Evening star., 1933-02-18
ROD AND STREAM
BY PERRY MILLER

The Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers
are clear at Harpers Ferry. and the
river also is clear at Great Falls and
at Chain Bridge. The recent snow
did not affect these streams and make
them muddy, and our report from
Chain Bridge is to the effect that the
river is in perfect condition. How
ever, no anglers have been trying to
land any bass or catfish for the past
10 days or two weeks.
With herring being caught in nets
in the bay around the mouth of West
River, and white perch being netted in
the Potomac off Rock Point, the fishing
season may be said to be at least three
weeks in advance of its usual time. A
report received Thursday said herring
also have entered the mouth of the
Potomac. The middle of the month of
January accounts for this, according to
the United States Bureau of Fisheries.
Provided we have no more real cold
spells, white perch will reach waters
around Washington sometime between
March l and IS. Perch are closely fol-
lowed by herring and shad, with the
last of the visitors being striped bass or
rockfish.
4 T present time no one is willing to
"A predict anything about rockflSh.
In past years many of these fish
have been landed in nets during the
Winter months both in Chesapeake Bay
and in the lower Potomac River. Swep-
son Earle, Maryland conservation COM
missioner. in report recently made
r@J,t1I Ifo rfn tnI hot {l,a 81 h N1tso
commercial fishermen have not made a
large catch of striped bass this Winter.
These men said they could not recall
when rockfish were as scarce as now,
they not having caught enough to sup
ply their own families.
Some of the commercial fishermen
blame the scarcity of rockf1Sh on the
big run Of blue fish in the bay last
year. This may or may not be so. OF
course the bluefish is fighter; one that
attacks everything that crosses its path,
and it kills Just for the love Of the
fight. But Rod and Stream doubts that
the bluefish can destroy, in any large
numbers, any but the smaller fish, prin-
cipally the menhaden or alewives. 1t
is altogether possible, however, that
blues in such large numbers as visited
the bay and its tributaries last season,
miles away from their accustomed
places.
PRACTICALLY the same condition
L existed in the lower Potomac last
season. Several remarkable catches
Of these fish were made during the first
part OF the rockf1sh season, but there
after only a few were caught. Large
runs Of blues occur in cycles, the last
large visitation of these fish having
been some 25 years ago. They may not
return this year and, If not, rockf1sh
again may make their appearance in
large numbers.
Both blues and rockfish have wonder
full fighting qualities, and it is a toss-up
which anglers prefer. If rockfiSh still
pect large number of them to visit
the up-waters of the river this Spring.
Just how many, will depend largely
upon the river itself that is, the river
around Washington with its polluted
waters, because as a general rule fish
will not enter foul waters. The Poto-
mac around Washington is badly pol
luted, according to a recent survey by
the United States Public Health De-
partment. This condition is aggra-
waited below Washington on account of
the raw sewage Of the city entering the
river this side of Alexandria and being
given an additional load to carry from
the city of Alexandria. 1t all depends
on the amount of rainfall we have to
help carry off the pollution, and if we
have too much rain the anglers again
are out of luck on account of muddy
water. So there you are!
THE black bass bill in the Maryland
l. Legislature, after a stormy ses-
sion, finally passed its second read
ing last week, but this was not accom-
plished until three amendments had
been voted down. Tt still has some
hard hurdles before it, but having
passed the second reading, its spon-
sors feel assured it will go through on
the third reading. When the measure
reaches the Senate its passage is as
sured, according to those favoring the
bill.
A bill which in some way might hurt
the black bass bill also has been intro
duced in the Maryland Legislature by
Delegate John Sleeman of Allegany
County. This measure provides for an
anglers license for salt water fishing.
In the opinion of all anglers and the
Bureau Of Fisheries. this measure will
meet great opposition. However, if the