The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-03

Barrels and barrels of bass for sale
at 40 cents pound in the markets OF
Washington. Baltimore and Philadel-
phia-and every barrel from the
state OF Virginia And it Is Illegal to
net or trap bass in Virginia at any
time OF the year! What is the Gig
nificsnee of this state of affairs? The
sportsmen. the anglers and other good
citizens of Virginia should take notice
and IL an unvarnished statement OF
facts will bring that about. here IL IS
The plymouth bass sometimes
called club or trout. OF the clear tide
waters of Eastern Virginia are grad
ually. but surely. being exterrhinated
What a pity to see this real game
fish. who furnishes SO many happy
days to the angler of the fly rod. the
casting rod, and the cane pole with
it's lively smelt. going the way OF ~.
pr ssenger pigeon, the wild turkey Ana
the brook trout
study OF the geological surye!
maps of Eastern and Northeastern
Virginia and a few trips of explora-
ton will convince the observant ar
gler that nature has been lavish In
providing this portion OF our country
with ideal conditions for the develop.
ment of the plymouth bass. The
Potomac the James and hundreds o!
lesser streams with their tributaries
they enter the tidewater region
form countless cstuaries and coves
which are natural grounds for the
big mouth bass. They have clea,
water, both deep and shallow. plenty
~ grass, lily pads and similar vege-
tation OF kinds most pleasing to tn
bass family. Smelt, bull minnows
pike minnows. crawfish and other
forms OF small life furnish variety
of diet The coming and going OF
the tides give tone and motion to the
water. and exercise to- the bag -
keep them from getting lazy. Ihe
winters are not severe and the earl5
coming OF spring assures long sea
son for spawning
Natural conditions could not bs
more propitIous or more ideal. The
superficial observer. or ono not Ia
miliar with local conditions. would
saw. How fotunate are, the angling
sportsmen OF Virginia to have pres
ent and future 80 well assured oil
good fishing for real game fish. which
except in size are more than match
for the famous Florida bass, Would
that such an observation were true
one. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Unless the law -abiding
citizens Of the state cooperating with
the fishermen and the conservation
authorities who wake UP and exert the
force OF public opinion, and the firm
arm OF the law. the great menace that
Threatens the best of our game fish III
the state will have wiped out the big
mouth bass entirely. This menace
comes from within the state, II IS
based on a short-sighted and Stubborn
course of action pursued by com
parativefv small number of men whc
make a few dirty dollars each winter
and spring by the Illegal taking OF
bass in trap nets. Bass are most
asily Melted in late February after
he Ice goes out and In March When
hey are moving toward the spawn
ing bedn Why spend thousands OF
dollars for hatcheries and permit the
narert bass to ba killed for sale al
30 cents pound wholesale?
II is curious situation whIch
exists in this matter today. We see a
few men deliberately, openly ami
tiefiantiy violating the law of the state
fer the sake Of financial gain, while
a large number of men whose inner
-. ~i~',.~ es eitize~e IS tho fish Of
the streams are thereby destroyed.
l, -rts,t ista joGty stand by supinely,
because everybody's business is no
bodys business, and make no protest
by voice or deed. Now and then YOU
will hear some individual who has
come in with an empty string com.
plain that the hshinK is not what IT
used 10 be in the old days, and that
somebody ought to have the law
enforced.
, The writer OF this article has given
personal study to and made thorough
investigation OF the whole subject
during the past five years. and has
the. conclusion that better
protection for the bass can never be
secured unit, the truth la told to the
rublic and Tha legislature If Virginia.
TIis fishing trips nave covered zine
southern watershed Of the Potomac.
from Alexandria to Frederieksburg
and he has talked at length with
other anglers who are familiar with
the James river and other sections.
who describe conditions identical with
those herein described He has talked
with many OF tho net fishermen M
Potomac creek. Chapa wamsic. NeAb-
rcssy ssiwnxtssa, esswsrsssss 4ss, Aud, Lsittla
Hunting creeks He nrds in every
one OF these localities the. same dis
regard Of the law; and |, short
sighted comprehension Of what will
follow the systematic netting Of bass
kr0saa early -faA. until late snrings.@.
On trip last Septem Der the fol-