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BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION 1883.
Why menhaden seining should not be prohibited within two miles of the shore.
Having a fishery and oil tanks in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, I venture to give my views on the subject of prohibiting the seining of menhaden within 2 miles of the shore. I. Fishing my said vessels does not destroy the menhaden in excessive quantities, does not worry them constantly in their annual cruise along our coast, and permits the fishermen of each region to enjoy what naturally belongs to their region. II. Fishing by steamers not only permits the destruction of menhaden in quantities sufficient perhaps to jeopardize the keeping up adequate numbers of the fish, but tends to drive them off the coast by keeping them worried all the way from South Carolina to Maine without intervals of peace. It deprives the moderate sailing outfits ofthe various points along the jersey shore and more southern coasts of their fair share of the catch, and almost destroys the fisheries of Maine and the north generally. III. To prohibit fishing within two miles of the shore would simply give over the business more completely to the steamers and intensify all the existing evils. Unless the coast were aptrolled by swift steam inspectors, the steamers would fish where they liked, not even obeying the law which destroyed their rivals for their benefit. It seems to me that a law of two short sections would meet the case. Let it prohibit (1) all seine of purse fishing on the atlantic coast by steamers; and (2) all such fishing by any craft between June 1 and October 31. Camden New Jersey, January 13, 1883 END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |