Evening star., 1943-03-15
Ickes Opposes
Plan 10 Relax
Fishery Curbs
Maryland Is Urged
To Retuin Present
Regulations
ey The Associated Press.

~ ire Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, March l5.-Secre-
fary of the Interior Ickes yesterday
entered Maryland legislative battle
against State measure which would
relax provisions limiting the num-
Der and size of fisheries nets in
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries
Glenn L. Martin president of the
aircraft concern bearing his name.
released letter he said he had re-
ceived from Mr.. Ickes in which the
cabinet member said:
There is no evidence, scientific
Or economic. TO support the type of
Instrumentation legislation which
you state is being considered in
Maryland
The need for an increased fish
production to assist in the war food
program can be met, not by casting
aside our conservation gains of the
past. but principally by making
more efficient use of available facili-
ties and manpower and by
using species of fish and shellfish
that hitherto have been only par
TALLY utilized or entirely neglected
by the commercial fishery enter
prise
Legislat tors to Get Copies.
Mr.. Martin said Mr.. Ickes' letter
was in reply to one he had written
TO the Secretary asking his opinion
about the legislation, adding that
copies of it would be sent to legis-
lators and others concerned with
the measure, House bill 1853.
The airplane manufacturer, who
has rallied conservationists to op-
pose repeal of conservat ton statutes,
said a letter of his own would ac-
company Mr.. Ickes' letter in the
distribution.
In his letter, Mr.. Martin said he
held that Just because the price of
fish, momentarily, is high and some
additional intermittent fishermen
would like to rush in for their share
of the catch for this favorable mar
ket is no reason for the State to
draw off all control to the certain
oetriment of future years"
Mr.. Martin said Mr.. Ickes' letter
continued:
The fisheries of Chesapeake Bay
have undergone a gradual decline
since the early days of commercial
exploitation and the primary cause
has been overfishing.
Backs Present Regulations.
The present Maryland Con-
servatlon Commission, empowered
through the enactment of the sound
legislation which you mentioned,
has made notable progress in restor-
ing the fisheries of Chesapeake Bay.
by continuation of the present
regulations which are designed to
permit as large an annual catch as
Is consistent with the natural re-
placement of the fishery stocks
through reproduction and growth
to maturity, the fisheries will pro-
duce a far greater quantity of food
over a period of a few years than
If the regulations were cast aside"
The bill was returned 10 the
House of Delegates last week with
a favorable report by the CheSa-
peake Bay and Tributaries Commit
tee. 1t has been opposed through
out by the State Conservation Com
mission.
Besides removing restrictions on
the number and size of nets per-
mitted, the measure would also
eliminate restrictions on the num-
ber of licensed fishermen permitted.
An anticipated floor fight on the
measure failed to develop but some
legislators expressed the opinion
that opponents would rally forces
for a showdown battle when the
measure comes up for passage this
week.