Evening star., 1925-11-29

But, getting back to the gatherings
where fish stories are told and retold.
the point this column wants to stress
is the attitude of the anglers with re-
gard to the fishing fund to place the
fish racks in the Tidal Basin in the
Spring to prevent the escape of game
fish to be planted by the Bureau Of
Fisheries. What is the matter with
local anglers that they will not send
, in their dollar contributions and close
this account?
Deficit Of S460.
Several weeks ago a check for
s542.75 was sent to Col. Clarence o.
Sheriff.. director of public buildings
and parks Of the National Capital, rep
resenting the total amount collected
from the fishermen Of Washington
after nine months of campaigning for
81 900, the amount asked of the
anglers.
Col. Sheriff. asked and received
from the Joint Welfare Service a con-
tribution Of 81 900, cutting the anglers
share exactly in half. the estimated
cost Of the project being $4,000.
Proceeding on the assurance given
Col. Sheriff. that the 81 900 necessary
to complete this project could be col
lected from the fishermen Of Wash
ington, he ordered the work Of con-
structing the racks begun. and today
they were completed and ready to be
placed in position when the Bureau
Of Fisheries says the word.
This column was very much embar-
rassed one day last week to receive a
telephone message from Col. Sheriff.
asking for the balance of the money.
When informed him that it had not
been subscribed he was much sur
prised, and said he was sorry he had
started the work until the money was
In hand. Again I assured him that
the money would be forthcoming be-
fore the word was given by the Bu-
reau Of Fisheries that they were ready
to have the racks installed.
This installation will take place in
the early Spring just as soon as the
ice disappears from the basin and
there is no likelihood of another freeze.
After the racks are in place the Bu-
reau of Fisheries will have the basi
seined, all fish classed as undesirable
carp and catfish-removed, and then
will commence the real planting of
bass, both large and small mouth;
crappies, sunf1sh and rock bass With
this array Of adult members of these
families 1t will not be long before we
have in the District one of the best
fishing and breeding grounds in the
entire United States.
Urged to Complete Fund.
Surely the anglers of Washington
are going to do their part in tH1s un-
dertaking, but why wait? Today the
deficit is only $460. a very small
amount to be subscribed by those who
have not already done SO. My ex-
perience with local anglers is that
there Is no finer body of men to be
found. They always are willing to
dig down in their pockets and dig
deep to go on some fishing trip and
think nothing of spending $40 or $50
for q week end excursion. Yet, when
it comes to subscribing so cents or
a dollar for q. project that will enable
Washington to have something which
other cities are clamoring for, and
for which the Bureau of Fisheries Is
being deluged with letters almost
daily asking aid in restocking ponds
in different places, it is apparent af-
ter these nine months that the
anglers Of Washington are, to say the
least, a procrastinating bunch or are
passing the buck and saying Let the
other fellow do it,
We are all proud of Washington;
we have grown accustomed to hav-
ing everything the best, and we now
have a chance to have the best fish.
Ing pond in the whole country yir-