362 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



eggs, would float out of the net and have some chance for development 

 and the production of young fish. 



Another important advantage would be that as a stationary net the 

 only portion of the bottom on which eggs might be deposited that would 

 be disturbed, would be the 30 feet square of the bottom of the movable 

 pot, and even this would be slight. A contrast very favorable to the 

 pound-net is with the 1,200 or more acres swept by the seine referred 

 to, twice in twenty-four hours, and the continual trailing of the drift- 

 nets over miles of the bottom of the river. 



The objections that have been advanced against the pound-nets on the 

 lakes and sea-coast are the following : First, that by extending the 

 leaders for long distances, often for miles, they fence off the run-ways of 

 the fishes and guide entire shoals of fishes into the pot or trap portion ; 

 second, that by employing small meshes in the pot or trap, young and 

 immature fishes are captured in large numbers, and the stock of fishes 

 in the lakes thereby reduced uselessly and in an anticipatory manner, as 

 the future stocks of fishes which depend on the progeny of these are of 

 course prevented. These are the objections to pound-nets, and they are 

 final and sufficient to condemn them for all waters if these features are 

 necessarily attendant with their use. 



The abuses, it will be seen, are the extension of the leader to unrea- 

 sonable lengths, and the use of a mesh so small that immature fishes are 

 destroyed in large numbers. 



The Potomac has the advantage of the old pound-net regions' in that 

 the interest is as yet very small, and a good code of laws for their regu- 

 lation can be enacted by the States interested without the opposition of 

 a wealthy and determined body of net-proprietors, as has been the case 

 on the sea-coast, Connecticut River, and the lakes. For the enforcement 

 of laws after they have been established, no better system could be em- 

 ployed than that which controls the oyster-fisheries of Maryland. The 

 extension of the duties of a fishing-police force, with properly-equipped 

 vessels, to the oyster-dredgings, fisheries, and the nets, would place the 

 whole matter under efficient control, and whatever regulations as to 

 close-season, size of mesh, length of nets, and even number and charac- 

 ter of fisheries, if there should be legislation in this particular, could be 

 efficiently controlled. 



I have to acknowledge my indebtedness to my companions during 

 the trip for many suggestions and ideas developed in our conferences 

 on board of the Triana. 



Admiral Goldsborough, of the navy-yard, placed all facilities pos- 

 sible for the success of our trip, in equipping the steamer, and Captain 

 Cook, commanding the Triana, rendered us every advantage possible to 

 facilitate our inquiries. 



I am, yours, respectfully, 



JAMES W. MILNEE, 

 Prof. S. F. Baird, 



United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. 



