Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-02
Totals. IL s 80
Referee-Mr, Hardin
ROD AND STREAM
BY Perry Miller

~ URSE meters in the Chesapeake
will have the fight of their lives
to continue their activities next
year, judged by the large num-
Der of local anglers who at
tended the protest meeting last Tues
day night in the Washington Board OF
Trade rooms. The meeting was held
under the auspices of the Potomac
Anglers Association, local chapter OF
the Isaak Walton League OF America,
as a protest against the methods en-
ployed by the purse meters in the bay
and some of its tributaries. Plans Tor
an extensive campaign against the use
of the purse net in the bay and the
necessity of Maryland passing black
bass bill were outlined and reSoIu-
ton was adopted to appoint a COM
mittee of five men to cooperate with
the MARYLAND authorities and organiZa-
lions in their fight for some legislation
prohibiting the METERS at the next Ses-
sion of the Legislature.
Swepson Earle, Maryland conServa-
ton commissioner, the principal speak
err of the evening, was loudly ap-
plauded when he said he was in favor
of the complete abolition of the purse
nets in the bay, and that he would
do all in his power to have the bill i'll
PRODUCED at the next session and pushed
to a successful end. He said he also
was with the local anglers in their de-
sire to have Maryland pass a black
bass bill, similar to and backing up
the bills In effect in Virginia and the
District of Columbia.
Legislature May Act.
Commissioner Earle informed the
anglers that many people in Maryland
who formerly did not oppose the use
of the purse nets are now in favor OF
their abolition and would support such
a measure in the Legislature, and
added that he thought the prospects
of enacting such measure was much
brighter this year than ever before.
A great many cottage owners along
the bay are up in arms against the &C
tivitieS of the purse meters, who not
only catch all the fish they possibly can
find a market for, but destroy others
by the thousands. These owners de-
clare that unless something is done, and
done this session of the Legislature. they
intend to offer their homes for sale, as
they are tired of paying taxes to the
State of Maryland and not being able
to enjoy the principal thing for which
they purchased their homes, namely,
fishing.
1t was the unanimous consensus OF
opinion of the anglers present at the
meeting that followers of the rod and
reel in Prince Georges Montgomery.
Frederick, Carrot. Washington and AL
legany counties be asked to join in this
movement and bring all the pressure
they can to bear on their representa-
tive in the Legislature to assist the
movement of the local anglers. AS a
matter of fact without the assistance
of these counties the chances of secur-
ing the desired legislation will be ma
terially reduced.
5000 Anglers Weekly.
It was brought out at the meeting
that 5000 anglers weekly pay visits to
the many fishing grounds in Chesa-
peake Bay in quest of their favorite
fish-rock trout and taylors. This num-
Der was materially decreased during
the past fishing season owing to the
fact that time after time anglers re-
turned empty handed, condition
which is enough to diShearten the most
enthusiastic and optimistic angler.
This column has sent a story of the
meeting to the papers in five OF the
nearest counties adjacent to the tide
water counties of Maryland with re-
quest that the same be used in their
next issue In this manner 1t is hoped
| that many who would not otherwise
, know of the movement will be informed
and also that in this way deeper i'm
preston will be made upon the STATE
| legislators. :,
Other speakers at the meeting hello
, last week were Talbot Denmead of the
, Biological Survey and for many years
! a member of the Game and Fish Com
mission of Maryland, who told OF the
trouble experienced in the past in en-
forcing the laws regulating purse net
tiers and the necessity of abolishing thi:
evil once and for all.
r. M. Estes, deputy commissioner o.
| internal revenue, spoke on behalf o.
I $50 cottage owners at North Beach
Park, who called on Maryland to take
some action or else lose large number
OF taxpayers, who were going to offel
the homes for sale unless the situation
is remedied.
Edward C. Hamper, chairman, bas
protection committee, Potomac Anglers
Association, read statement dealinl
with a great many phases of the bas
situation. namely. bass as game fish
bass in the Maryland fish markets. tn