148 Thirtieth Annual Meeting 



We think it (loul)tfiil if the public have ever thoroughly 

 understood that the Fish Commission is a public institution 

 created for the general benefit and not for the community of 

 sporting men as it has been believed by a few who denied the 

 importance of any legislation concerning fish and eels. The 

 sections here quoted put the matter plainly: 



DISTRIBUTION OF FJSII AND PUBLIC WATERS. 



Section 22. Unlawful to apply for or to be concerned in apply- 

 ing for self or another any game or food fish for waters in which the 

 public are not allowed to fish. Eggs exempted, also fish and eggs 

 for schools. Fine $25. 



Section 23. Free waters to comprise those declared navigable 

 by the acts of Assembly or public by common law, and such others 

 as are made public by owners by grant or usage. 



Section 24. The Fish Commissioners may give preference in 

 distributing fish to waters in lands owned by the state. 



Section 2.5. \v nenever fish are planted in waters on written 

 application of owners or lessees such waters are declared open to 

 the public for fishing purposes thereafter. Provided, that the sec- 

 tion shall not be construed to permit any person fishing in such 

 waters from the banks without permission of owners or lessees; 

 small spring runs tributary to trout streams not included. 



At the time of the introduction of German Carp into our fish- 

 ing streams it was supposed to be a food fish innocent of any very 

 pernicious habits, but experience has shown that the larger lish 

 are not agreeable for food and they do unquestionably destroy, 

 or devour the yovmg of oar far more desirable fish. Old fisher- 

 men along the borders of our inland rivers or creeks bewail the 

 presence of the ''great rough fish." They point to the coffee 

 colored waters of the once silvery streams and say that they 

 never were so until the carp were put there. One old man on the 

 Perkiomen said: "There aint no fishin' any more; what the 

 cussed carp don't eat he frightens away with his lashin' on the 

 bottom of the creek." Whether this be ti'ue or not the turbid 

 waters must have some cause for the new feature in their color- 

 ing. The Fish Commission has doubtless solved the problem as 

 the following sections would denote : 



GERMAN CARP ITXLAWFUL FISH. 

 Section 26. Unlawful to fish with any poison or explosive, and 

 no explosive sha.i be used in waters except for engineering pur- 



