Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-29

This column called on the Maryland
Conservation Department last week to
explain about crabs being washed ashore
in the vicinity of Norfolk and received
the following reply from Commissioner
SwepSon Earle;
Just in receipt of your note, incloSing
clipping from Norfolk, Va, about crabs
ton feel that the very cold spell we
had following the warm weather in
February is to blame for the crab
mortality. Grabs move around as soon
as the sun commences to warm the
water to any extent, and these crabs
from the deeper waters moved into
shoal waters during the warm weather
and were caught there when the tenn
perature dropped to around zero the
first of March, which caused their de-
struction. We have had the same thing
happen in the upper bay, but, fortu-
nately, this year have had no reports
to this effect"
ing the last week. Too much cold
weather has held back this species.
Last week pike anglers had to break q
thin coating of Ice to get the their lines
into the water.
In every section of the country the
cry of pollution of streams Is heard.
CoaStwise steamers were declared to be
responsible for the accumulation Of
debris and garbage on the beaches Of
New Jersey shore resorts at hearing
brought by the State of New Jersey to
restrain New York City from dumping
refuse at sea.
witnesses testified that 20 ships travel
Inf 81. hn lar tnR
the city'S garbage dumps at sea. The
outgoing steamers as soon as Scotland
Light is reached, they said, begin dump
ing the refuse accumulated during their
stay in port, while the inbound vessels
start clearing their holds and dump their
refuse before reaching Scotland Light.
During foggy weather as many as so
ships anchor outside the harbor and
continue to dump all their garbage and
refuse over the side. Crates and barrels
on outgoing ships are kept on deck until
the harbor pilot leaves the ship and
then are dropped of the Jersey coast.
another witness testified.
The same conditions exist in almost
every city in the United States. Here
in the District Of Columbia, with much
being done to make the Capital of the
Nation the most beautiful and the
cleaneSt city in the world, the waters
are badly polluted. The children are
warned not to wade in Rock Greek and
the waters of the Potomac and the
Eastern Branch are so polluted that II
something is not done to correct 1t all
fish life will be destroyed.
The question paramount in the minds
of the committee on pollution of the
Washington, D. c., Chapter of the 1zaak
Walton League is whether the existing
laws on pollution are being enforced,
and, if not, why not. This committee
headed by DR.. Charles H. McEnerney,
chairman, and composed entirely OF
doctors, will shortly make an inspection
of the waters in the District and learn
first-handed just what violations, il any,
have with it a map of the District
and mark theron just what places are
allowing waste products to enter the
river Moving pictures will be taken
and, It's said, pictures don't lie. When
this work has been completed q report
will be submitted to the proper
authorities.
7 Asst week 10000 squirming fish
Park, New York, were loaded on two
big trucks and transferred to new
homes in the reservoirs and lakes Of
WeStchester County. SmAll-mOuth black
bass, some weighing three to four
pounds, yellow and white perch and
sunf1sh we're among the varieties which
the Southern New York Fish and Game
Association scooped up from the shallow
water after the lake had been drained.
One of the prize catches was an eel four
feet in length.
In view of the determined effort being
made on the part of conservation COM
missioners in many States to eradicate
the carp, 1t is curious to recall the tn
production of that alien fish In 1850.
Commissioner OMalley Of the United