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Outlaw Fishing in Missouri
Author(s) -
Morgan Mark
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446-33.4.165
Subject(s) - fishing , catfish , legislature , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , state (computer science) , socioeconomics , sociology , archaeology , algorithm , computer science , biology
This study describes hand fishers and their unique method of harvesting catfish. Although the Missouri state legislature outlawed hand fishing in 1919, a segment of anglers still practice this sport. In 2000, some of the participants met with officials from the Missouri Department of Conservation and requested a legalized hand fishing season. Their petition was denied, partly due to the lack of information about this activity. A mail‐back questionnaire was administered to hand fishers in Missouri and nearly 5 6% of them responded to the survey. Results indicated that hand fishers were primarily males who lived in rural areas of the state. Participants went hand fishing about 13 times per year (x = 12.5) and caught approximately 10 catfish annually {x = 10.4). A profile of hand fishers was developed and sent to decision‐makers to assist them with policy formation. Since hand fishers reported numerous ways of catching catfish (only 1 5% used their hands exclusively), a better description of these participants is needed.