Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-14

NTAsHINGTON, D. c., May 1O.-A special plea
wv to American anglers not to waste fish this
is being made by the government
bureau of fisheries The fishery experts say that
anglers annually waste thousands of pounds OF
fish by catching more than they eat with the
result that some are allowed to spoil and also by
throwing away various non-game fish, which are
regarded with aversion by the SportSmen.
These forms OF waste amount in the aggregate
to a great deal There probably at least SIX
million anglers in the United States and since nsh-
ing is good in most parts of this country their total
catch is no small item of the national tood re-
sources Furthermore, these fish taken by the
sportsmen the finest that swim. The trout,
bass and perch, which the favorite American
game fishes, not generally taken by CONNER
cial fishermen at all, being reserved by law for
sport with rod and line. They by far the best
table fishes in American waters And yet they are
wasted in way that no commercial fishery could
afford The city sportsman, off for his two weeks
of trout fishing seldom resist the temptation
to catch all the fish he is able, and that is often
more than he and his party can eat. Not one
sportsman in a thousand knows how to cure the
surplus fish, so that he take them home with
him. Now there are easy methods OF drying ana
sailing fish in camp. The bureau of fisheries now
has in course of preparation pamphlet which de-
scribes methods of preserving fish in camp, and one
has already been published telling how to care
for them at home. Thus any sportsman may learn
how to for his catch, and in these days Wnen
waste of food in any form is almost criminal ne
should take much pride in this knowledge as ne
does in knowing how to use his tackle.
Not only should all the game fish caught De
carefully preserved but the inferior species should
be either replaced in the water or else used 1or
food. In great many bass waters, for example,
there are catfish and cells. Many anglers regard
these simply as nuisances and when they catcn
them, the fish killed and thrown away. 1eI
catfish and cells are excellent food and there is no
excuse for wasting them. If properly preserved
they will be very welcome at the table IN the VIII
ter.
In some sections, sportsmen have already
adopted this policy of not wasting any fish. In
the lower Potomac, for example, fishermen from
Washington and Baltimore annually take thou
sands of pounds of croakers, striped bass, blue
fish, sea trout and other fine salt water fishes.
When the fish biting days catch is often fifty
pounds more, and there is no legal limit. Many
of these anglers have adopted the policy of
preserving what they cannot fresh for winter
If every man who enjoys day of fishing knew
the methods by which the supply of game fish in
fewer fish would be wasted For the abundance of
game fish is by means inexhaustible bounty
of nature; it is the result of constant effort By the
bureau of fisheries along the most scientific lines
Take for example, the brook trout There are
hundreds of thousands of men in the United States
who prefer following a trout stream with the fly
rod to any other sport The game fighting quail
ties of the fish, the beauty of the environment in
which it is found and the fine skill necessary for
fishes Trout fishing seems to have special charm
for men of intellect. Sir Edward Gray the famous
British statesman, is a devotee of the hy-rod, as
are many other well-known Englishmen. In this
country Daniel Webster trout-fisherman of
enthusiasm and skill. In his day, there was ex-
ceIIent trout fishing in almost every brook in the
northeastern quarter of the United States. Soon,
however this was changed. The last trout was
taken by anglers from many stream Others