Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-04

add to the troubles of the an
glers, the high wind drove SO
much water out of the river that the
bottom of the stream was exposed for
quite a distance from the shores, and
old tin cans, pilings and what not, not
seen for years, were in full view. The
saying is that time and tide wait for
no man. On this occasion the tide was
compelled to wait on the wind. There
was no tide around Washington for a
day or two.
What becomes of the flsn under these
conditions? Are they blown down.
stream with the water? They most GER
tainly are not 1t is very seldom that
a fish is left stranded in shallow water.
When the water commences to recede
the fish Immediately seek deep holes.
I doubt if any of the fish in the Po-
tomac-the bass, crappie, catfish, carp,
mullets. etc.-beat hasty retreat
downstream.
The river is almost back to normalcy
as far as the tides are concerned. 1t
is not entirely clear around Washing
ton-that is, 1t has not taken on that
dark green color the anglers like SO
much to see. 1t still is a little dis
colorec, but it is in fishablc con-
dition.
THE most encouraging feature Of
i fishing at the present is the pros
pect Of good angling for trout on
April l. Maryland. Virginia and West
Virginia have planted many large brook
and rainbow trout in their streams. All
these planted fish are of legal size and
over, the legal size for trout being Z
inches. Maryland and Virginia open
their trout seasons on April l and West
Virginia permits the anglers to whip
her streams for these gamsters on
April Is.
The fish from the briny deep are EVIL
IDENTIFY making their way toward the
waters of Chesapeake Bay and its
tributary streams. The LEGAL markets
are full Of fresh fin, seabass, white
perch, croakers or hardheads, herring
and shad. The herring are in the
bay and the lower Potomac, and q re-
port was received that shad were being
landed. Another report said that these
delicious fish were also being landed
in the nets around the mouth Of the
Potomac
Plenty Of white perch are being
caught in the nets of the commercial
fishermen in the lower Potomac, and
these fish should reach the waters
around Washington within the next
two weeks. A last minute report says
that big yellow perch were being caught
on hook and line in the Potomac be-
low Washington.
4 MATTER that is being widely dis
IA cussed by the anglers and about
which we have received many tele-
phone calls Is a bill introduced last
week in the Maryland Legislature.
This measure would require fishing
license In tidewater Maryland. This
measure Is opposed by Swepson Earle
Of the Maryland Conservation Commits
SIGN, the oficials of the Bureau Of
Fisheries, and. naturally by the sports
mems organizations in Maryland and
the District of Columbia. Local anglers
using tidewater Maryland for their
fishing trips need not become unduly
alarmed about this bill. In all proba-
biltty it will never be reported out from
the Fish and Game Committee Of the
House of Delegates, and If 1t Is, the
chances of being enacted into law are
very slim.
Legislative matters at Annapolis of
interest to anglers and hunters were
showed into the background while
legislators turned their attentions to
thoughts Of regulating the budget, taxes
and the banking situation in Maryland.
One of the principal matters is the black
bass bill which Is expected to come up
for its third and final reading shortly.
Proponents Of the measure claim there
has been a definite change in favor of
the bill. They declare there is every
evidence Of the bill being passed with
out any serious opposition. Stamped
with the approval Of the House Of
Delegates. they say it will have COM
paratively smooth sailing when it
reaches the Senate.
Another matter of great Importance
in fish life is bill that Commissioner
Swepson Earle is advocating that would
define which nets are legal for the
catching of fish in Maryland waters
It Is his idea that when the law defines
nets that are legal, instead Of classify
ing nets that are illegal, big step will
be accomplished in the regulations Of
this troublesome subject.