Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
Disseminate helpful information TO the PUBIC
Coonarata with other conservation agencies


Next November l the purse meters of
Chesapeake Bay will go out of business
for keeps. The General Assembly OF
Maryland after a fight lasting many
years. passed the purse net" bill, pro-
viding that the purse nets could be
operated during the present season 10
November /.
This piece Of legislation was intro
duced in the Legislature each year for
the last 20 years and just as regularly
defeated. The opposition to the mea-
sure came from the Eastern Shore,
where these commercial flshmen live.
Each year they have been organized to
such an extent that they have been able
to defeat the bill. The opposition for
the last several years has been led by
Senator Beck of Kent County and
better leader could not have been Sc
lected.
AS the purse net bill was introduced
in the House it provided for the aoon-
ton of the purse net by June /, this
year. When it reached the Senate an
amendment was made which allowed
the purse meters to operate until NO
vember l. Opponents of the bill stated
that these men should be allowed time
to dispose of their boats and nets and
seek other means of making nveli-
hood
According to the records Of the
MARYLAND Conservation Department,
only IA purse meters were licensed last
year, but these II nets at times made
large hauls of rockf1sh, trout and tay-
lors in the Bay The tributaries OF the
Bay were forbidden grounds to the net
tiers by previous law Of the Legislature.
1t Is reported that as many as 10 IONS
of fish were taken in one haul more
fish than the rod and reel anglers would
take in five or six years. Inc purse
METERS have been allowed to operate
for a license fee of SIS for each net.
All the State of Maryland received from
this source was $3.50 year, yet the
anglers spend many thousands OF dol
lars each year. the money dlstrlouteo
among many different people.
WHEN the purse net bill was passed
w by the House another bill was in
troduced known as the black bass
bill, to prohibit the sale and tranSpor-
tation of these fish. In order TO get
this bill out of committee 1T was nee
essary to compromise on the measure.
Instead of closing the markets OF Mary
land to the sale of bass for the entire
wear. the bill as amended allows COM
mercial fishermen to catch bass during
the months of September, october, NO
yember and December. This bill passed
the House last Tuesday and Is now
before the Senate.
The same men who fought the purse
net bill in the Senate are against the
black bass bill and it is reported that
Senator Walter Mitchell has Joined
hands with Senator Beck against the
measure If the Senate does not pass
the measure. Maryland will remain one
of the few States in the Union that has
not passed such a bill for the protec-
ton of the members of the black bass
family.
THE trout season is open in Maryland
l. and Virginia. Despite the rainy
day a goodly number OF local
anglers have ventured forth. Some got
their bag limit for the day, 10 trout,
and others landed 4, 5 and 6. One local
angler said his trout were not large and
that they seemed to lack the real trout
fight. He saw some beautiful trout In
Hunting Creek, but could catch none
1t is understood that the Maryland
conservation department planted trout
running from IL to IA inches and over
in Huntington Greek last Fall. This
means that the anglers lucky enough
to get these larger trout on their hooks
will have some great sport.
WORD comes from the lower Po-
w tomac, around Leonardtown, that
the native fishermen down there
expect the hardheads to make their ap-
pearance around the 18th of this month.
These are the first denizens of the deep
to visit the bay and its tributaries and
are eagerly sought by anglers. They
put up good fight for several minutes
It is sad to report that the trap nets in
the lower Potomac have been catching
many fine rockfish, one boatman land
ing over 1000 pounds and another 1000
pounds the last week.
The Bureau of Fisheries reports that
the cold weather has held back the run
of shad and herring in the Potomac
River and that comparatively few are
being caught; also, that as far as they
know no white perch are In the waters
adjacent to Washington.
The best bet for local anglers who
want to get some good fishing real early
in the season is to make q trip to
Wachapreague, Va, where the big saltI
water trout furnish excellent sport.