Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-14

of fish in the bay. There is only one
remedy for this evil and that Is the
MARYLAND Legislature-whose duty it is
to put a stop to the activities of the
purse METERS in the upper part Of the
bay-from Plum Point to Annapolis
and points above, If nothing more.
At the present time the purse net
tiers are monarch of all they survey,
and with their trained eyes and long
distance glasses they can see a school
of fish break almost from shore to
shore in the narrow part of the bay.
There must be a tremendous profit in
the purse-netting business. because
where there were one of these boats
several years ago there are today at
least five.
The writer made a trip to the bay
week before last and got nothing for
his efforts Last week he made two
trips on succeeding days to see If he
could run into some OF the schools
usually to be seen at this time of the
year. but his two last trips resulted
Just like the first one, no fish: that is.
none to speak of-only three or four.
On all of the trips the same methods
we're employed. First to locate the
seagulls and then to troll. Failing in
this still fishing was reSorted to with
out anchoring the boat. and again fall
ing to catch any but small fish. An
other trip home empty handed.
Naturally, of course they are some
good big fish in the bay and some lucky
anglers may get into school and have
a wonderful time landing them. But
the schools are not breaking as in
former years The fish appear to be
scattered all over the bay in small
numbers. For example few fish will
break in one place and the sea gulls
flock to that location. When the motor
boat reaches the scene no fish are to
be seen and, even deep trolling fails
to reward the angler. Then suddenly
the sea gulls are off in another direc-
ton, and so 1t goes. In previous years
when school of fish was feeding and
breaking water. It has been known to
stay up for An hour and sometimes
longer. Then is the time tor real sport
During the months of August and
September numerous catches of these
game bay fish by the purse METERS have
been reported weighing. not pounds. but
tons. One catch reported from the
Herring Bay district alone numbered
over nine tons Just think OF 1t, nine
tons. more fish than the rod and reel
anglers would take In a long number
of years.
There is another feature of the bay
fishing that perhaps the legislators
have not taken into consideration and
that Is the eventual loss of revenue to
the many boatmen and others who cater
to the wants of the thousands of anglers
who visit the bay each year. Unless
something is done and done PROMPTLY,
this source of revenue will be stopped
entirely, for the anglers will not stand
putting out money trip after trip with
out some reward
Bay fishing must be afforded some
kind of protection from the purse net
tiers. Some years ago Maryland passed
legislation protecting the crabs and thu
result was plainly noticed this year But
If Maryland had not passed laws giving
protection to the crabs there would have
been no crabs today or practically none.
Anything that is affecting so many
thousands of people, anglers, boatr1en,
hotels, gasoline station men. etc. surely
is of enough importance to be seriously
considered by the Maryland Legislature.
II the Marylanders want this revenue
from the anglers it is up to the Iegis-
latur2 to pass soma law restricting to
come extent. at least, the activities OF
the purse meters.
catch Of 1902 sma u mouth bass bv
nee anglers fishing in the Shenandos h
over last Saturday and Sunday is GER
t2inly enc of the record catches of all
time. These anglers. John e. Larson,
J. M. Rector and Charles B. Tebbs.
motored to Overall. Va. and had the
! time Of their lives landing these small
mouth BEAUTIES. These anglers used
mcd toms and smelt and seid they
never saw the bass so hungry and vi
: cious in their attacks The largest bass
landed weighed three and one-half
POUNDS. great many others ranged
from two to three pounds and others
were smaller. Like all real "honest-to-
: goodness" anglers, they returned to the
water at least so bass that we're under
sized. An unusual feature of this trip
was that the ma jority of the bass was
caught during the middle Of the day,
ip7tead of the carly morning and late
afternoons, the accepted theory of the
best time to land bass.
The Atlas Sports Goods Fishing out
: ing 10 Cheeepeake Beach last Sunday
I vas success in so far IS numbers are
! concerned. 1873 anglers svailing them
selves Of the opportunity. The day
/ "97 perfect End large number OF
3m:ll fish were landed. mostly spots
ana pan size trout. A few larger fish
wero also cnticed to take the bait
offered and carried off prizes.
First prize. a three and one-half-
pound trout. was landed by Tom Ger
7ci: second largest trout. three pounds,
- caught by w. GrasGo. AMI third
pri1s - trout went to D. M Rodgers,