Evening star., 1925-04-19

IN the shallow water there was sc
The fish collected for the inaugural
planting in the basin consisting of go
adult plymouth bass, ranging from
II to IA inches in length, strong,
healthy fellows, who darted away to
deep water like a ash as soon as they
found their movements were not re-
stricted. Besides the bass, so crap
pie and as many sunfish, also adult
fish, were released.
The main object of this early plant
ing, according to Commissioner O'Mal-
ley, was to take advantage of this
seasons spawning. He stated that
all these fish will spawn this year.
and that, while perhaps some of them
will make their escape to the waters
of the Potomac before the wire
screens are put in place, he thinks
that only very small percentage will
leave the basin before laying their
spawn.
O'Malley says that as soon as other
fish can be collected he will have
them shipped to Washington to be
planted in the basin. He is very
anxious to have the wire screens put
in place at the two floodgates, but
does not intend to wait until this work
is completed TO continue the planting
of fish.
Col. Clarence o. Sheriff. has given
orders to his engineers to start the
work of construction of the screens
for the gates in the basin. He was a
little apprehensive to order work
commenced owing to the slowness of
the anglers of Washington to sub
scribe to the fund, but when assured
again by this column that this fund
would be subscribed, he readily capitu-
lated. 1t is hoped that the anglers of
Washington will send in their dollars
this week, so that Col. Sheriff. may
be told that the fund has been fully
subscribed.
The rain of last Friday was not
heavy enough to cause muddy water
in the Potomac and the river is in
splendid condition for fishing. While
the water is perhaps still little cold
for the perch to bite freely, a good
number of them have been caught.
Last Sunday a large number of ang-
lers visited F'letcher's and the vicinity
of Cabin Bridge. A great many of
them had their baskets with them and
when asked what luck said, "only
fair" Today, however, after a week
of warmer weather, these fish should
be more eager to take bait.
VIII Reynolds says that perch are
being caught around the Three Sis
ters and a little above at what is
known to anglers as Hens and Chick
ems. He also says that some very nice
ones are being landed below the point
of the Analostan Island, opposite the
brewery.
The most encouraging reports come
from salt water places. Capt. Andy
Manifold of Herring Bay reports that
the Bay is full Of hardheads, but that
majority of them so far have been
caught only in the nets. The same re-
port comes from Solomon's Island and
adds that they are larger this year
than last. Last year at the start of
the fishing season big hardheads were
reported being caught from all salt
pater points. Then, as the season ad-
vanced, the catch began to be smaller,
at least in regard to size, and toward
the close of the season the big ones
again made their appearance. Another
week of warm weather will cause
these fish to bite more freely.
William C. Malord and Ernest
Whisenant report catch of 81 hard
heads last week at Benedict, Nd.
Their catch weighed nearly 40 pounds
and was the result of three hours
fishing.
Reports from the lower river and
bay state that shad and herring are
not being caught In any great quanti-
ties in the nets. So far only few of
the herring have reached the vicinity
of Washington, and no shad, as far
| as is known, are in the waters OF the
Potomac around this city.
A unique outing will be held by the
Potomac Anglers Association in the
near future, when the hardheads COM
mence to bite freely. 1t will be for the
members of the association only, and
each member will be required to use
cotton thread to land his fish. The
outing will be in the nature of a CON
test to see who can land the greatset
number of hardheads in this manner.
The thread must be no coarser than a
No. "a and no finer than a No. So.
Will III. dig, founder and presiden.
| of the Izaak Waitea 1aague oe .asnes-
| lea. was reelected at the annual~con-
I yention of the league held recentlv.