Evening star., 1926-02-09

There can be nothing palmer. Yet
in spite Of it there has been and still
are numerous and constant viola
tiouS of this law.
II it is against the law 10 buy, sell.
barter, OF offer to buy. sell or barter.
bass in the state Of Nire mia, II GER
tainly is against the law to ship these
game fish out of the State into the
markets Of Washington. Baltimore
and Philadelphia.
What this column wants to know is.
are our local fish dealers buying any
of these bass from shippers in Nlr-
ginia, and if So is there not some way
10 stop them? Can't the District in
spectors get busy and check up on
these shipments?
The Maryland law covering the
catching of bass in the potomac River
and its tributaries l. as follows:
1T shall not be lawful for any per
son to catch or kill any black bass.
green bass. rock bass. pike or pick
eral or wall-eyed pike commonly
known as Salmonl between the 18th
day of April and the lst day of June
each year. nor catch or kill any Of
said species of fish at any other time
during the year save only with rod,
hook and line or dip net.
The words hook and line shall
not include trot-lines or outlines.
This section is q compact between
Maryland. Virginia and West Nir
ginia. Maryland jurisdiction extends
10 opposite shore on Potomac River.
According to the laws of both
Maryland and Virginia. the bass on
sale in the markets of Baltimore and
Washington have been taken illegal
/ ly, as it would be Il physical i1npos
sibility 20 catch With rod and reel all
the bass offered for sale
How are these bass shipped" This
column has been reliably informed
that the bass are placed between
what is known as rough fish
which means almost any kind that
it is not against the law to catch.
The rough" fish are placed at the
bottom and top of the barrels III
which the bass are shipped.
1t makes no difference whether the
bass taken illegally are caught on the
| Virginia shore and taken to the Mary
land side-it is against the law
Expresses Appreciation.
Edward c. Kemper. for many years
! secretary of the Potomac Anglers
Association and one of the first to pro-
test against the methods used in
catching bass and their sale in local
markets writes in as follows:
trying to find a chance to write to
| you and express my very keen per-
sonal appreciation of your support of
pending legislation, and the general
! principle. that the bass Of the Potomac
River should be protected from COM
mercial fishing.
Your column Rod and Stream and
i the photograph of the bass illegally
taken near Woodbridge, Va. are ex-
amples of independent newspaper dis
! cussions which will help form public
! opinion and ultimately bring about
| legislation for the District Of Columbia
which will stop the sale Of bass as
market fish.
1.-The net fishermen, the fish dealers
| and the unthinking public have no
more right to destroy our only fresh
water game fish than the same classes
OF people have right to destroy quail
and duck for market purposes Quail
and duck are now protected by the
migratory bird law, and we no longer
i Sc strings OF bob whites and can
vas-back ducks hanging in front of
grocery stores.
But we do see barrels and boxes
of black bass from the Potomac River
displayed in every fish market. Such
condlt1ons are a crime against those
who love the black bass and the out
| door lie OF Which he is a symbol.
The Washington Star could do no
greater service to the District of Co
lumbia. Virginia and Maryland than
to lend its influence, editorially and
otherwise, toward getting legislation
through Congress prohibiting the sale
|of bass in the District Of Columbia
at all times Of the year.
why wait for national legislation
of the kind proposed in the Hawes
bill. which may be years in coming,
when by a proper showing of public
opinion before Congress the District
Of Columbia could secure an imne.
date remedy for its own territory"
Another Supporter.
Col. Harry Lay. U. S. M. c.. com
manding the 10th Regiment g
Marines at Quantico. Va writ IN
as follows: