Milford chronicle., 1915-06-18
CONGRESSMAN MILLER
FAVORS FISH HATCHERY

Following up the matter of petition
to be presented to Congressman Ihoma:
w. Miller by Delaware river and bay
shad fishermen, the purpose of which
was to have the government investigate
the advisability of locating fish hatch.
cries in the Delaware, Mr. Miller saio
he firmly believes that hatchery placed
at head of the Delaware bay would prove
most beneficial.
The entire matter arose from dissatis-
faction as a result of the poor results OF
/ this season. Compared with the season
of last year, it was remarkably poor, and
it is felt by some that unless definite
action be taken soon shad and other fish
will become extinct.
Mr.. Miller feels, however. that the
government will not take up the question
at this time, because of the many other
matters which will be before it. He feels
that after 1917 something may be done.
In this connection the Delaware City
Board of Trade recently took action, be-
] cause of the great differences in shad
hauls this season, which opened in March
and closed the 10th instant. At other
points along the Delaware there has been
much agitation for the same reason, al
though in some instances the catches
were almost normal.
At Port Penn the shad haul in 1914
totaled 2l, 900 fish, compared with only
about l4,000 this year. At Delaware
City last year the haul was about II, 900,
this year, about 1000, a considerable
drop. The largest catch at Port Penn
in 1914 was 5000, this year 1,200.
Dealing with other fish, good instance
is that of the sturgeon, Last year at
least so good sturgeon were caught at
various points, this year not a single
one was caught which would amount to
anything.
Congressman Miller personally col
lected this data and has always taken
an interest in the matter.
He asserts that a fish hatchery estab- !
lished at the head of the Delaware bay
would have an admirable location. There
the stream is not polluted, and moreover /
the fish can find either salt or fresh !
water, to their liking. This would be
most desirable, as at times salt water is /
favorable but for the female fish, desir- /
ing to spawn, fresh water is quite indis
pensable. The fish swim upstream to
a good point and then deposit eggs.
At the present time there are fish
hatcheries at TOrresdale, above Phila-
delphia. Young fish are liberated there,
but in running the gauntlet of the Schuyl-
kill to come southwark, they pass through
water polluted with acids and chemicals,
which often poison them.
Other hatcheries in this section are at
Havre de Grace, Md, on the Susque-
hanna river, which is a very favorable
place, and at Edenton, N. c., on the
ChOWan river This stream is not mol
Iuted, but is often quite muddy.
1t is advanced that the water tempera-
ture in the Delaware of late years has
been quite low This year the tempera-
ture, during the spawning season, has
been from 40 to 80 degrees, while, it is
said, it should be from 48 to 81 degrees.
Any action on this matter, says Con-
yressman Miller, would have to be taken
oy Congress. An appropriation by it
would enable the establishment of a
hatchery. But. as he says, there is
title likelihood of its being done for
POSSIBLY two years.