Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-08-05
OPENING PASSES
WOULD IMPROVE
FISH INDUSTRY
Auditor Fish and Oyster
ConI.,ission Calls Atten-
ton to Conditions on La
guna Madre

)
special derpty of the game, fish and
oyster commission Of the state, are in
the city following an inspection trip to
Point Isabel. where they spent two
days studying fish and oyster condi-
tions.
When interviewed yesterday as tc -
results of the investigation, Mr.. Burr
said the problems of the Laguna Madre
we're extremely interesting from sever
al angles. A striking fact, he said, was
the decline in fish production as COM
pared to ten or fifteen years ago
when the Laguna ranked with Corpus
Christi Bay. This decline he attributed
to the filling in Of the passes. partic-
ularly Boca Chica, which during the
summer months with low tides is prac
tically closed and shuts out fresh wa
ter from the Rio Grande, making the
water too briny. Il also shuts out fish
which would come in from the gulf.
Toward the center Of the Laguna the
fish die and sometimes are blinded
from too much salt, the fishermen
claim.
Fish Need River Water.
Mature h.s been generous TO these
waters by turning the current of the
Rio Grande up the coast" he said.
"For two miles up the coast the water
from the river is sweet enough to
drink, and even at Boca Chica, four
miles up. where it shows salt. il is by
no means bitter. Some OF the river
water sweeps around and into the
pass north Of Brazos Island but there
the water is almost as salty as the
gulf waters.
"In my opinion" he continued. shut
for these passes and the overflows Of
the Rio Grande. Laguna Madre would
be dead sea where no living thing
could exist. particularly rs the south
wind drives the water of Corpus Chris
ii Bay northward over the shadows.
tius ejeetin gfresh water from that
end.
Passes are Choked Up.
aNot only has the Boca Chica pass
become choked. but the continual de-
rosjting Of silt on the lowlands just
south of Point Isabel NAV perhaps cut
off the overflows Of the Rio Grande in
another generation or two and this
splendid fishing ground will have be-
come matter OF
"Corpus pass is also filling in. and
shortage Of fish there has been the re-
suit" said Mr.. Burr. ALSO Matagorda
Bay and East Bay at Galveston need
more openings. IN give gulf currents nm
ingress for the fish. while the state gen
erally Is facing the fact that IL i'm
norts over half the fish and much Of
its oysters from other states"
MAY Secure Oyster Expert
The department Is now on the look
ont for a fish and oyster expert TO be
placed on the coast to work out these
problems and when the proper informa-
tjon can be crystallized IT is believed
the legislature will see fit to supply
the proper machinery for opening these
masses and otherwise aiding in the
building up Of the production Of ma
rine food.
"There Is every natural element for
making Laguna Madre the greatest
point Of production. IL proper steps are
taken" Mr.. Burr said. "Whiis other
bavs are the victims If excessive rains
and muddv overflows which seriously
affect fisting ard ovstefin" there Is
ware s.ahle condition in This drv Sec
t;on While tho Rio Grnndo Is mrddv.
%, .he flow from IL NJ high water IS
.,.~;f;ed pssume nv its Guiescent
ccna;.;on. rs IL snrends out over the
,,veI lagoon country wher.' most Of -
s;,t L. depositri: end then. the Pr"f'
a~rowres~ pnd length OF the laeuns
,r.tes !. hard 10 m-ddv more th"n
f.w miles cf ono end. If msans ot
.ar;rc sre r-~v;dci +he -~-.N o~'
IN 70 cnencd so % - admit r'o-" Of
,he comn.rativa fresh water Of Cor
,rs Raw which would mako f'sh'ng
ro.s;bIa a-l profitable tLro~~hort ''s
entire io-~.h =. all times Of the year.
.AiI-Year-Around" Oysters.
al have been asked why the Lagrna
Madre oyster is edible throughout the
wear and especially in the summer.
arm mot an oyster expert but ] might
make a guess that the small amount OF
vegetable matter coming down the RIO
Crande on which the oyster feeds, pre-
vents Il from becoming bloated The
feasibility Of greater oyster prodns-
tion here would be purely speculative
and must await the coming Of a man
who can make more careful stuay OF
the subject.
"Tarpon? yes. ] tried nv luck ou'
they were singularly Indifferent 70