Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-06

T HE condition of the Potomac and
Shenandoah Rivers is reported
to be: Potomac, clear; Shen-
andoah. slightly muddy. AS
the majority OF local anglers
are more interested in the condition OF
the Potomac than the Shenandoah, and
as the Potomac Is reported clear at
Harp2rs Ferry and IS in much better
shape around Washington than 1t has
been for long time. this week should
be a good one for the bass fishermen.
one of the most interesting develop
ments during the past week was the
discovery of a large number OF small
rockfish in the Tidal Basin. One young
angler fishing from the wall where the
water from the rejecting pool enters
the basin caught seven or eight in little
or no time. These fish were too small
to keep, and when the writer explained
this the young fisherman Immediately
returned his fish to the water.
AT the same place where the small
rock were caught were thousands OF
rock minnows swimming In the clearer
and cooler water from the pools. 1t
goes without saying that some large
rockfiSh In some mysterious way have
entered the Tidal Basin to spawn. No
large rockflsh have been reported caught
in the basin but with such large num-
Der of minnows and so many small
rockfish, about five or six inches in
length, in those waters. 1t would not be
surprising to hear of some of the larger
ones being landed any day, especially
now that the water has cleared.
During the period of muddy water the
river men could not or did not try to
sein for live bait. so eagerly sought by
anglers for bass and other species OF
fish. Now that the water has cleared
all places that handle minnows have a
large supply on hand for the anglers.
This column is In receipt of a line
from F. X Stonestreet. formerly Of Rock
Point, but now located at Benedict. Md,
"Stoney." as he is familiarly known to
hundreds of anglers. says: Just line
to say that fishing here has greatly Inn
proved Everybody has come In with
good catches the last three days. We
also have peelers and soft crabs now
Conditions have improved all along
the Bay. reports indicate. A very no.
ticeable Improvement has taken place
in the Herring Bay and Chesapeake
Beach districts Good catches OF hard
heads and some small trout being re-
ported during the past week.
A fraternity of Washington sportsmen
devoted TO raising the standards Of
sportsmanship III the District OF Co
lumbia was formed recently at an or
gani2ation meeting held in the national
headquarters of the Nimrods of Amer
ica, 1880 K street northwest. One OF
the main immediate detectives Of the
organization will be the elimination Of
pollution in the Potomac River.
This organization was chartered as
the first Washington camp Of the MINI
rods of America. a national sporstman's
organization George H. Williams. an
attorney residing at 1929 Nineteenth
street northwest, was elected chief MINI
rod. Other officials elected we're Ford
Young, Alta Vista, Md. Richard Doyle,
Capitol Yacht Club; Maj @. w, Search,
1880 X street: Thomas r. Buchanan,
! Beltsville. Md. and Thomas p. Bald
win 58li Colorado avenue,
The charter was granted the ofganl-
cation with approximately 80 members.
Among the detectives outlined at the
meeting were the study Of existing game
laws and cooperation with Maryland
and Virginia in the work Of improving
them, The establishment and operation
OF game preserves near Washington and
the education OF the general public In
the principles OF craftsmanship In hunt
ing and fishing The organization will
establish its permanent headquarters in
clubhouse to be constructed at later
date.
For the present the activities of the
organization will be confined to "A de-
termined fight for the elimination OF
Potomac River pollution. Maryland and
Virginia citizens will be called upon to
| assist In the work and other camps of
the Nimrods of America have pledged
| assistance. The Tulsa. Okla, chapter
already has wired the new District or
ganlAation that it stands ready to rem
der the assistance of It's entire menu
hefship toward bringing about the puri-
lieation nf the historic Potomac,
George III. Wiiliams, gho heads the