Evening star., 1932-10-24

n DWARD G. KEMPER, known as
IL the father of black bass legis-
lation in the District Of Co.
IL lumbia. speaking Thursday for
Rod and Stream over Station
WMAL, told his audience that the
States surrounding Washington are its
playground. Maryland and its sister
States, namely, Virginia, West Virginia
and Pennsylvania, constitute great
area to which nature has been more
than generous The Potor21c River
and its tributaries, the many tide
water streams, the lakes and ponds are
great natural water areas with ideal
climatic conditions and with abundant
supplies of vegetation and water life
capable of producing the finest bass
fishing in the United States, with the
possible exception of Florida, he said.
Excepting the brook trout, the black
bass is the finest, gameSt. most valuable
and most widely distributed fresh-water
game fish in the State of Maryland.
The black bass, Kemper said, is 10
times more valuable to the State Of
Maryland, from any point of view, be
1t economic, recreational or sentimental,
when classified and protected as game
fish, than when sold as a food fish.
The black bass. he said, can maintain
its numbers against all natural enemies,
against the angler with rod and line
cept the haul Sein, the trap net and
the stick of dynamite.
The black bass cannot survive as a
source of outdoor enjoyment to the
people, and as source Of income to
those who cater to the angling fra
ternity, so long as there is price on
its head-that price being the price
per pound on the market counter, KEN
per Informed his listenerA
s'VI1HAT is the general result of the
w economic effect of the present
market sale of bass in Maryland?" he
asked, and then said that the market
sale Of bass in that State means that
the citizens of Maryland who love to
fish for bass with hook and line are
being deprived of the sport by a COM
paratively few commercial fishermen
and pot hunters who are unintention-
ally destroying source OF income to
themselves which, if properly developed,
would far exceed any income they now
make from bass sold at 5, 10 or 70
cents a pound in the fish market and
the wayside inn.
Kemper said that the remedy is sim
pie enough. It can be had by act OF
the General Assembly Of Maryland
through the insertion of short para
graph in the game laws Of the State
to provide that black bass snail not
be taken or sold for commercial pur-
poses. -.
Kemper said a bill to this effect will
be introduced in the next session OF
the Maryland Legislature and express
ed the hope that the citizens of Mary
land will impress upon their represent
atives their desire to see the bass pro-
tected against determination by COM
mercial fishing. -
: It is believed such legislation will
pass, he said, provided 1t has the ,un-
qualified support Of the Maryland Con-
servation Commission.
The Bureau of Biological Survey has
issued its annual summary Of game
laws for the season 1929. It dis
cusses changes made in game laws dur
ing the past year, presents the Federal
regulations In detail, and summarizes
for each state and province the; laws
relating to seasons, licenSeS,S bag and
possession limits,s and transportation.
The publication this year Is not. avail-
able for. free distribution but, may be
obtained from the superintendent, OF
documents, Government Printing Once,
Vat 8 cents Q copy.