The Washington times., 1938-06-21

GlVer wherein
lies the Dis. Bob Wilson
trict of Columbia landmarks.
The Districts holdings along the
Potomac extend from just above
Little Falls, so marked, down to
about Alexandria city bound
ary.
The whole outlay of the Po-
tomac, as far as game fish are
concerned, is more or less of a
muddled affair. So, we'll do our
best to put District anglers, not
familiar with the situation, on
the right path that they may not
run amuck. The good fathers
OF Washington opened their sea-
son on May 80 (many weeks
too Soon) and it is now per-
missible to fish for all species
of fish within the confines of
the District without a paid
license. Permits are issued to
angle in the Tidal Basin and
from the seawalls free by apply.
ing to the Public Parks CommiS-
sion, Interior Building. Special
permits are granted by the Dis
trict to fish in one Of the reser-
voir storage intakes. This cleans
up the District waters in simple
fashion.
MARYLAND LAW
Now for Marvland'S mart in
the taking of game fish. The
Free State opens its tideless
waters on July and requires a
license costing $3.50 for the year.
If a Virginian, holding a license
in his own State, should angle in
the tideless waters of the Po-
tomac from a boat he is also re-
quired to have in his possession
q Maryland license, since the
waters are owned by Maryland.
Beginning July /, a Virginian
can angle only from shore above
tidewater without the necessary
nonresident license.
Maryland'S tidewater, below the
District, does not open until Au-
gust /. Maryland owns the
water up to high mark on Vir-
ginia shore but the Federal Gov
ernment has control, being navi-
gable water, therefore no license
is required.
Virginia's part in the taking of
game-fish is most simple. but a
license is required to angle her
waters that costs $5 per year.
While VirginianS are restricted
to their own shores in tideleSS
Potomac, the great State con-
trolls all tributaries of the Po-
tomac coming into its land, from
point to point on the shore line,
in both tide and tideless waters.
Here's an example of the Setup.
A Washingtonian must have a
Maryland license to fish in the
tidelesS waters of the Potomac,
above Little Falls. Below Little
Falls no license is required. A
resident of Washington caring
to angle in the Potomac, in both
the tide and tideleSs waters of
Virginia, down to salt water, is
required by law to have a license.
Wings over tide-water Virginia.
The Pennsylvania Central Air
lines are not pulling its punches
when it comes to serving the
great masses of the piscatorial
fraternity. With Virginia's bass
season now open, east of the
Blue Ridge, it is possible to leave
here, rod in hand, at 1885 a. m.
and be on Norfolk's landing
field at 11:55 a. M, just a lean
two miles from Lake Smith, one
of the finest big-mouthed bass
bodies of water along the At
lantic seaboard. This caves a full
afternoon to devote to the game
sters as the returning plane does
not leave until 5:45 p. M, landing
at home one hour later. OF
course, if one cares to tarry
awhile in the Sunny South why
its all o. K. because return trip
tickets carry over for so days.
Last Saturday, Pilot Jim Colt
and Copilot Harry Hunter tried
out Lake Smith, between flights
and found angling conditions
somewhat pleasant. They took
three good-sized gamesterS over
the plug-caSting route and failed
on several strikes. Copilot
Hunter caSted his lure in the
path of a hunk of dynamite and
the crafty old scrapper was just
a bit too cunning for the sky
man. "It was the biggest fish
in the lake, I believe" said
Hunter, with the actions of a
bulldog and buzz-saw COM
bined." Harry declares he'll get
the prize beauty before the sea-
son is much further advanced
and then give him his liberty
that some other Sir IZaak may
have an equal thrill.
Up until the Pennsylvania
Central put It's 6O-mlnuCe service
into effect there was only one
man, to our knowledge, who ever
accomplished the feat of leav-
ing washington in the morning,
catching his limit of bass (re-
tanning only enough for his din
ner), in Lake Smith, and home
again before dark. This great
nimrod was no other than the
late Col. Billy" Mitchell, of av-
iation fame. Many times have
we listened to his stirring tales
of what he had done, with the
help of wings. in a fishing way
during the light of single day.
It's no trick now, even for the
everyday layman, to performe
such a stunt. Wings fly on.