The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-19
Protection Of States Bass
 Is a Matter Of Education
Hden Directs Attention to Good Work Being Under taken by the Alabama Fishermen's and
 Hunters Association

| called me back in the spring, and 1 took along by tackle with the deter imitation to enjoy at least one day on that old stream entwined about my boyhood memories. My idea was to try some of those old holes and rapids and eddies with a fly
 My boyhood friends had moved away, and I went alone. Spring was in the air. Birds were singing. Fra grance from flowers, half-grown leaves and ferns brought back recol- lections of happy days. A light wind was blowing as I hurried down the old wood road. The sky was slightly overcast. Conditions were just right. and visions of some real battles were crowding through my mind, as I turned from the road. passed through some brush and climbed high bank overlooking a deep. swirling pool. All the old beauties of the spot and surroundings remained as before. But looking down I saw the water was almost black with lot of discolored foam. Somebody had built a little plant above and was running the waste into the stream. There wasn't bass within miles of theS place. One more fine old stream
 
 day boys were denied the sport I had So thoroughly enjoyed. As I returned through the old wood road, the birds didn't seem to sing half so sweetly."
 Happens in Alabama
 There you are. tI happens all over Alabama; and much worse. Seiners are dragging the lakes and streams. Dynamiters are killing thousands of fish that are not even taken from the waters. Trappers are helping the rapid process of extermination, while thousands of bass are caught from their spawning beds. Hundreds of men and boys. who should be taught better, are dragging the waters with big wooden plugs carrying Is hooks that would snag everything that can't swim. And-but what's the use! Anybody with a few ounces of brains and some thought of the future knows there won't be any bass to speak of in Alabama a few years from now if this sort of thing con- tinues.
 The situation can be steadily im- proved if lovers of the great outdoors will get to work through the process and influence of education to stop it. as they are doing in most of the other states. With proper conserva- tion regulations and a good hatchery or two in Alabama bass fishing in a few years will be infinitely better than 1t is now. Without these meth ods of protection bass fishing in Ala bama in a few years won't be worth while. At the rate we've been going there will be very few bass In Ala bama within a decade. And then one of the states big assets will have disappeared.
 When Fishing Was Better
 can recall-and only a few years ago-when fishing within easy access of Birmingham was far better than it is today. What's the answer? Get rid of the fish hog. whether he be @ seiRer, dynamiter. water polluter or what mot Only q short while back I heard a member of the Ala bama Fishermen's and Hunters asso- citation attempt to defend the taking of bass during the spawning season on the ground that April and May are the best fishing months. There are Ljust two arguments against this First, it isn't true; secondly. unless reasonable conservation laws and regulations are made and enforced April and May will be very poor fish ing months, because there won't be many bass to be taken even from their spawning beds.
 have learned by experience eSat the period from September 20 to De-. cember 1 Is about as good as any other for bass fishing in the south. March and June are both good months. and sometimes good catches are made in the warmer days of Feb ruary and December.
 But the point Is. there's going to be no good bass fishing in Alabama at any season within few years If this splendid game fish is not given reasonable protection from those who Uou1d artermfpafa the sueefes