The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-06-24
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
MAY REGULATE FISHING
Bill In Congress Would Put North CaroliHa Fish
cries Under Federal Regulations
and Supervision

1t a bill recently introduced in
the Congress of the United
States becomes law the regula-
ton Of the shad and herring fish
ing industry Of the inland sounds
and rivers Of North Carolina
will be regulated by the Federal
Governent under the Department
OF Commerce and North. Caro1in-
ians will have as much to say
about when and how they may
catch and sell a shad or herring
as they now have to say about
when and how they may kill
cannvasback duck.
A copy of the bill as introduced by
Congressman Linthicum and known as
H. r. 213 has been furnished this news
paper by Congressman Ward. The bill
is now before the Committee on Mer-
chant Marine and Fisheries and pow
erful influences are working for favor
able report and it's passage. Here's the
bill:
"A bill to protect fish not remain
ing the entire year within the waters
of any State or Territory, and auth
orizing the Department of Commerce
to define the seasons and regulate
the manner and conditions under
which they may be taken or destroyed.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress
assembled, That all fish that do not
remain the entire year within the
waters of any State or Territory shall
hereafter be deemed to be within the
custody and protection of the Gov
ernment of the United States and
shall not be taken or destroyed con-
trary to regulations hereinafter pro-
vided therefor: Provided, however,
That this Act shall not apply to fish
when they may be in waters solely
within State or Territory, which
waters are not the outlets of streams
having their sources beyond the bOr-
ders of said State or Territory.
- "Sec. 2. That the Secretary of
Commerce is hereby authorized and
directed to adopt suitable regulations
to give effect to the previous para
graph by prescribing and fixing closed
seasons, the manner and conditions
under which and the means by which
said fish shall not be taken or de-
stroyed, and it shall be unlawful to-
take or destroy any fish within the
protection of this law during said
closed seasons, or to violate any reg
ulation prescribed by the Secretary
of Commerce for their protection,
and any person Or any company, cor
poration, or association who shall vio-
late any of the provisions of this law
or regulations prescribed hereunder
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
shall be fined not more than $500 or
be imprisoned not exceeding one year
for the first offense, and upon convic-
tion of each subsequent offense not
exceeding $1,000 or be imprisoned
not exceeding three years, or both, in
the discretion of the court.
"Sec. 3. That the Secretary of
Commerce, after the preparation of
said regulations, shall cause the same
to be made public, and shall allow a
regulations, may be examined and
considered before final adoption, per-
mitting, when deemed proper, public
hearings thereon, and after final
adoption shall cause the same to be
engrossed and submitted to the Pres
ident of the United States for ap-
proval: Provided, however, That
nothing herein contained shall be
deemed to affect or interfere with the
local laws of the States and Terri
tories for the protection of fish re-
naming the entire year within their
waters, nor to prevent the States and
Territories from enacting laws and
regulations to promote and render eff
fcient the regulations of the Depart
ment of Commerce provided under
this statute.
''Sec. 4. That there is hereby ap-
propriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated,
for the purpose of carrying out these
provisions, the sum of $3O,O0O."
Commenting upon the bill in a letter
o the editor of THE INDEPENDENT,
Ward says:
on the ground of shifting and unstable
tate legislation and the conflict of laws
etween states and imperfect enforce
nent of state laws. There has been a
discussion of it before Mr.. Hoover and
considerable interest is manifested in it.
t is true that our state laws on fishing
ave not been as successful and free
rom contest and changes, for the last
wenty years, as I think they ought to
ave been, but it does. not seem to me
hat that is a sufficient reason for the
federal Government to take everything
n the earth and in the waters under
he earth into it's own hands. I want
o know what the people think about it,
nd ask them to write me-"