Osburn. — Games Fish Conditions in Ohio 363 



factory. Pollution by mills, factories, mines and so forth 

 is one important reason, while stream control, deforesta- 

 tion and over-fishing have all played a part in decreasing 

 the productivity. While there is excellent angling in 

 many of our streams there is no doubt that there are fewer 

 fish than formerly in practically all of our rivers and 

 creeks. Elimination of pollution and more protection dur- 

 ing the breeding season will go a long way toward re- 

 establishing and maintaining good fishing in our streams. 



Discussion 



Mr. Lewis Radcuffe, Washington, D. C. : Some of the references 

 made by Dr. Osburn to the feeding of bass remind me of the results of 

 (the study of the food of the squeteague or weakfish in North Carolina. 

 At the beginning of the season we find the squeteague feeding on crus- 

 taceans and other material ; later on, as they get larger, they begin to 

 feed on menhaden. As they increase in size the number oi menhaden 

 appearing in the stomach contents increases until constituting the bulk 

 of food, the reason being that in the earlier stages it is impossible for 

 squeteague to swallow the menhaden that occur in those waters at that 

 time. As to the gizzard shad being an item of food, it may be of interest 

 to know that in our southern markets, Baltimore and Washington, the 

 gizzard shad is sold as winter shad. 



Dr. Osburn: How do they manage to eat them? 



Mr. Radcliffe: They are used fresh. They are also very good fish 

 when salted. Of course, they are rather bony. 



Dr. Osburn: You can get a little slab of meat off the sides, but 

 the network of bones is so heavy that it would discourage almost anyone, 

 I should think, unless he had plenty of time. 



Mr. Radcliffe: They are used in southern districts, largely by 

 the colored people. 



Dr. Osburn : I understand that some of the foreign population 

 catch them and put them through a grinder. I would not be surprised 

 if they could be made use of in that way. While I think of it, may I ask 

 whether it would not be possible to make use of the young gizzard shad 

 as sardines, as is done in the case of young menhaden? 



Mr. Radcliffe: I think not; they would not equal the sardine, nor 

 would they command as good a market. At least, this will be the case 

 so long as we can get sardines in such abundance. 



