11) 



KISII LAWS. 



One of the most important features of the fiah interest, as relates 

 to an increase of fish as a food supply, is the necessity for laws 

 sufficient to protect them from wholesale destruction. For years 

 the product of the waters was considered common property, to be 

 taken when, where and in any manner desired. Fish were plenty, 

 and the limited demand seemed to render protective laws unneces- 

 sary. But as the country filled up the demand, as a consequence, 

 increased, and to meet this demand every device which human 

 ingenuity could produce was used to catch them. And as a result 

 each year showed a diminution in the supply, until with hook and 

 Ime it was next to impossible to make a good catch in waters 

 where, only a few years previous, they were plentiful. Then it was 

 sought by legislation to remedy the evil, and an act making a close 

 season for game fish was passed. This met with a decided opposi- 

 tion from various parts of the State. The good results, however, 

 began to be apparent, and since, from time to time, the Jaws have been 

 amended, or new ones enacted, until now we have the seine prohibited 

 for six months in the year, and no seine to be used the mesh of 

 which is Jess than two inches square. And yet there remains much 

 to be done before the object to be attained, viz: the protection and 

 increase of fish, is accomplished. To make laws which will apply 

 equally to all portions of the State is a difficult matter. Owing tO' 

 the great length of the State, the difference in seasons of its ex- 

 treme portions must be considered, as well as the variety of its 

 waters. These considej^-ations render it extremely difficult to make 

 laws which will prove satisfactory to all sections, unless the use of 

 the seine or net be prohibited entirely, at least for a period of 

 years. Aa the law now stanls, it is very difficult to obtain a con- 

 viction, as few are caught in the act of taking fish, the work being 

 mostly done at night, and if the fish so obtained are openly offered 

 for sale the next morning it is no proof of a violation of the law. 

 In truth, it is a notorious fact in many sections of the State that 

 the law is, and has been, almost entirely disregarded. The fisher- 

 men ply their avocation for the entire season, when the stage of 

 water will admit of it. This because the interest was a large one, 

 and the people of such vicinities, either from sympathy with the 

 fishermen or out of fear, declined to enter complaint or become 

 witnesses in prosecuting them. We have had an immense amount 

 of correspondence on the subject from the various sections of the 

 State, and have been severely criticised not only by the residents, 

 but by the press of such vicinities. ^ 



The people do not seem to understand that there is nowhere in 

 the law any special authority given the Fish Commission more than 

 is delegated to any citizen, to enforce the law. Practically it would, 

 from the nature of the work and duties of the Commissioners, be 

 impossible to give the enforcement of the laws that personal atten- 

 tion it requires ; and would, of course, necessitate the expenditure 

 of a great deal of money if the work was done by the employment 

 of parties for that purpose. And as neither the authority nor the 

 means of prosecuting that portion of the work has been at the dis- 

 posal of tlie board, they have accomplished, personally, but little 



