156 American Fisheries Society 



everything that one could do, without committing suicide, 

 to keep out of it. However, we were forced into it and 

 there was no apparent way of getting out, either by crawl- 

 ing, sliding, or by going up,, down or sidewise. After we 

 discovered that we were really hitched to it we began to 

 think and look the matter over. After getting into com- 

 munication with most of the good fish and game men of the 

 country and possessing ourselves of the best reports and 

 literature upon the subjects directly connected with the 

 work, we began to plan for the future and have been plan- 

 ning and working from that day to this. 



The state had a fish hatchery at Pratt, Kan., consisting 

 of eleven ponds including four small cement retaining ponds. 

 There were only seven ponds adapted to raising fish, ami 

 they averaged a little over an acre each in size. After 

 looking this equipment over and studying its capacity and 

 possibilities, we began to work on plans for a fish hatchery 

 that would in a measure be more adequate for the possi- 

 bilities of the fish interests of the state of Kansas. 



We visited fish hatcheries and got into communication 

 with fish men all over the country, and with various depart- 

 ments, particularly those at Washington, in regard to fish 

 hatcheries and fish hatchery work. We then began our 

 designs and plans, which we worked upon and changed 

 until the plans you now see outlined on the blue prints and 

 placed on the wall, for your inspection, were finally 

 worked out. 



When the Kansas Legislature went into session in Janu- 

 ary, 1910, it was necessarv for us to go before that body and 

 explain what was required for a good and practical fish 

 hatchery for the state of Kansas, with its possibilities for 

 raising good fish, especially food fish. We went before the 

 Ways and Means Committee and presented an outline of 

 the situation, and crude plans for a new and improved 

 hatchery. The legislature, on recommendation of the Ways 

 and Means Committee, finally appropriated for fish 

 hatchery and other purposes about $80,000 and further ap- 



