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

9itOhttttEf nv
tuary is permitted to be closed
by nets more than a fourth OF its
width from either shore.
Meshes are limited to a minimum
size Ctwo-inch. or one-inch bar. in
haul seines and pound-nets, for in
ssance). Menhaden fishers are denied
the rivers, and penalties ranging
from 1000 to $4,000 prescribed for
taking or having In possession by boat
or factory a greater than one per
centum of food fish in any eaten.
Eut most effective and beneficial. as
the years will prove. are Or fish
Gull Jaws. When generation ago
Gull law was enacted for oysters upon
the common beds there was a great
howl and it was said 1t could not be
done practically, nor could the law
be enforced. Both of these claims
prov 1 fallacious. though in earlier
years the ends were accomplished
only partially and with great difficulty.
So II has been with our fish Gull law,
and good results are beginning to
show--espeCially in the case OF stur-
geon. AS soon as experience and the
temper of the people warrant the
qualifications OF our fish Gull laws will
be made better and stronger.
1t is necessary for regulation and
to raise revenue that every net OF
any design be licensed and located.
The reasons for this must be easily
apparent This. too, was inaugurated
with difficulty and amid protest; but
it has prevailed Until a State pro-
vides sane laws and regulations fogits
fisheries il Is not fulfilling the duty
cncumbent upon a trusteeship. Un,h
this il done | admit there must be
con .inued waste, figacy--and. In
time. woefui want.
Education Necessary.
when your conservation and regu-
lation statutes are secured. but half
the battle Is won q do not mean to
discourage IN so depicting III The
people engaged in the Industry must
be tutored IL took us five years af
ter getting proper statutes 10 bring
around the forty thousand oyster and
fisher folk of our Old Dominion, and
the anathemas upon US were not In
Sunday school dialect. either. But
they came around Today those peo-
pie are like Sunday School scholars,
restricted and regulated. and conser-
Vators of their wealth. Win one
hand the law was rigidly enforced;
with the head and the other hand.
educa lion In the line Of conservation
and respect for law was pressed upon
them. Wherever in Tidewatcr Nir-
ginia we would know of gatheriEE,
there we would be. Visiting lodge
assemblies and mixing ON the court
green were telling instruments \
night in the house of an oyster pirate
or at the fres!de Of daredevil
poacher or fisherman would bring
friendship, and things were viewed In
different and new light. You may
think the game not worth the candle,
but. my fellows. such results are last
ing and greater to be achieved than
any coercion by paternal govern
ment that ii not always in good favor
with the masses, especially If arhi-
tarily administered over what are
deemed inalienablc rights handed
down from their forefathers
] have read and studied the able
address of my predecessor made AT
Atlantic City last May. and though
.cf diametriCal opposite conclusions
with these herein set forth | acknowl
edge the beautiful theory 81 his posi-
ton and the sad necessity that impels
the cid States Rights disciple 10 take
that position. But must say to the
Honorable John craft that. notwith-
standing his shiny locks. we believe
there is youth In the old man yer suf-
licient TO carry out these ends within
the environs Of his own restfui Sta.e
IF Alabama
Inclined tn Federalism.
In the records Of that same meeting
is the splendid paper OF another OF
our former Presidents. DIR. Joseph
HYDE Pratt which have closely read
He, too, is inclined-but only in
cl!ned-to Federal regulation, Like
myself he has seen In his good old
state - North Carolina wanton waste
III Gods provisions for mans con-
sumption. Hut / am glad shat his
IL. 4
abandon that do the writings and
words of the venerable A!abamian.
Hope is said TO spring abundant in the
youthful breast, and he Of the glossy
raven locks il still hoping but not
without foundation. for while North
Carolina has been long in the media
tive stage glere are big signs
of Improvement all over her bos-
ON. and We can congratulate
her on laws but few days
old would say to hirn-keep
but lose no further time on the i'm
practical theme of Federal control.
Watt on yourself. and your friends
will Ike you better il a maxim in
stiled into childhood. Youth and old
age may make he application.
! am satisfied to rest the case with
the pronouncement in past of the L..
=. bureau OF FlSharies-~that control
should be Jeff with the individual
States. And 1t is with you and me to
see that our States do IT, We cannot
say. Il can't" or admit our inpotency
Before leaving this subject, some
practical phases of fish life---known
TO many of you--may not be arnss.
Let us. take the herring family--to
which the sciS ~tists. | believe tell us
tie shad and menhadeu belong. | cite
them as the best known Of our mi
gratory surface species. As they
cruise up the southern coast. seeking
fresher water and for the ultimate
purpose of spawning, the ones with
ripper roe draw closer shoreward. But
I for this. Carolina, Jersey and Connec-
ticut could not in proper turn have
roe shad. The ripper ones find the
brackish waters flowing out of the
Carolinas, for instance. and 60 into
be caught or to later return south
-maE4l-TaaSe- destined for Virginia are
pressed by the ripening roe within
them. and pidda alons until. Ike the
old hen, they begin to feel the need
of g nest. Work ing shoreward, the
hrackish waters OF the Chesapeake
flowing out If the Virginia Capes
eutiCe them, that is. provided masses.
OF blues, mackerel. weak-iish or shark
are not lolling at the gates. to sheer
them Off to Bacon's country of New