Evening star., 1927-10-30

lowiu. the muddy water of the
past two weeks, ana anglers
Il for large and small mouth
bass BOW can venture forth in
Gio"t o. these e1mcstcrS.
As the water cleared and became
cno'Cr n great many bass were caught
both hc'oW and above the Little Falls.
The Little River. along the shores Of
tho Potomac. on the flats back of lit
tie River and other places have given
III their quota uf bass. This week, ac-
coriinG to river front mon, ought to
br banner one for the anglers. This
is the real time OF the wear TO eaten
thn.o fish and tho anglers at last Will
have their inning.
The muddy water caused Il scarcity
of amolt for the anglers, tho mud in
the water scattering them and max
ing ii difficult for the seincrs 10 net
them. The men who handle live bait
have Il small supply on hand, but now
that the water is clear expect 10 make
large h9uls a1id be ready to meet the
demands Of tho anglers.
4 report has reached this column of
violations of both the Maryland and
Virginia law in regard to seninS bass
and shipping them to Baltimore, The
report states that around GIymont,
Just below Marshall Han, and across
the river a GunstOn Cove bass are
being caught in nets In large num-
bors, OF courS" the Washington mar
llct il closed to the fish but whore
there is Il will there is a way, and 50
these violators of the law have boon
sending their fish to tho Baltimore
markets. This matter will he directed
to the attention Of the conservation
commissioner of Maryland. and it is
hoped that prompt action will be
taken. The Virginia authorities also
will he notified and asked 10 sec that
this illegal practice is broken up and
that Violntors be apprehended and the
heaviest fine possible imposed.
Mai Rrehon y. SOmprvelI. L. s. En-.
gineer Corps, in charge Of the Wash
inEton, j. G., engineering district and
who also has charge of the Washing
ton conduit. has granted permission,
at the request Of this column, 10 allow
the Dalecariia Reservoir to he seined
for the bass in its waters. This work
will he done some time this week I'm.
dcr the supervision Of the Bureau of
Fisheries.
T.. y, Hardy, senior civilian engi-
neer in Maj. Somervells office, who
has direct charge of the Washington
conduit informed this column that. to
his knowledge, the reservoir had not
been drained in the last 80 years and
never had been scned. The depth of
the water ranges to about 80 feet in
the center. He said it would he inn
possible TO lower the water more than
3 feet. AS this would he of no
benefit to the men doing the work,
they will have to operate with their
deepest nets and take a chance that
the bass are not in the deeper water.
Hardy also said that there We're a
great many carp and catfish in the
reservoir
The bass obtained from this seining.
especially all the large ones, will he
transplanted to the Tidal Basin The
Bureau Of Fasheries will keep the
smaller ones for it's own use. This
column will notify a day III advance
those desiring to see the work of Sen-
ing the reservoir. This place is To-
Gated right at the District Line on the
Conduit road. 1t is known to many
as the receiving reservoir where
wonderful new plant has just been
completed.
Not muddy water but heavy winds,
together with the evil of purse netting
in Chesapeake Bay. has put crimp
in fishing III salt wafer When the
wind blows, no matter from what di
reCtion. Chesapeake BAY is not good
place for the angler for two rea sons.
First, ii is very uncomfortable riding.
being pitched about by the waves. and
secondly, the fish viii not bite for
some reason or other when the water
is very rough.
From all reports reaching this col,
umn ii is evident that the purse net
ters have been very active this Fall
in the Bay. These meters have keen
eyesight and can locate a school of
fish as soon a S they break, sometimes
several miles distant. They follow
schools of fish from one side of the
Bay to the other. They contend they
want to he friendly with the anglers,
but friendship ceases when the angler
is deprived of his sport. As previ-
ously published. in one section alone.
namely Herring Bay, it is reported
that the purse netters have taken
more than eight tons Of fish this Fall.
They operate up the Bay and down.
from Annapolis TO S0lomons Island
There is no place the angler can go
without meeting one or more of these
gangs. They assert they are within
their rights and that it is their liveli-
hood, which is sad but true. The
Maryla nd law grants them this privi.
lese. hut the Maryland law at the
same time is depriVinC thousands Of
anglers of their sport, and if it con
tinues the Maryland law also will he