that in the manufacture of their
product, they have conformed to
the law. The other measure IS
intended to regulate seine hauling, to
prescribe the fishing season, and limit
the use of nets. 1t is recognized that
n%on-edible fish may be properly en-
ployed in the manufacture of fertilizi:lg
material, and the first bill, if enacted
into law, will make provision for prop
Ell exemptions; it is the wanton and, at
least morally, illegitimate destruction
of food fish that is aimed at.