The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-03-05
FISHING LAW CHANGES IN
DEEP CREEKRECOMMENDED
Would Open Trout Season April
Is and Bass Season July 1; To
Close On October 31st
HEARING HELD MONDAY

AC nearing IN the court house
on Monday afternoon before about
thirty sportsmen, changes in the fish
ing laws of Deep Creek Lake, to bet
ter protect fish during the spawning
season, and to permit the taking of
bass during the vacation period, were
recommended to the Conservation
Commission of Maryland.
The Commission ordered the hear
ing several weeks ago. DR.. H. w.
McComas, Oakland, member of the
Commission, presided, with Frank L.
Bentz, chief clerk of the Commission,
acting as secretary.
A motion was passed recommend
ing that trout season be from April
Is to October 81, inclusive, and that
the bass season be from July to Oct
ober 81, inclusive. They also recon-
mended that no fishing whatever be
allowed from November 1 to April Is.
Statewide laws permit bass fish
ing from July to November 80; suck
ers, catfish, carp, cells, gudgeon, Feb
ruary 1 to November 80; trout, April
1 to June 80, except in Youghiogheny
river below Swallow Falls for rainbow
trout, July 1 to November 30. Pres
ent laws allow fishing in Deep Greek
Lake only from April to August Is,
except for carp and suckers.
These assembled were entirely
agreed on the questions brought up
and all motions were unanimous. En-
tirely closing the season from Novem-
Der 1 to April Is, was recommended to
eliminate any possibility of breaking
the law by catching trout or bass
while supposedly fishing for eel, gud-
geon, etc., as several of those present
stated there were no such species in
the lake at all and would simply furn-
ish a temptation.
1t was also the concensus of opinion
that the April Is date would protect
the trout while spawning, and the
frightening of the trout season to
compare with the dateffor the closing
of the bass season would not deplete
the lake of it's fish supply to any ex-
tent. The changes now will allow tour
lists to fish at any time during the
summer vacation season for either
trout or bass. It was intimated the
state would replenish the supply when
needed.
Mr.. Bentz stated that the proposed
changes were first brought up as a
result of the large number of inquiries
the Commission received each summer
about vacationing prospects on Deep
Creek Lake. When the commission in
formed the sportsmen that the fish
ing season closed on August Is, Mr..
Bentz said they looked elsewhere for
a vacation spot.
The Conservation Commission now
has the power to act upon the recon-
mendations without any legislative
action, and DIR. McComas stated the
recommendation of the meeting would
in all probability be adopted.
There was no discussion of the creel
limit, and it is supposed that the law
in this case will be the same as the
statewide law; trout, minimum size
7 inches, 10 in one day; bass, mini
mum size 10 inches, 10 in one day.
Bounty Law Brought Up
After the adjournment of the meet
ing those present remained for dis
cussion of the proposed bounty law.
Delegate Harry Edwards had petit
ton with 500 signatures requesting
restoration of bounties on foxes, Wild
cats and weasels. This law was re-
pealed several years ago after the ex-
isting statute had been abused.
The meeting was favorable to re-
placing this measure among the laws
of the state.