Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-02
CONSERVING THE FISH.

! The manner with which Americans
have wasted exhaustible natural re.
sources with which this continent was
endowed Is exemplifed in a report OF
the bureau of fisheries on a bill intro
duced by Congressman Linthicum OF
Maryland for the conservation of the
fish supply.
The wild pigeon has been extermin-
ated by the greedy hunters. The buff
falo was killed out within a compare
lively short space of time. Several
valuable species OF fur-bearing animals
are almost extinct. The rapid destruc-
ton of the great numbers OF wild
ducks, geese and other game birds
finally resulted in thS passage of the
Mclean law, the first statute which
aims at federal control OF the game
supply.
And now Congressman Linthicum
proposes federal regulation of the
catching OF fish. on the ground that
they. too. are migratory. and hence
and not within the exclusive turisdic-
ton OF any one state. The report OF
the bureau OF fisheries demonstrates
that some of the commonest varie-
ties OF edible fish are going the same
way OF the wild pigeon and the beaver
under the present reckless custom OF
permitting catches TO be unlimited, and
the failure to provide safety zones
where the fish can breed without mo-
lestation.
The sturgeon was once an impor-
AWmG 4Wfr
almost completely disappeared. Ameri-
can caviar Will soon become an I'M
known dish, and the price OF this dell.
cacy IS now SO high as to exclude it
from the tables OF all but the rich.
Yet not so many years ago sturgeon
were so plentiful as to be almost a nut
sance. For many years they were not
known TO be edible, and the prepara-
ton of their roe, as caviar, was an I'M
known culinary process in this coun-
try. The big powerful sturgeon made
trouble for the fishermen, tangling and
tearing their nets. Consequently.
whenever they were captured they
were promptly killed and thrown back
into the water.
Then the edibility OF the sturgeon
an AN6 &c WaS AASNOFtIGu. tlE0GE-
men began taking them in great num- |
bers for the market. There was no |
for the future, no closing |
season. no protection for the fish at |
all. Soon the supply began diminish |
Ing. Then IL was discovered that the |
was a variety of fish easily |
killed of. The scientists began study |
Ing its habits OF life. and to this day |
they have failed TO find out how TO
Increase the sturgeon supply by arti-
fetal propagation. The roe OF other
nsh can be Matched in tanks, and the
small fish can be distributed in the
waters OF the country, but artificial
propagation of sturgeon has not yet
been learned.
But that made no difference to the
fishermen. The price OF sturgeon and
caviar mounted. stimulating the catch
srs TO more diligence. Fifteen wear.
ago the catch OF sturgeon on the At
entic coast was 1000. 900 pounds. Last
year, with even greater Efforts on the
part OF fishermen. II was less than
100000 In Is years the sturgeon
catch in the Great Lakes declined go
per cent. The fish Is becoming ex-
inct.
Even the more prolific varieties OF
ish are suffering the same fate Shad
= becoming a luxury. A few years
Igo more shad were taken in a days
Ishing than are now caught in an en-
ire season. The important menhad-
en. a non-edible fish. but one which
food supply for the great
,od fisheries OF the Atlantic coast.
0rmerly swaTmed by the trillions.
was not infrequent that several tons
them were caught in a single sweep
net. They are used in making
and the supply has now visi-
y decreased.