Evening star., 1925-07-05

cries, when freshmen are allowed to
trap and marketmen to sell saltwater
trout and other fish of the size men,
toned?
This statement is not based upon
hearsay. You need not take it sec
ond-aand. Go to the market or the
other places and see for yourself
thousands of saltwater fish, which,
if you are a fisherman, are not larger
thar a millreach. you would be glad
to use for bass bait.
THE States of Maryland and Vir-
ginia claim to be concerned about
the conservation of saltwater re-
sources. What are they doing to
achieve results? Maryland has taken
steps to protect the crab and to in
crease the oyster supply, and has to
some extent undertaken to control the
use of nets and seines of various
kinds. Virginia has made a great
amount of noise, but has done practi-
cally nothing that will result in some
real conservation.
why cannot both States limit the
size of fish to be retained? Why can
not the size of fish to be shipped or
sold be limited? This would result
in thousands of fish being returned to
the water and the fishermen would in
a few years be catching fish worth
lllSI6du complaining
the scarcity of good fish, as they are
today.
THE commercial fishermen win
probably undertake to thwart any
legislation along the lines proposed.
1t is, therefore, necessary that real
conservationists get together and use
their influence to the end that proper
legislation may be enacted to limit
the size of fish to be taken and mar
keted.
ID. C.. VitalIy Concerned.
"The District of Columbia is not di-
rectly concerned, but is vitality con-
cerned Indirectly Every week end
sees thousands leaving the District
for fishing resorts on salt water in
Virginia and Maryland. OF late their
catches have been very much reduced
compared with three or four years
ago.
A few years ago a split shad sold
here for 25 cents. Today one sells for
35 cents per pound, or over 81 for an
average size fish. This is caused by
the falling off of the supply.
"A few years since saltwater trout
sold for to cents per pound, some
times less. Today the same fish sells
for rs cents or more per pound.
The arguments used apply to vari-
GUS other hSh, but saltwater trout IS
at this time very good available
sample. The District of Columbia, al
though not a producer, is a very large
consumer, and if it desires to con-
tinue to have a supply of good fish, it
is up to the people of the District to
secure legislation regulating the size
of the fish that may be sold or pos
SeSSed. -
This is very interesting presenta-
tion of some of the reasons why the
| fishermen are complaining today that
they are unable to catch fish both at
salt and fresh fishing grounds. 1t
was pointed out in this column some
| time ago that thousands of undersize
| bass were being shipped in to the local
market and could be purchased at al
most any of the fish stands in the city.
There is a law governing the catch
! and sale of undersize game fish. The
| question now is, Why is this law not
/ enforced?
In his letter Mr.. Jones has omitted
one of the most important and damag
ing conditions to fish life, namely, pol
] luton. Fish will rush into polluted
water, but will not remain, for if they
do it win in all probability cost them
| their lives.
The Potomac is i'm good condition
caught except catfish and an occa-
sional rockfish.
Several well known local anglers
motored to the Shenandoah Valley last
week end to try their luck with the
small mouth bass. They succeeded in
] catching only IL fish intwo days,