Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-03
URGES VALLEY
SUPPORT anti
SEEMING BILL
Faulk Declares Pass
age of Measure Ne
cessary to Protect
Laguna Madre

Laguna Madre
"Unless prompt action is taken BY
residents Of the Lower Rio Grands
Valley the Laguna Madre soon will
cease to be the habitat and spawn
ing grounds for game and food
fish," was the prediction Of Harry
Faux, Brownsville attorney, who
returned Friday from Austin, where
he represented Valley sportsmen in
the interest of the proposed anti.
SEEMING law.
Faux reported that an amend
ment would be submitted in the
senate closing all coastal waters to
seine fishing except the Laguns
Madore. This would result in all
commercial fishermen from Corpus
Christi north ~centralizing their OPP
erations in the Laguna Madre," he
said. THE destructiveness Of sein.
ing in the spawning beds is well
known. Within a few years there
would not be a game or food fish
left in the Laguna Madre."
The Brownsville attorney report
ed that the anti-seining law would
be before the senate Monday for
passage. and is scheduled to come
before the house committee Tues
day. He urged that all sportsmen
and others interested in preventing
destruction of fish in the Laguna
Madre wire representatives and SEN
ators to pass the bill as originally
introduced.
Opposition Is Strong
There is strong opposition to this
bill on the part Of the commercial
fishermen" Faux said. "They have
induced Senator Parr to offer ar
amendment to the bill, the effect Of
which would be to close all waters
above Arkansas pass, n large part Of
the water around Corpus Christi,
and leave open the waters to seine
fishermen Of Laguna Madre south
to Point Isabel.
IF this is done there is no doubt
that all Of the commercial fisher
men around Galveston, Port Arthur.
Matagorda and other fishing points
will move their operations to this
locality.
Prior to the time when CONNER.
cial seine fishing became intensive
in Laguna Madre. Point Isabel rank
ed as one Of the finest fishing
grounds in the world. Today it is
almost impossible to catch fish with
pole and line in any part Of the
bay. And yet fishing Is one Of the
greatest assets this country has in
its attraction to tourists, and IN the
pleasure 1t gives 70 the residents Of
our locality who like the sport.
Florida Waters Closed
"All Of the inland waters Of the
entire Pacific coast and Of Florida
are closed TO commercial seine fish
ing, and these states are now re-
puted for their fine fishing.
Twenty years ago, fish were 50
numerous in the waters at Point
Isabel that a person could fish
from any of the piers and catch
them in abundance. 1t was q thing
unheard Of fer anyone TO fail to
catch all that he wanted, with pole
and line. That condition no longer
exists.
1T is expressly provided by Art,
tU@O vi luO Ht4b4ANo Va h1o "a
that "all Of the lagoons, bays and
inlets in this state, and all that
part Of the Gulf Of Mexico within
the jurisdiction Of this state, to-
gether with the beds and bottoms
and all the products thereof shall
continue and remain the property
Of the state Of Texas, except in 50
far as the state shall permit the
use Of said waters and bottoms, OF
permit the taking of the products
thereof"
I'm the Ease Of Sterrett VS.. Glib
son 1853 S. w. i6 the court Of ap-
peals, after quoting the above law
said: The state has the poyer and
authority TO make laws deemed
necessary and proper for the pres
ervation of its game fish, Not only
has the state the power to preserve
its game and fish, but it is its
duty to do so by enacting laws pro-
hibiting destructive and exhaustive
methods Of taking the same. In the
exercise Of this wise and beneficieni
police power the state has the au-
thority not only to declare that
seines and nets shall not be usec
in its waters but to make such use
q crime
"The evil OF commercial seine
fishing lies in the fact that Laguns
Madre has been practically cleaned
OF fish. The spawn beds are be-
ing destroyed, the small fish killed
ard injured. and the schools Of fish
wiped out by the seines.
There are five commercial fish
establishments at Point Isabel which
are reapirg to themselves the entire
harvest that belongs to and shoult
be enjoyed by the entire popula,
tion Of the Valley, their guests ant
visitors.
"In the case above cited the courl
in its concluding remarks said: The
sentiment Of the people has at las
been aroused. and Is back Of tn,
legislature 10 conserve the fish anC
game of the state, and no backward
steps will be taken in the matter
The legislature has spoken in re
spouse to the demands Of moderr
civilized sentiment
an endorsement Of the proposed
bill now before the legislature, the
modern civilized sentiment Of the
people of the Valley and of the
state is being expressed.
ain order that Senator Parr ant
Polk Hornaday. our senator ant
representative in Austin, may b
guided by the wishes Of the people
here. I am urging voters in thu
Valley to wire them G request tina
they support this bill without
amendment. These wires should b
sent before noon OF nexs Monday"
MAIL BOXES ON CARS
HAMBURG, Germany.-P-Mai