The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-19

gills will irritate 10 distraction The
f. has no lime coating or casting
with which to encist the annoying
grain, as has the oyster. and convert ii
into pearl So, in easternly. stormy
weather the uprun of fish keeps far
away from sandy beaches. by reason
OF this the taste or brackish waters
is lost in the sea depths. and the
school passes on its northern course.
The same motifs obtain, in less d.
gree, within the Chesapeake bay. 50
IL my Maryland friends will become
devotees OF old Borea$, they may reg
ulate his breath TO. their own emolu~
ment Let him breathe softly III
southern and western zephr; Will" the
shad are coming up the coast. After
they have passed into the Chesapeake.
then have him pound the western
beaches with his non east snprts. And
10. all our Virginia Shad will keep
straight up the channel and I'll the
pockets of their nets and people.
Man But Nesligibis Destructive.
Let ne refresh your minds also
with another declaration OF our atlou-
al bureau--that mans efforts in the
depletion of certain 8, les i of i.egt,-
gibie quantity. In common parlance,
nut drop from the bucket" When
the shad herring aud mcnhaaen are
making their way n great masses and
phalanxes north along the southern
coast large schools of shark. blues
mackerei ana weakfish loll on the
surface TO intercept the Immigrant
After gorging themSt Ives with the
harmless and non-resisting schools
the savage fellows turn IN, If NOT tee
lazy. aud lacerate for sport hundreds
If thousands of the OnComiug edihies.
we have Seen on the oceans surface,
a. the mouth or the Virginia Ia pes
upon calm day a swath 81 minced
fish ten miles long and varying from
halfa- mile To one-and-a half miles
wide. the product Of such carniverous
sport.
Should the herring tribes. Of some
other schooling surface feeders not
come along when meal time again ar
rsves, the shark viii pitch into the
blues. mackerel or big. clumsy weak
fish. the latter sometimes suffering
severely. In turn. the blues and mac
kerei. II hungry. will raid the weak
fish. not only gorgtng themselves with
'heso hitherto partners in crime, but
for the sport Of it. siaughtering schools
Of them. their minced Carcasses LEFT
floating upon the oceans surface
FISH has caused some discussion ~
late The chief Of scientific authorS-
ties tells US that il IS so named because
It's mouth IA tender. and win not hold
well when hooked Along the middle
Atlantic and southern coasts the com
man name Of this fish is trout
Our old salts will tell you its belli-
costly Is easily subdued by fishes Of
smaller size. the biucfsh and macker-
ell for instance. While Its mouth Is
weak It's whole body and disposition
fare in keeping, Large hioated and
soft, 1t is easily bruised and IT, natur-
ally. A coward.
AZ to mans share in the game ot
decreasing the supply Of fishes. II is
I recognized by practical operators as
wen as by the scientists that certain
species may be destroyed--the shad
and salmon only to o degree. while
local or non migratory, species can
be fatally wiped out But we have the
no less authority than Dr. Prince. at
the head OF the Dominion of Canada's
great fisheries. that mans influence
upon depicting the migratory species is
negligible; that areas may he depleted
but will again become restocked from
the great storehonse OF Mother Ocean.
With such eminent authorities as the
4. 8. Bureau OF Fisheries and tho
learned DR.. Prince. ! might have well
rested nv case. But my quotations
must not be construed as meaning that
these authorities do not counsel regu-
lation. or that ! have in the slightest
argued against that point. Sane regu-
latlon. and continued. but better. State
control are the features OF my advo-
cacy.
i have been too proiiy already! occu-
plying your valuable time on Finishes
entirely, and still the A-B-C's Of II
have not been reifearsed Probably in
discussion OF the blue-crab, or Of
the oyster and pollution NAV later
have something to say, but at this time
1 viii drop prosaic subjects
Grateful for High Honor.
The honor you conferred upon me
| at Atlantic city year ago I cherish
as one of the hirhest I have or may
ever receive. 1t was born OF con-
idence in your compatriot who had
been retired from active State work
by the changing Of political complex
ions. recommended by your nominat-
ing committee in his absence. rTpor
reaching Atlantic City. some OF Won
will recall that ! protested l was not
then eligible to head this important
body. whose constitution demands
among the elieibles one who il In the
active service of his State. The retcrt
Of your chairman. that thew did not
intend to let n little thing like a gov
ernor rob them of usefu, man
shall never forget or cease 10 highly
prize. | surrender at this time to
the co-laborer whom you may choose,
feeling that wisdom will resume its
sway though 1t may have lsnsad a
year ago. ! have not felt that my
circumference Of this important office
has brought such results as L might
have done in the hands Of anoth ,r not
so entangled with business affairs. but
| promise by loyalty and continued
service in the ranks hereafter to make
up for any dereliction Of the past year.
Such will be my gratitude
l now welcome YOU In convention
assembled. and trust your delibera-
lions may prove beneficial from Maine
to Texas and from Washington to
lower f,afifnrflIa In Tho infareafs' w.