Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 29, 1990 TAG: 9007250448
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
After six months to settle into the task, Outdoor Editor Bill Cochran asked him to comment on a variety of subjects that involve his department. Here are his capsuled remarks:\
FISH HATCHERIES
We must do something with our hatchery system. Most of it was constructed back in the 1930s and '40s and the facilities are going to start failing on us. One of the reasons it is such a big challenge, it is going to cost a lot of money. I think the cost quite possibly will exceed the funding capabilities that this agency has at this time.\ JACKSON RIVER
I think it (the Gathright tailrace) will be the premier trout fishery in Virginia and one of the premier trout fisheries in the East. There is right much fishing going on now, and from what I hear it seems to substantiate that kind of prediction. Of course you can't keep any of the fish you catch at this point, but the fishing is excellent.\ SMITH MOUNTAIN STRIPERS
I feel comfortable that our stocking rates have been on target and that the fishery appears to be in good shape.\ WARM WATER STREAMS
We are posturing ourselves to do more with our warm water streams. We have done that by funding a number of studies at Virginia Tech including extensive studies on the James River.\ TROUT STOCKING
I think the public has become more understanding about what we are trying to accomplish [through unannounced, in-season stockings.] Hopefully fishermen will come to the realization that there are trout out there in the stream of their choice and they can catch them if they will allow us to put them in without creating crowds.\ YEAR-ROUND SEASON
My personal philosophy, I see some advantages to a year-round trout season. The biggest, we would be able to provide fishing opportunities anytime there are a few nice days in February or early March. A second advantage, it would allow us to increase our efficiency and reduce our costs in our hatcheries. On the other side, I recognize that opening day is a Western Virginia tradition. For many people, it is a rite of spring. We need to do some careful study [on the issue.]\ ANGLER RESPONSIBILITIES
The No. 1 thing that any individual can do is be involved and support the efforts to preserve the resource for future generations. Virginia is undergoing rapid development and with that comes the challenge of trying to maintain and enhance our fisheries and wildlife resources in the face of some very significant land-use changes. We aren't going to be successful unless those people who enjoy our wildlife resources support the good-decision making process.\ ATTRACTING KIDS
The opportunity for being introduced to fishing and hunting and the appreciation of wildlife by simply walking down through the field to the nearest creek or pond is very limited for the majority of our young citizens today. We have to figure out ways to bring fisheries and fishing opportunities to these people. We have to teach them the value of the animals and the habitat that supports wildlife.\ WATER NEEDS
Water is becoming scarce, not so much from the standpoint of having it to drink, but from having it to lure development. As it becomes scarce, you start having to allocate it among uses and you must make sure that sufficient amounts remain to support our fish and wildlife.\ CATFISH
We want to expand its role in our fishing programs. We are working with the blue catfish and the flathead catfish. We have crews in Georgia now collecting flathead catfish to bring back to Virginia.\ FUNDING
We are going to have to have additional sources of funding. I think that has been recognized and is the reason for House Joint Resolution 76, passed by the 1990 General Assembly, which is designed to take a comprehensive and critical look at the funding needs of this agency.\ LICENSE INCREASES
When you look at the cost of the license fishermen are required to buy relative to the other costs that contribute to the enjoyment of their sport, the license still is a small percentage. But, on the other hand, I sense that we are getting to the level where substantial increases in licenses are not going to be very well received, unless they are in small increments over a period of time.\ STRIPED BASS HYBRIDS
I don't see a big future for the [white bass-striped bass] hybrid in Virginia, other than we do raise some and trade them to other states for fish that are valuable to us. The Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission recommended that these fish not be introduced into the watersheds that the coastal striped bass spawn in. In addition, we found that these fish are not sterile. To the contrary, they are quiet fertile. So we also have concerns on what impact they would have on our spawning landlocked striped bass populations.\ FLORIDA BASS
We are doing a genetics study [at Briery Creek Lake] and I don't think the stocking of Florida bass is called for elsewhere until we see the results.\ TIDAL RIVERS
Where we particularly have been deficient is in our tidal fresh water areas, which include the tidal James, Rappahannock and York. Those systems provide very excellent fresh water fishing opportunities and we really want to be more active there.\ BACK BAY
I am very troubled by the conditions [too much salt and mud] at Back Bay. I have directed our staff to give this problem a major portion of its time by organizing a symposium. I keep saying, there has to be a way to bring that fishery back.\ ANADROMOUS FISH
We really want to restore anadromous species - striped bass, American and hickory shad, herring - to their historical spawning grounds. We see tremendous value, particularly in the striped bass and the shad species.\ RIPARIAN MANAGEMENT
We need to be into some type of riparian management program where we go out and work with stream landowners. We need to assist them or provide information for them or the state needs to provide incentives for them to manage their riparian areas.\ AQUATIC SPECIES
There are indications that amphibians and reptiles are declining in large scale. We need to work more in our non-game species programs.
by CNB