Evening journal., 1919-08-23
1alnuraun nlr.n
MARYLAND SHAU,
TOO, ON THE WANE.
Fish Expert Points Danger
of the Species Becoming
Extinct
WOULD LICENSE
POUND NETS IN STATE

BALTIMORE. Nd, Aus. 23.-The fac
that the shad for which Maryland has
been famous for generations are in dan
ger OF becoming extinct is made plain
in the report OF j. p snyder, Of the
United states Bureau Of Fisheries, who
is now acting superintendent OF the
Maryland FISH haicheries, published in
the official bulletin Of the state Con-
scrvation Commission He suggests as
a measure OF protection that the taking
OF shsd and also OF herring in the
pound nets along the bay should be
regulated. and that netting these fish
on their spawning beds be prohibited.
lie indicates that unless some adequate
measures OF protection are taken the
nsh many soon become extinct, and
certainly that unless there be some
Limitation in taking shad, herring and
rock these flsh may never again be re-
stored In large numbers.
This is so evident" he says. that II
is no longer a debatable question; the
only question before US is the way in
which this limitation may be brought
about with as little hardship 20 the
fisherman as possible and still be ef-
fectiye" In discussing methods Of pro-
lection, he continues:
Extensive Regulation Needed.
shall It be by closing the spawning
beds 10 fishing cor shall il be by open
ing the lanes through which these fish
must pass TO reach these beds Shall we
forbid men along the fresh water tidal
areas Of the State to take shad while
we let other men block their way to
fresh water with nets designed to catch
every fish they can possibly get?
"rhose who know how few are the
shad that reach their spawning beds in
Maryland waters know how futile any
such action would be in repopulaling
our waters with these valuable nsh.
The number reaching their spawning
beds is entirely too small 10 he efrec-
tive in this respect, even though no
fishing was permitted on these beds
Restrictions must be placed on taking
shad from their spawning beds. any
such action Will be ineffective until
even more radical restrictions are plac-I
ed upon taking them along the lanes
through which they must pass to get
TO these beds.
III a map was drawn Of Chesapeake
bay and its tributaries for each day
from March IS 10 June TO- and each |
days map showed The position Of all !
the nets Of all kinds set for shad.
study Of these maps could not fail TO
convene even the most skptlcal OF tho
urgnt need OF restricting The use OF
nets, and these same maps would show
how ineffective restrictive measures
would De that limited the use Of nets
in fresh water only. Aside from tho
end in view, any limitation in the use
OF ncis should not effect the end OF
the line only. but 10 be just must apply
TO tho whole line.
'rhe propagation. OF an food fishes
should be taken up and prosecuted
wherever practicable Just as agricul-
iurc can he made profitable under prop
er conditions and intelligent direction
just so can FISH culture be made prof |
table under similar conditions.
For Fishing Licenses.
"The fisherman who is wasteful ana
uselssly destructive in taking nsh I.
should be deprived OF the right 10 /
FISH. This Is particularly true OF the .
fish IN our bays and rivers. for these /
fish are not the property OF individuals /
engaged in fishing. but are the prop /
eriy Of the state, and this property /
must be administered 10 the best inter- l
est Of all. To this end every fisherman
should be required TO take oui a H.
cense before fishing. and this license
should be instantly rcyocablc against
anyone who necdlessly kills, small FISH.
or who refuses 20 cooperate with tho
state IN the propagation Of The flsh ne
lakes. To pay for the privilege 20 take
ilsh from public waters Is not restrlc-
lion Of personal rights. as many fish
srmen seem 10 think. Fish in public
Waters are state properly in which
ssch and every citizen has an equal
'ight and the goal should ever be to so
sdninister the taking Of these fsh az
10 accord with the best interest Of all.
The citizens OF the whole state
must be aroused TO the rapid decrease
In the run OF shsd, herring and rock in
Chesapeake bay as a direct result Of the
excessive and destructive fshing per-
mitted, that they. and not a class or
section Of the state, may shape TIE
policy governing the conditions under
which these flsh. may be taken and /
how and when and where"
The Conservation Commission in rs
report indicated that the outlook for an
excellent season for oysters IS good.
that the oysters on the beds are now
in good healthy condition. and that
the size and quality are better than for
number OF years, this being largely
due to the retention on the bottoms OF
oystrs that were not over 1h inches
Tie legal size.