— II — 



PADDLE WHEELS FOR DITCHES. 



To Prevent Destruction of Fish by Irrigating Ditches. 



(From FOREST AND STREAM, March 14, 1903.) 

 In Forest and Stream of February 14, is an article with the caption 

 "Montana Game and Fish Interests," giving extracts from the semi- 

 annual report of the State Warden, Mr. W. F. Scott. I wish to call 

 attention to certain portions of said report. He says: "It is a matter 

 of serious regret that no practical method has been adopted to prevent 

 the great loss of trout which escape through the irrigating canals and 

 ditches out on to the land, and perish, during the irrigating season, other 

 than the common wire mesh screen which clogs up and retards the flow 

 of water in the spring and autumn when drift matter and leaves are 

 brought down by the current of the stream." 



It is both disheartening and discouraging to the western fishculturist 

 to know that millions of fish, both large and small, annually perish 

 through being stranded on the meadows and grain fields as the result 

 of unscreened ditches. He sees a large percentage of the work of the 

 United States and State Fish Commissions go for naught from this cause. 



The hardship entailed by the use of the common wire mesh screen 

 exists more in imagination than in reality, for during the season of irriga- 

 tion in the summer the streams are clear of leaves and trash. "In the 

 spring and autumn when drift matter and leaves are brought down by the 

 the current of the stream," the head gates of the ditches could be closed, 

 for at those seasons rain or snow usually furnishes all the water needed 

 for the crops. 



But in order to provide a contrivance "which will not injure or work a 

 hardship on the farmer, and at the same time put an end to this wide- 

 spread destruction," I have devised an arrangement to be put in at the 

 intake of ditches that is as effective as a screen, but which is not open to 

 its objections, as it permits the passage of such matter as would clog 

 a screen, and at the same time it prevents fish from entering the ditch. 

 I understand that some such device is successfully used in Colorado, but 

 I have not ueen able to obtain the particulars of its construction. 



My device is very simple, consisting merely of a short flume at the 

 head of the ditch, with sufficient fall to operate an eight-bladed paddle 

 wheel, fitting the flume closely. The width and depth of the flume, and 

 the size of the paddle wheel would be governed by the width and depth 

 of the ditch. If very wide a double flume and two wheels could 

 be used. In large ditches two old wagon wheels could be 

 utilized by affixing paddles to the spokes. The bearings of the shaft 

 should work in vertical slots, so that any hard substance could pass under 

 the paddles by raising the wheel. The continual splashing of the paddles 

 would be effectual in frightening fish or fry and prevent their passage. 



