116 American Fisheries Society 



or twenty times as many men fished on the beds of the shad as 

 at present and all caught fish. Then they point to the great increase 

 in the number and amount of netting set for these fish farther 

 down the bay. They will tell you that unless there is a limit put 

 on the fishing farther down there will be no need to forbid catching 

 shad on their spawning beds for only a few get up there now. 

 Then they turn to the other side, the side of justice. "Why forbid 

 us to catch a few shad for our families or for market, and that is 

 all we are getting now, while every one in a position to fish farther 

 down may use any net or device in getting shad?" But you say, 

 "This is the spawning bed of the shad," and they answer by 

 asking what possible difference that can make, and the writer is 

 willing to confess that as applied to shad and some other forms of 

 wild life that need not be mentioned here, he has never been able 

 to answer that question in a way entirely satisfactory to himself. 



The truth is, both groups fail to grasp the real cause of the 

 trouble, although both groups see it as modified by selfish or 

 personal interests. The cause is to be found in excessive fishing 

 and the remedy in limitation. To be just, this must be applied 

 to all. Even if the taking of shad is forbidden on their spawning 

 beds it will not be effective in bringing about the desired result so 

 long as no restriction is placed upon taking shad enroute to these 

 beds, for the number now reaching the beds is entirely too small 

 to restore the fishery to what it was years ago, or even to perpet- 

 uate their present numbers. 



There are many men in Maryland, both in public and in 

 private life, who see and see clearly what is needed to correct 

 this unsatisfactory condition of the shad industry, and many of 

 these men are giving their best thought and effort to finding a 

 remedy, just as there are other men in other states working along 

 the same line, but it is almost hopeless to expect uniform remedial 

 action by the various states interested in time to save this 

 industry. The work of these men is not to be discouraged. They 

 deserve the co-operation and commendation of all, but the writer 

 believes, as do many others, that the remedy is to be found in 

 Federal action. Isn't there some definite or concrete way by 

 which this Society can help in this movement for Federal action? 

 Simply as a suggestion the question is asked: Would it be wise to 

 appoint a permanent committee of members interested, coming 



