Evening star., 1941-07-02

at Solomons is, for the time being,
at Cedar Point at the mouth of the
Patuxent. Capt. Ed Bowen's boats,
excepting those which prefer the
faster action of hardhead fishing in
the steamboat channel, have been
taking them up to three pounds in
weight and 80 to the catch by
chumming with shore shrimp. The
schools usually stay on these
grounds for long periods, but with
a waxing moon the big fellows at
Town Point and Point Patience
should soon be receptive to soft
crab bats.
Crappie Provide Good Sport.
Crappie in this section are game
fish of the first order. In the fast
water of the Potomac above WASH
ington, we would place them on a
par with bass. They are far finer
table fish. To rate their fighting
ability equal to that of bass will draw
the ire of every dyed-in- -the-wool
black bass fisherman, but that's our
opinion. There is no doubt about
the delicate flavor of their flesh.
An Arlington angler, w. c. Gorges,
with live bait caught under Colum-
bian Island crappie weighing 2
pounds just this past week. And
that is quite crappie. We believe
fresh water anglers would like more
of this fishing. If you'll take our
word for it, they're real fun.
Glenn Leach, chief culturist of the
Fish and Wildlife Service, is already
to raise them in large numbers at
nearby Federal hatcheries, providing
he can obtain brood stock from these
waters. SEEMING for them almost Is
impossible, although eight were OBJ
tanned in this manner two years ago
and made possible the release Of
many thousands of fry.
Any caught and kept alive in
aerated bait pals may be left at
the Department of Commerce
Aquarium. When a sufficient num-
ber is accumulated they will be sent
TO the Leetown hatchery. The re-
sulting fry will be planted in these
waters.
Crappie will rise to fly and they'll
take bait equally well. Stocked in
a stream like Rock Greek they would
provide considerable sport for
youngsters as well as grownups.
They will thrive there, too, as easily
as in the deeper Potomac.
Ocean City Boats Scarce.
We consistently have maintained
this will be a real marlin year at
Ocean City. We believe with the
same interest shown last year the
first fish would have been caught a
week or 10 days earlier. The total
catch for the season will not ap-
proach the top year Of 1883 be-
cause the boats are not there this
year.
Most of the Chincoteague boats
have been placed in the Coast Guard
service for patrol duty. Many
Florida shippers are staying down
because anglers have learned that
summer weather and summer fish
ing in South Florida is far better
than they get during the winter
months. Too, they dislike the long
run offshore at Ocean City, not be-
cause of the hazard, but for the in
creased cost of the long runs and
the longer hours required.
A new city tax on dock space for
marlin boats this year isn't going to
help the game any. In fact, it is
going to keep some boats away and
Ocean City cannot afford to lose a
single boat. Marlin fishing didn't
found this grand little seashore re-
sort, but it has been the means of
attracting thousands Of desirable
visitors.
Capt. Crawford Savage has eight
| charter boats in his basin this year
instead of 20 or more. Capt. Talbot
Bunting with four at his Talbot
street pier and Capt. Lev Raymond
at the yacht club basin complete
| the fleet at present. Capt Vic Lance
is supposed to be on his way up
from Southport.
Not much Of a feet for the great
numbers OF anglers who have gone
for this fishing, hook, line and sinker
1t means those who make their
reservations will 60 fishing. The re-
mainder will stand on the docks and
watch them come in-every day the
weather is fit to fish.