Evening star., 1925-03-29
All Other states
Member of the Associated Press.
Joy for the Fisherman.

The persistent patience OF Washing
ton anglers whose forms, sumped into
the pessimistic attitude of Rodin' $
Thinker. have for so long here and
there decorated the sea wall of the
Tidal Basin is about 10 be rewarded.
With the elimination of all bathing
beaches therefrom, and the cessation
of the need for any chlorinatinS
process the proposal has been made.
and favorahly received by officials of
the United States Bureau Of Fisheries,
TO turn this body of water, spendidly
equipped by nature and by man for
the purpose into u fishing preserve
difficult 10 duplicate in any city of the
United States.
Glen G. Leach. head of the division
of fish culture of that bureau. has in
spccted the basin. received a most fa-
.yura bic impression and has enthu-
siastically promised in the nearest
possible future a consignment of half
a thousand plymouth bass, together
with a generous side gift of Dream
and crappic all dear to the fisher
mans heart and relishcd by his palate,
fH implantation. But one thing is
needed, according to the experts,
screening of mesh wire at the intake
and outlet gates which will prevent
the adult fish from escaping. Col.
Sheriff.. in charge of public buildings
and grounds. is not sure that he has
available the trtiing funds for this
purpose. lie Is, however, sympathetic
with all forms of outdoor recreation.
and it may he safely assumed that the
needed mesh wire will be Forthcoming.
The half-mllion fry confidently ex-
pectcd tu come into the world by
Autumn will look on the basin S
waters, rich in food. as their home
and Will not want to leave.
Certain British cities. notably Bris-
tol, have implanted game fish. such as
brown trout and pike, in large arti-
fetal bodies Of water impounded for
municipal purposes. Angling is per
mitted only from the shores. This
proViso assures the iishcrman's legs
a good workout. and gives the fish a
chance in the game. for only those ap-
preaching the banks can be tempted.
A system of permits good for IA day is
in force, and from the revenue acCru-
ing theretrom necessary expenses are
paid. The number of days catch is
strictly limited. but the average size
psoves so gratifying to the angler that
be considers, the cost of the permit
negligible. Washington might take
leaf from the books Of these English
towns, and i'm that way expenses
greater than the cost of wire screen
ing could he met.
The National Capital will be without
public bathing facilities this Summer
This is to be regretted. but it NAV
possess as a consolation award some
thing rare and likely to be eventually
almost as popular. a big richly
stocked and beautifully enyironed
hshing preserve almost in the heart
of the community. This asset un-
doubtedly will be utilized more hours
out Of the "a and more days out of
The S65 than any bathing beach could
ne. Who knows but that some day
there will be visible on the basins
shores, along with memorials to men
eminent in other pursuits, a bronze or
marble replica of that gentle fisher
man whose flies began to f1eck the
English River Dove about the time
Capt. John Smiths craft first sailed
up the wild Potomac.