Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-24
ROD AND STREAM
BY PERRY MILLER

a A EMBERS Of the local chapter
hH Of the Izaak Walton League
vi are congratulating themselves
on the success of their first
annual banquet at the Raleigh Hotel
Wednesday. After listening to the adj
dresses delivered by Senator Harry B.
Halves Of Missouri, Commissioner
O'Malley of the United States Bureau
Of Fisheries and Swepson Earle, con-
servation commissioner of Maryland,
they feel that they can expect hearty
cooperation in the program outlined
by the local body.
Col. C. Seymour Bullock, national
field representative Of the parent body
at Chicago, told what the Izaak Walton
League had done and is doing to con-
serve the great outdoors.
Commissioner O'Malley told of the
work Of the Bureau Of Fisheries for the
anglers Of the country, what 1t has
done for local anglers and what Is con-
templated
senator Halves told of the work he
has done In the Senate to aid not
only local anglers but fishermen all
over the country. He said great things
could be expected Of Congress, and
Representative william B. Bankhead of
Alabama concurred. Paul @. Redington,
chief Of the Biological Survey. told In
detail of the work done by his bureau
for fishermen and hunters.
"since 1872" Commissioner Earle said
In the course Of his address, Maryland
and Virginia have been working In close
accord on the Potomac, and we now
have reached a state where serious con-
sideration is being given to rehabilitat-
ing the natural oyster bars and giving
the great shad, herring and striped bass
fisheries the proper protection. Less
than two decades ago this river sup
ported 800 dredge boats and 5000 water
men. Today 1t viii not support more
than SO boats. I just recite this as
striking example Of the waste that has
been allowed TO run rampant In one
Of the best tributaries of the Chesa-
peake so close to the District Of Co.
iurnbia, It Is conservatively estimated
that up to 1912 the fisheries OF the Po'
tonnac were valued at 81 ,000, 900 year
The question is. can we bring this river
back TO its former productivity?
Maryland" he said, lin 1923 passed
q bill to prevent the sunken gill anc
drift nets from operating in the Po-
tornac River. That law, of course, does
not become effective until the State Of
Virginia passes similar legislation, but
am glad to say that a bill now is ir
the Senate of the Virginia Assembly
outlawing these nets. along with severa
other concurrent bills. and have every
reason to believe that they will b:
adopted and become laws by the end o.
the session"
He mentioned the efforts Of the loca
organization to save the black bass ant
said that, although its representative
who visited Annapolis last year prob
ably felt they met with little sympathy
Ia that the General Assembly Of Mary
land enacted q law to prevent the salt
Of bass during only four months Of tn
year-April, May, June and July-''t
Is at least a step In the right direction
and feel that the 1881 session will b;
more favorable TO extending the CLOSED
season.
Referring to the commercial fisheries
Of the Chesapeake Bay, Commissions
Earle said that from Maryland CONNER
cial fish hatcheries In 1929 were plant
ed fry into the waters of the Stat
$4,000, 900 shad, $4,000, 900 herring
Tz.oo0.00o white perch and 7e7, 900 ,O0(