The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-03-06
Fish Expert Talks
on Scarcity Of Fish

Mr.. ]. P. Snyder, Expert Fish
Culturist of the Bureau OF flshef-
les, who has been in charge OF the
hatchery work in Maryland for a
number of years, delivered two lee
lures at the Maryland State College
on Feb. 25th and 26th. The ilrst
was on the fresh water fish and the
second on the migratory hsh that
come into the Chesapeake Bay TO
spawn.
In discussing the Improvement OF
the conditions Ut our streams to en-
able the restocking of them with
more and better fish, Mr.. Snyder
brought out several points and made
some recommendations,
Rrst-Many streams have been
overAfished but this can be remedled
by artificial propagation or by laws
protecting brood fish.
Second-streames are deficient in
the small aquatic life that support
the fish fry but by planting with
lingering or yearling fish, this diff
ficulty may be obviated.
Third-Many streams are SO
changed in char acter that they are
no longer suitable for fish that lived
in them and, therefore, it becomes
necessary to ascertain the fish that
stitute such fish for the native fish
will thrive in these waters and sub
even though their equality is not
as good.
Fourth-Purely game fish, such
as black bass, should be protected by
law and catching them in nets in
tidal waters should be prohibited.
th-Discrimination should be
used in stocking streams so that
streams suitable for success only,
will not have black bass placed there
in.
Sixth-Immatured fish should be
protected by law at all times.
Seyenth-Reforestati of all head
waters should be encouraged.
Eighth-Pollution of streams
should not be permitted.
Ninth-New species should be IN
troduced only after their habits ana
needs have been studied.
Tenth-The State should give
CAREFUL attention to the aquatlc
biology and to fish propagation Dus
Dropagation should go hand IN manu-
with biology. -,
This last recommendation has been
considered as paramount by the
Dent of Zoology at the Maryland
state College and an effort IN now
being made to develop nvestlga
tions and studies in aquastlc Do
logy. supplementing the WORK OF !ne
conservation Commission and httlng
students for the big job OF placins
orr aquatic resources back on tne
;niane which they occupied IN tne
past. .,.a,.o5 sfba
The second lecture covered ene
subject of migration, reproduction
and life history of the shad, herrl4s
and rock fish. The speaker bfought
mi In a. striking way the tremendous
raduction in the amount OF hsh
canrht now as compared with ten or
sas .s-.<.e-s~ and the part that
tLie reduction p Ess
o-aosad cost of fish. to the conse1io =
E,o1-ar. Years ago in one sweep VI
~ saines on the upper Bay loo,voo
sorr;ng were caught. At TINS tlLhs
- 4sb were selling for 30 Genus Pc
tho,sond for use as fertHlzef anu anu
.o11 thew are selling for 90 Genus
adozen A big haul of fish IKE the
shove Is never made now. 40
chad that used tn 90 81
that they were actually used for fer
tilizer have practically become ex-
tinct. The catch of shad on the Pc
comoke, Wicomico, Nantieoke, Chop
tank and Chester Rivers has drop
ped in the last fifteen years IN the.
ratio of 9 9to /.
Certain deil,ite recommendations
were made by Mr.. Snyder, Bafeicul-
arly, with reference to the pound
nets. From Cape Charles to the
spawning beds the fish run gamut
Of pound nets so numerous and so
skillfully placed that it is wonder
any fish ever get to the spawning
beds. Fish must be given an OPP
portunity to reach the spawning
beds at the heads of the river or the
entire fishing industry is doomed.
Another recemm endation made by
Mr.. Snyder Is shat eon1m ercial fish
efmen be required to keep record
Of the number of pounds of each
species Of fish taken and make an
annual return to the Conservation
Commission. After these are COM
piled, a single glance will tell
whether the fish are on the way tol
extinction or whether the measures
that we may take to conserve the in
dustry are satisfactory.
y. m