Parsons. — Fisheries of the Chesapeake 23 



When these laws are in operation in both states, it will 

 only be necessary for the two states to go a step further 

 and supplement the splendid work being done by the 

 National Government in artificially hatching shad fry. 

 If both Maryland and Virginia will do what has already 

 been agreed upon, I feel confident the shad fisheries of 

 the Chesapeake Bay can be restored to their former 

 proportions, although it will take some time to do it. 



The co-operative efforts of Maryland and Virginia for 

 the protection of the crab is already showing good re- 

 sults. 



Carrying out an agreement of the Fishery Officials of 

 the two states, laws were enacted by the last legislatures 

 of Maryland and Virginia, protecting the spawning crab 

 and preventing the taking of hard crabs measuring less 

 than five inches from tip to tip of spike. This law is 

 about equally burdensome upon the fishermen of both 

 states, but in a different manner. Practically no crabs 

 spawn in Maryland waters, while during June, July and 

 August, more than ninety per cent of all crabs found near 

 the Virginia Capes are spawning crabs. This law re- 

 sulted this season in closing the Virginia crab packing 

 houses during July and August, as sufficient other crabs 

 could not be obtained during that time to justify their 

 working. 



The crab cull law, however, does not affect the Vir- 

 ginia crabbers, as practically all the crabs in the Virginia 

 waters are mature crabs. The young and growing crabs 

 stay in the upper waters of the bay — in the Maryland 

 waters — and the small crabs which have to be returned 

 to the waters by the Maryland crabbers constitute a large 

 per cent of their total catch, especially in the spring and 

 early summer. Before this season, these small crabs 

 were saved and sold to the dealers, four or five being 

 counted as one. 



At first the crabbers were very much opposed to this 

 law but they are now pleased with it, and admit that it is 

 responsible for the plentiful supply of mature crabs this 

 fall. The small crabs which were returned to the waters 



