Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-16
TO.PROTECT
FISH SUPPLY
Representative Linthicum
of Maryland, Reopens
The Fight
WANTS THE U. S. TO ACT
Representative Seeks Legislation Pro-
hibiting Conversion of Food Fish
Into Fertilizer.

Washington, Dec, l6-Representa-
tive J. Charles Linthicum, OF balti-
more has reintroduced his bills Tor
the conservation of the food fsh OF
the United States.
One of his bills gives the tederai
Government supervision over fisher
les in interstate bodies OF water, Ike
the Chesapeake Bay, and the other
prohibits the conversion of food hsh
into fertilizer. Mr.. Linthicum stated
that he intended to make more
,, vigorous fight than. ever for his mea-
sureS
"The need of legislation for the
conservation of the food fish OF the
! country is becoming more apparent
every year" said Mr.. Linthicum IN
, discussing his measures. at is quite
manifest that the states will not CO.
/ operate on the fish question. For IN
stance. in the Delaware river the
| fish laws of the States of Delaware
and PENNSYLVANIA are not uniform.
! In the Columbia river the same condi-
! ton applies to the States OF Wash
/ ington and Oregon.
"ln the Chesapeake Bay is most
triking example of this condition be-
tween Maryland and Virginia, and
throughout the United States there
arc many bodies OF wafer running
! through several states with different
! fish laws. Not alone is it difficult t"
| have these states agree upon the sub
icct of fish laws. but it is impoS-
| sible to enforce them after they are
| enacted. Local interests and loca!
candidates often interfere when the
laws are pressed and enforced.
;'NVe of Maryland are vitally IN
! terestcd in the conservation OF the
| food fish of the Chesapeake Bay, ana
when we realize it was only in 1917.
after lapse Of l27 years, that Mary
land and Virginia were able to get
! together upon the oyster, fish and
! c,>a problems in the Potomac river
we can readily see that the need for
| Federal legislation. giving the ma
! tional Government the power TO sup
! arvisc fisheries in interstate bodies
4 Of water. The shatt. and"herring enter
ing Canes at the mouth of the Chcsa-
pcakc have to run the gauntlet o.
thousands of nets to reach Mary
land eaters, and if they finally sue
ceed many are then caught IN the
seines spread for menhaden fish and
are manufactured into fertilizer IN
the State of Virginia.
"Eortv-seven fishing boats were
counted in one day taking menha-
den fish from the waters Of Maryland
and when they catch Il school of men
hadcn they take also the food fish
i feeding upon them, all of which goes
into fertilizer. am told that rock
AS long as ones arm are carried
along with the iaenhaden into the
naws of the fertilizer factories OF
our sister State of Virginia. The re-
suit is that fish are rapidly disappear
ing from the waters of the bay ant
.he river of our State, and this con
aition can be chacked by Federal
f legislation just as the destruction
| of game birds has been checked b!
he national Government being givel
. authority over the migratory birds
! "The grabbing industry of Mary
t land gives employment to thousand
: Of men, women and children, and il
$ money value exceeds S1,000.0O0 an
nnally. This industry is rapidly bein;
: depleted and unless something
d done in its interest it will virtual
# pass away. The spawning crab leave
$ The waters of Maryland in Septembe
e and October for the warm waters Q
l. the Capes.
y 1.-The Virginia fishermen are pei
n mitted to dredge for crabs during til
n entire winter season, and when it
J. considered that the female crab pre-
duces only once in her existence
e. can readily be seen how short til
d time will be before the Grabbing il
, ! dustry of the Chesapeake Bay wi