The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-05
Let's Go Fishing
PROTECTION FOR
SPAWNING FISH
is ADVOCATED
Revision of Law Suggested
to Solve Problem in
Indiana.
BY LEFTY LEE
BY LEFTY LEE
Times Fishing Editor

The fishing waters Of the state
provide such varied sport for the
angler that he, as a usual thing,
travels to different parts of the state
for the particular type Of fishing he
might desire at a given time. For
this reason it would seem logical
that the spawning laws should be
changed so as to cover more fully
the duties for which each law was
enacted AS an example, the closed
season ban is lifted at certain date
and yet, in some places, the fish are
Just in the midst of the spawning
period. These places should be pro-
tected more than ever at that time
and yet the law says that the angler
now can fish for these species and
the ends for which the law was
made are defeated. AS early as 1904
the then commissioner of fisheries
and game, q. T. Sweeney in his re-
port to Governor w. T. Durbin,
stated that the interests of northern
Indiana are entirely separate from
the interests Of southern Indiana,
and in many cases Numerically
opposite.
Hence the legislation for one sec
ton is not well adapted to the other.
Which brings us back to the con-
tention Of the resort owners of
northern Indiana that the spawn
ing season should not end before
the fish have left the beds, but that
the lake should be opened, to the
fishermen earlier, and the spawn
ing beds marked off as restricted
fishing territory. The cost of this
method would not revert to the tax
payer, as the owners of the resorts
could be formed into a voluntary
guard, as they already have stated
that they would perform this service
free Of any charges. Their reward
would be a longer season, a thing
for which they have been fighting
a long time. The writer feels sure
after talking to quite few of the
persons in the northern part of the
state that they would cooperate
with the conservation department
100 per cent; to make certain that
the restricted spawning beds would
be guarded fully at all times and
violators reported. Your suggestion
Is as good as mine, so why not drop
us a line explaining your attitude
concerning this angle of protecting
the fish during the season when
they need it most.
Reading Mr.. Sweeney's report for
that year makes the reader realize
that this man really was qualified
for his job and, in addition, a good
prophet. Mr.. Sweeney reports on
streams in the following manner:
Attention shoud be given to the
protection and preservation of the
fish in our streams, many of which
are the most beautiful in the coun-
try. With their gravelly beds and
messy borders, their deep pools and
silvery ripples, our streams are
adapted to the finest varieties of
fish in our western country. The
work of the dynamiter, seiner and
manufacturer. however, has we'll
nigh ridden them of their inhabi-
tants. The dynamiter kills every
thing within reach of his explosive,
and for the sake of a mess of large
fish from a pool, kills hundreds if
not thousands of young fish unfit
Tor food. The Seiner who plies his
vocation for money will draw out
and leave to die six fish for every
one he takes, while the great fac
tories of the country pour their
floods of filth and refuse into the
streams and complete the work of
the dynamiter and the Seiner, re-
CARELESS of the rights and interests
OF the common people.
The reason for bringing this
subject to your attention is that the
people of the state now have one of
the most cooperative conservation
departments ever. The department
has proven this by making strides
toward the cleaning up of the
streams and lakes, and as far as the
dynamiterS and SeinerS are con-
cerned, just let a game warden
catch these hogs at it. For these
reasons it is time for you Mr.. Sports
man to go to bat and show these
men that you appreciate their
efforts to improve conditions that
have been worse than rotten for
many years. The time to stop
pollution for all time is now, and
you should take advantage of the
present opportunity by joining with
some organization that is pledged to
stop this system of using the
ctr-cnr ,ns Of The 81 atn fnr. saunrs