The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-08-14
WHAT OUR FISH
INDUSTRY NEEDS
Restrictions On Nets AS Well
AS Improvements To
Passageways
BY ID. V. MEEKINS

BY ID. V. MEEKINS
TO save the shad industry of
North Carolina from a further
rapid downfall. and to assist in
its gradual rehabilitation, it is
evident that early and prompt
restrictions must be designed
to save what is one Of the most
important sources of revenue
to our people.
In Il preceding article the proba-
bic causes of the downfall of the
shad industry were mentioned. In
building up this industry, it is evil
dent that there must be better pas
sageways for the entrance OF the
fish, either by improving what we
now have or providing new ones, so
that the flow of fresh water from
the rivers and sounds will be eject
cd in the ocean in sufficient vol
ume to attract the Shad. The shad
should be attracted while they are
still active, and not late in the pre-
spawning period.
1t will probably be necessary to
make more stringent laws, and GER
tainly strict enforcement of all laws
affecting the spawning grounds. 1t
will be essential also to shorten the
territory for pound nets in some
areas, especially when they extend
more than 1000 yards from shore.
Anchor gill nets might be res
tricted in length, not longer than
80 yards say, which would give
twice as much space as now exists
for the passage of shad, and would
certainly work 10 hardship on the
industry. Stake gill nets should not
be over 20 yards in length. These
nets used to be ~ to IS yards long,
but are coming TO be as long as 100
yards, the evident purpose of this
practice being to cvade the law
which demands Il license tux OF so
much on each net.
Many of the best informed fisher
man agree that pound nets should
he prohibited in the waters OF Al
bemarle Sound above Laurel Point
light. where the main spawning
grounds arc, after April 10. In some
territories pound nets are allowed
to extend Il continuous 600 yards,
forming Il barrier. utterly impassa'
bic to shad. 1t is likely that no
line of nets should be allowed to
extend this far from shore, unless
in deep bays, where the nets would
not block the main pasSa gewayS.
In many instances, the length of
pound nets should be shOrtciicd COLI
siderably.
Cutting Down Waste.
Gross injury is dCnc the fishing
industry, because of the great waste
of undersize fish, which III many
instances is uncalled for, and
might be prohibited, were there
sufficient funds for the work.
While few understood shad and her
ring are destroyed, continual des
truction of trout, striped bass, perch
and other fish is practiced by the
fishermen. The State cannot keep
inspectors continually on the job.
and has no means of financing their
employment. Moreover, absolute
inspection of every catch would be
impossible, and the practice goes
on under the knowledge of none but
the fishermen.
TO alleviate this evil, demands
of uniform interstate regulation Oh
the marketing and shipping of fo0G
fish, and rigid enforcement of reg
ulatiOn for the capture and posses
sion of good fish. The size Of nets
have been restricted to the mini.
mum by our fisheries board and
further work in this line is un
necessary. We need only better
enforcement of the restrictions We
already have.
And still more important is the
need of industries that will make
Use of many fish now unstable fol
food purposes. Some of our finest
food fish are practically unexploit'
led. These fish are plentiful, palat'
able, and profitable. What the!
need is advertising and preparation