136 Fish and Game Warden. [Bull. No. 1. 



matter that it will produce insects, mollusks, crustaceans and 

 other life in abundance at a time when fish need such food. 

 Fish need certain kinds of food while young and growing, and 

 still other kinds later on to bring them to maturity. Nearly 

 all this food comes directly or indirectly from the vegetation 

 that grows in the water. It is necessary, therefore, for the 

 fish culturist to know something about aquatic vegetable life, 

 in order that he may intelligently stock ponds and streams. 



It is the purpose of this department to make a careful study 

 of the ponds and streams of the state and supply them so far 

 as the department is able, not only with the proper fish, but 

 also with the proper plants, and it is also the purpose of the 

 department to supply needed information, through bulletins 

 and otherwise, to persons who desire to raise fish. 



Intelligent versus Haphazard Work. 



A number of fish might be dumped into a pond and allowed 

 to remain there, and the owner of the pond might get more or 

 less fish out of it, but with some intelligent work the pond 

 could be made to produce as many fish as its natural food sup- 

 ply would support. If the fish culturist knew how to properly 

 stock the pond with plants, and how, when and what to feed, 

 the results would be much greater and more satisfactory than 

 could possibly result from haphazard work.* In other words, 

 a given body of water would naturally produce a certain 

 amount of fish, just the same as a given amount of pasture 

 would naturally produce a certain amount of mutton, pork or 

 beef. The same body of water or same amount of pasture, 

 properly stocked and properly cared for, could be made to 

 produce much greater and more satisfactory returns. 



People who successfully raise poultry know that it is neces- 

 sary to possess a certain amount of knowledge of the business 

 or the raising of chickens, turkeys and other fowls can not be 

 made a success. The results obtained from turning a few 

 domestic birds loose on a farm can not be compared with those 

 obtained where the fowls are properly housed, fed and cared 

 for. In other words, it is intelligent work that produces do- 

 mesticated animals for the benefit and profit of man. The 

 same is true with fish. A pond might be stocked with one or 

 several kinds of fish and the fish allowed to shift for them- 

 selves, and under such conditions the pond would produce more 

 or less fish. However, if the pond was stocked with regard to 

 its natural food supply and conditions, much greater results 

 could be attained. 



It is important and often necessary that fish of certain kinds, 

 sizes and ages be looked after and at times sorted and sep- 

 arated. If there are game fish in the ponds they should receive 

 different treatment from that accorded to what we have termed 



* See notes bearing upon this subject on page 104, "Intelligent versus 

 Haphazard Methods." 



