Evening star., 1925-02-08

The bill is indorsed by the Depart
ment of Commerce and by Henry OMai-
ley, commissioner of the Bureau of
Fisheries. Without vigorous action the
bass, like the passenger pigeon and the
wild turkey, soon will become extinct.
Hawes explained that the bass is a
native American fish, but has been sue
cessfully introduced in England. Scot
land and the continent of Europe. Gil
matte influences do not seem to affect it,
and it is found in all kinds of fresh
waters.
Scientists state that the yearly toll OF
black bass in this country is 50 great
compared with the hatch that this great
est of American game fishes is certain
to become extinct within 10 years un-
less extraordinary efforts are made to
protect it.
Protection Essential.
The Bureau of Fisheries and other
scientific bodies declare that black bass
will become practically extinct IL not
protected while on their spawning beds.
Scientific bodies devoted to the study
of fish conservation, such as the Ameri-
can Fisheries Society, are so aroused
over the danger of extinction of black
bass that they have repeatedly within
| the past few years sent letters to various
State governments setting forth the abb
SOlute need OF protection.
Scientists have demonstrated that
artificial black bass hatcheries cannot
be made profitable for State and Ma
tional Government. the cost of operation
being too great when compared with the
output.
| The principal and natural home of
| the bass Is in the Mississippi River
Basin. Agile and strong, inch for inch
| and pound for pound he is the greatest
| fighting fish that swims. True to his
mate hard to catch. better to eat, the
| fresh-water bass is the typical Ameri-
can fish Pugnacious and aggressive,
| they are none the less companionable
mates for both build the nest, the fe-
male lays the spawn, the male performs
| his part, and as the family grows the
| male defends the nest.
| In 30 days the tiny eggs are hatched
| In a few days little minnows swim
guarded by the circling male. For three
| weeks they live In little group, NOV
| ing together. In one year they weigh
pound and in two years pounds. and
are ready for the table.
The fish hog, the dynamiter, the
| commercial seiner. the pollution of
I streams and the careless building of
dams without spfllways are contrib
uttng causes to the disappearance of
| the bass. but all these things can be
remedied by legislation.
| Movement Is Gaining.
| The closed-season movement for
small mouth bass in the upper Po-
tomac River, inaugurated by this COL
umn, is gaining headway. It Is ap-
parent to anglers that something
Lmust be done In order to save these
gamesters In the Potomac. As stated
| In previous articles, the movement
| has the backing of the Governor OF
| Maryland, the State conservation
commissioner and the United States
Bureau of Fisheries.
With the advance Of civilization has
tcome the depletion of bass In our
| streams. Where formerly to go fish
ling required sometimes a two and
three day trip in a wagon. thessame
/ destination Is quickly reached in a
few hours by automobile. Formerly
the man who felt that he required q
whole day for fishing trip now runs
Iout In his machine, has his morning
Ash and returns before noon. or he
takes few hours in the evening
and does the same thing. k
4 Last year there were issued $4,000
/ fishing licenses, bringing to States
lapproxiniateiy $1o, 100000 In fees. and
1t may. be said that about 80 per ceaa