Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

TINE 1929 fishing season was
great disappointment to many
anglers, and possibly was worse
l. than the preceding year. There
were some bright spots that en-
couraged the followers Of rod and reel,
but they were few and far between.
First. let's take the fresh-water fish
ing. The anglers for the large and
small mouth bass had hard time try
ing to locate these gamesterS. The
upper Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers,
where the small-mouth bass make their
home and where in former years the
anglers have returned with at least one
or two fish to show for their efforts,
this year proved to be almost barren of
these gamesters.
One angler who has been fishing the
Shenandoah River for the last IS years
said this year, after three weeks visit
to the river around Riverton, that he
was convinced the good fishing Of past
years was gone forever. He attributed
this condition largely to the many dams
that have been built across the river.
Other anglers who have flshed in the
Potomac from the Little Falls up 20
Harpers Ferry report the same condi-
ton prevails. 1t is true that the Poto-
mac and the Shenandoah have suffered
with "muditiS" great deal during the
was bad, 1t did not compare with con-
ditions during 1928. when the Potomac
was clear only three or four times IN
the fishing season.
OF course there are some fish left in
both these streams, and some of them
naturally are good big ones but, in the
opinion OF men trained to observe river
conditions, the main cause of the scare
lily OF bass and other fish is the pollu-
at
ISIS not only In our part of the country
but which extends from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Coast. The Potomac Is bad
~ polluted, and one expert, writing for
the Maryland Conservation Commission,
reports that not fish can be found in
the Potomac River within a distance
Of some 40 miles from Cumberland.
The report further states that trade
waste at Luke, Md; Piedmont, w. Va;
berland. Nd, daily is pouring its share
OF polluting material into the Potomac
From these places town sewage, oil and
grease, chemicals, tannic acid and creo-
sote are getting in their deadly work.
Purse Meters Busy.
In the lower Potomac, where the big
mouth bass are to be found, the angler
has had better success but here. too.
exists an evil which is threatening the
determination of these game fish unless
Maryland and Virginia get together and
put a stop to it. This evil is the catch
ing Of thousands of bass in nets for the
Baltimore and other markets not stu
| ated In Virginia and the District of CO.
lumbia, both Of which have a law pro-
hibiting the sale OF bass at any time of
the year
In salt water q little better picture
can be painted. Some anglers have
been lucky on their fishing excursions
and returned with nice catches. The
best fishing in salt water during the
| 1929 season was to be had on the east
ern side of the bay and in the waters
of the lower Potomac around Piney
Point and Tall Timbers. And at times
good catches were also made at Solo,
mons Island and other fishing grounds.
but the catches were by no means con-
Sistent. One day party got Ash and
the very next day no fish were obtain
able. During the months of October
and November some good catches were
made off Blood Point and in Eastern
Bay, but the anglers had to have every
thing just right before the fish would
strike. The tide had to be right, the
fish had to be hungry, BECAUSE they will