Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07

What is the matter with nShlng,
is the question being asked this column,
and the answer is hard one. In the
Potomac there Is no fishing at the pres
ent on account of the condition of the
water, and 1t will be some time before
it clears sufficient for the rod and
reel angler to expect any reward for
his efforts.
In salt water the fishing may be called
"spotty." The fish are being caught
here and there and are not furnishing
the sport SO far this season they did
last year. However, from Solomons Is
land comes the encouraging news that
a great many hardheads are being
caught and also some trout.
w. H. Mears at Wachapreague re-
ports that the trout have returned and
that he personally landed IS July 4, and
that more channel bass are being caught
this year than ever before in his men,
ory. He said that the trout he landed
weighed from 2 to 5 pounds and that
an average of five or six channel bass
are being caught every day.
In our neck of the woods the best
fishing at the present is in Herring
Bay, where the pan rock, at times, are
furnishing excellent sport. The rock
are all being caught trolling, and the
slower the boat the better the results.
1t has been noted by those who en-
joy visiting Chesapeake Beach that the
winds from the southwest do not bring
many fish, but better luck always
comes with the southern and south
eastern breeges. Probably the best re-
suits by the old-time angler at the
beach has been by Mark Beck, who
ventured out on the long pier the night
of the heavy downpour and landed
about a dozen of the finest looking
hardheads caught this season.
They took the green shrimp bait with
an aVtdity that surprised Mark, and
he is a fisherman Of some years ex-
perience.
An incident of the past week Is re-
ported by Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel B.
Milton, who took their rowboat up the
canal to a number of deep holes and
were successful In landing about 35
or 40 catfish. They also caught some
white perch Of the pan size and were
also surprised to land several rockfish.
Franklin Manor Beach on Chesapeake
Bay Is one of the newer places called
to the attention of this column. This
beach is IS miles from Washington over
good roads. Fishing parties are taken
out In motor boats fitted out especially
for anglers. Anglers desiring to try
their luck at this place can telephone
Bob Birehett. West River 1s-Fls.
A report just made public by the Blu
reau of Fisheries states that receipts
of fresh and frozen fishery products
at the municipal fish wharf and market
in this city in 1927 amounted to 1897
673 pounds, which is an increase of g
per cent over the previous year and
Is per cent above the fi-'e-year average.
These products are taken chiefly in
Chesapeake Bay, but quantities are
taken at other points along the Atlantic
mating in the Great Lakes and Pacific
Coast regions.
The great bulk Of the Chesapeake
Bay products is conveyed by boat and
unloaded at the wharf of the market.
Products originating at other points
are transported by rail. Some products
originating at points along the bay not
on o railroad and In close proximity to
Washington are conveyed to the market
by motor truck.
According to the amount of fishery
products handled at the local fish
wharf and market, nine salt water
products are of commercial importance
and constitute rs per cent of the trade.
Named in order of importance. these
are soueteagueS or sea trout" croaker,
river herring, oysters, haddock, Shad.
striped bass or rockfish, hutterfish and
mackerel (ncluding Spanish mackereD.
Except for the haddock and mackerels,
the majority of the fish in this group
are taken in local waters.
1t is estimated that 2,000, 900 pounds
of fresh and frozen fishery products are
received by retail dealers, hotels and
restaurants direct from producers,
which, with the amount received at the
Municipal Wharf, would make total
of about 100000 pounds Of fresh
and frozen fishery products that were
handled in the District of Columbia
during 1927. Virtually the entire
amount was consumed In the District.
According to the Bureau of Census, the
estimated population OF the District OF
Columbia was $4,000 on July !, 1927,
making the per capita consumption Of
fresh and frozen fishery products dur
ing that year about 10 pounds.
In 1927 the Potomac fishery was
prosecuted by $50 fishermen. It ylelded
222,32l slaad that weighed 6S6,SSi
pounds, valued at $i13,S2b TO the fSh"
errnen. Compared with the yield Tor
1925, this Ia q decrease of 81 per cent
in number, "a per cent in weight and
az per cent in value OF the total num-
Der 90 per cent were taken by Virginia
fishermen and the remaining IA per
cent BY Maryland fishermen.
According to the most recent statis-
ties available, the fisheries Of the va
rious geographical sections OF the United
States and Alaska employ approximate
ly 1IS,600 commercial tsheien ana