Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-12
PARSONS IS CANDIDATE
FOR REINFORCEMENT
Outlines Record Of His Work as
State Commissioner Of
Fisheries.
OPENS NEW: FISH HATCHERIEs
Says Strict Enforcement Of Law Has
Brought Opposition OF Those Who
Would Exploit States Resources
! Even to Their Destruction.

st. ts Based on his record during the last
: four years. John s. Parsons, Commits
..Sstoner Of Game and Fisheries. is cam
didate for reappointment The appoint
ment Is at tho disposal of tho incom-
ing Governor. who takes Office on Feb
ruary /. With his successful admin
istration as basis Of his claims. Com
missioner Parsons has made frank
bid for another term. being tho first
state official publicly to stand for re-
appointment.
The candidacy of Commissioner Par
sons already has received considerable
Endorsement Westmoreland Davis the
Democratic nominee for Governor. has
let It be known that he will consider
no appointments until after the No
vember election. He is known as one
who will make his appointments in the
interest OF efficiency and with the
welfare of Virginia in mind. Commits
sioner Parsons is the only official who
has sought reappointmcnt. On the
other hand, James b. Doherty, Commits
sioner Of Labor, has announced that he
will not stand for reappointmcnt.
Commissioner Parsons yesterday is
sued the following statement In regard
10 his candidacy:
Il have decided to be a candidate for
reappointment to the office of Commits
sioncr OF Fisheries Of Virginia, the IN
cumbent of which position is ex-otii-
clio Commissioner Of Game and In
land Fisheries. base my claim 10 re-
appointment upon the record / have
made, and l call attention 10 the fact
81 that knowledge gained by experience
should enable Inc 10 render more vnlu-
able services TO the State during a
second term.
DUTIES or GAME DEPARTMENT
CAME TO HIM INSOUGIFr
II beg TO say, too, that the duties
OF Commissioner of Game and Inland
Fisheries were placed upon me by the
last Legislature, unsought. and, al
though this department has been in eX-
istence but little more than year. II
has succeeded beyond the expectations
OF the most ardent advocates or It's
creation. | am deeply interested III
the work of protecting and propagat-
ing game and fish. and realize the
wonderful opportunities for service 10
the State in this field OF endeavor. !
have made study of the workings OF
the most successful game departments
of several other States, and am at
tempting TO put into operation that
which ] consider best in each. one
successful fish hatchery WAS operat-
ed this season. Two more are planned
for next season, both to be located In
the inland section OF the State
"One game farm has been secured anc
is now being put in condition TO re-
ceivc stock for next seasons breed
ing. Another will be established ir
the western section of the state. Con
siderinS these facts / feel l am no.
presumptuous In asking TO be giVer
the opportunity 20 develop this dc
fJaftert-accprdine-t the plans hay.
Soh hot
;Y6fKcd :succeEsfu1fy.
: LAS 10 nv services as Comm ISIS lone
OF Fisheries OF Virginia, hope the &C
Gasion may justify my quoting th'
lords of DR.. Hugh AZ Smith. Commits
.,ioner of Fisheries OF the United
states in an address before ihc Ameil
can Fisheries Society AZ Kew Orleans
last October. In speaking OF my NoIF
in Virgini he said:
~ wish TO take this occasion TO com
pliment Comm ISIS ioncr Parsons on wha
he has done in the comparatively few
years OF his incumbency. He has done
really progressive. constructive work
which makes us hopeful. j believe th'
action OF the last session of the Wiz
ginia Legislature which must hAv'
been induced largely by his representa-
tons means more for the general tsl
industry in the Virginia waters OF tn
Chesapeake Bay than anything tina
has been done in Ii generation.
ENFORCING LAW For
CONSERVATION OF SHELLFISI
We have Enforced the present law
for the conservation OF fish and oys
tcrs and have advocated the adoption
Of reasonable measures TO conServ
and develop our grea, natural fisher
resources. On account of this actio
we have incurred the opposition OF
small class OF men who wish to giu
their greed for gain by exploiting tn
natural resources Of the State even I
their destruction. This opposition how
ever. we believe will be considered a
endorsement by all thoughtful law
abiding citizens who have the welfar
Of their State at heart and who wis
20 see her great natural resources cor