The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-12

brought the regulations into being
themselves. by infringing on the
rights of the navigation interests.
Because they knew no restraint, their
nets were set wherever they fancied,
and finally conditions got SO bad that
the shipping interests had TO make
complaint to save themselves The
fishermen IN Chesapeake bay need
not think that they have been picked
out by the government. and alone re-
stricted in their fishing. The fisher
men along the Pacific coast are reg
ulated by the government Just the
same as you are.
The fishermen win remember four
or Ave years ago they set their nets
wherever they wanted TO, There were
no regulations, then, that were en-
forced. In some cases. in the mouth
OF the Potomac river especially, these
lines of nets extended for several
miles from shore. Sometimes II was
the nets which suffered from being
run into by boats, anassometimes It
was the boats that suffered from run
ming into the nets. I made an inves-
ttgation of conditions. at the time.
during which interviewed many boat
men, familiar with down-river con-
ditions.
OF course, no man Elm violation"
wants to go to the trouble and ex-
pense, In time and money, necessary
to take up his stakes and nets and
move to another localtty--tf he can
find one--and set out again. So.
where he Ia then the inspector will re-
he must move, he does one of two
things. He gets his congressman. or
some other locally influential man,
to intercede for him, or he gets mad
M OF hA EGfhar me
Of these things In bad. II he stays
where he In. then the spector will re-
port this fact on his next trip. ]
have no choice, then, but to report
him TO the department OF justice and
recommend action at law. This will
result in a fine or jail sentence for
this man. This do not relish.
II he can get his congressman in
terested enough, he will so to see the
president or the chief OF engineers.
Now these are both exceedingly busy
men. and men who are not at all IA
miliar with the local conditions. So
your congressman is referred to the
engineer officer at Washington
either a report Is called for on the
case, or he la sent direct to this Of
fice. Here he pleads your case, and
is respectfully listened to. He usually
says that the man La a deacon in the
church at home. superintendent or the
Sunday school and a generally all
around fine man, and did not know
that he really was violating any fed
eral law. He ia then shown the let
tors and reports from the inspector.
and he liz shown the regulations, and
the maps, and is then convinced that
you are really in violation. When he
sees that there Is nothing he can do
in the matter he goes back home and
reports that he was not able to do
anything for you. And then all You
can do Is to move from your violating
position---as told to do In the first
place-and then pay him his travel
ling expenses and little over for
better luck the next time! ] have
received letters this fall telling OF the
expense (last year) Of sending men
to Washington ito fx 1t" so a man
could stay where he was---in violation
--"only until the end of the hsning
season."
There have even been cases where
money has been offered to men en-
ployed by this ONCE. so that a violat-
ing fisherman might be allowed to
stay where he was until the emf of
the year. Don't DO this--it will most
certainly tend to complieate matters
still further. Az matter of fact. It
10 crime TO offer such money; It Ia
bride. and IL punishable at law.
No special permits were granted
last year. and there will be no special
permits granted this year, so please
don't write In to the office and ask
for them.
On January 4, 1913. map Of tina