Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-03-15
BILL IS PASSED
TO ELIMINATE
CLOSED SEASON
Will Prove Great Boon to the
Point Isabel Fishing Inter-
ests, Louis Cobolini De-
clares

The Carpenter house bill. eliminating
the closed season for salt water fish
ing which recently passed the legisla
-ture will result in an increase Of al
least S5o.Oo0 in the amount of fish
marketed annually by the Point Isabc
fishermen. according to Commodore
Cobolin. proprietor Of the largest flee,
os fishing boats ol the South TeAa.
cCast
The new law will permit fishermen oi
the Texas coast to engage in thc,r oc-
~npation with seines up to 1000 feet IN
length during the months Of june July
and August. which has herc;ifore beer
closed season. so far as the use OF
as'nes was concerned. The theory Was
advanced that the use OF scines during
those months would result in the des-
truction OF great quantities of spawn.
but in the discussions in connection
~Ith the measure it was pointed out
that the fish do not spawn in the warm
shallow waters in which the seineS are
uSed. aud that to forbid seining during
those months created "A hardship upon
the fishermen and in no way served t.
h.nsf'- the industry. Mr. Cobo.ini took
the initiative in creating sentiment in
favor Of abc'ishins the closed season.
and through his efforts the fish and
game commission became ecgnizant o.
the fact that the law which resulted ir
severe losses to Texas fishermen had
few IL any benefits. and their influence
vas siso ezerfed in behalf of the eIimi-
nation Of the closed season.
Mr.. Cobolini has fi<hed on the Tsxas
coast for forty years. and has at va.
yious times owned several fishing
fleets. The fish will not spawn in the
warm waters Of the bays and lsgooas
where the scines are dragged" he said
"The gulf fish seek the cool. deep places
off the mouths Of rivers or similar
places in the 'spAwning season. and in
the 10 veas< have been in the fishing
business &aEs never known the fish to
spawn in the waters where we are now
fishing"
Point label Holds State Record.
peiat Isabel fishermen hold the Texas
record for the amount of fish caught
and shipped from the adjacent waters.
Galveston ships more fish. but practi-
ezlly all of them are red snapper. caught
on the Campeche Banks off the coast OF
Yuca,an, 700 miles from that port
Point Isabel each year ships from
l.200.ooo TO 100000 pounds of fresh
fish, and with the closed season eIimi-
mated tho shipments will average be
tween 100000 and 100000 pounds
per year.
I'VE can easily add $4,000 to the
yearly receipts from the fishing indus
try at Point Isabel through the elimina
tioa of the closed season." Mr.. Cobo
lin said, "and il will proxe Of great
benefit 10 those employed on the fish
inr boats who have heretofore been OBJ
liged to spend three months in idlcness
or seek some other kind Of employment
A Future Red snapper Port.
The port OF Galveston now has prac
tiealiy a monopoly on the red snapper
trade. but Point Isabel will get prscti-
cally all Of this business when harbor
is completed. Mr.. Cobolini asserts. Gal
weston is approximately 200 miles from
the Campeche Banks where the bulk Of
the red snapper are taken. and the dis
tance from Point Isabel is approximate
~ 500 miles.
Sail boats are used almost exclusive
~ in red snapper fishing and boats
leaving the port OF Galveston are al
most invariably compelled TO beat
Down 10 the banks against head wind.
whereas frcm Point Isabel the boats
would he favored with leading winds al
most every day of the year.
deep water NJ Point Isabel. whicn
will give the red snapper fishermen an
opportunity TO run in and discharge
their cargoes. will make tha. place the
greatest primary market in the worl0
fcr. that variety Of fish" he continued
"The length OF time required for red
snapper fishermen 10 make their run to
the fishing grounds and return To port
would be less than half that now re-
uuired. and the saving in tine and the
cost Of icing would be an important item
In adding 10 the profits Of the INDUS