Miles. — Defense of the Dogfish 57 



for he is easily propagated, and, notwithstanding the wan- 

 tonness with which he has been sought out for destruction, 

 his numbers are legion in all the waters of the West. 



DISCUSSION 



Prof. L. L. Dyche, Pratt, Kan. : Is that the same species of dogfish 

 that is found in Lake Michigan? 



Mr. Miles : Yes. 



Professor Dyche: In 1895 I caught dogfish at Charlevoix, Mich., 

 cooked and ate them, and found them much like catfish. I have also 

 eaten dogfish cooked by Indians. 



Mr. W. H. Hughes, St. Louis : You think they do not interfere 

 with the stream or the growth of the game fish? 



Mr. Miles: No, they are a benefit to them. The dogfish is quite 

 prolific. 



Mr. Dvvight Lydell, Comstock Park, Mich.: I had not expected 

 to tell of my experiences in eating dogfish. I was not going to say 

 anything about it until Professor Ward came in, and I knew I had a 

 witness to verify my statements. 



We ate them at Charlevoix. While we were studying the habits 

 of the whitefish we experimented eating everything that the lake 

 would produce, even to lawyers and mud-puppies. When people begin 

 to eat dogfish, I am ready to eat most anything. 



President: I am sure that the Society knows dogfish are not harm- 

 ful, after they have looked at the two splendid specimens of physical 

 manhood who admit experimenting with them. 



Mr. W. E. Musgrove, Leadville, Colo.: What do dogfish eat? Do 

 they eat the same food that the game fish subsist on ? 



Mr. Miles : Altogether. 



Mr. Musgrove: Then we don't want them. 



Mr. Miles: Nature keeps up a nice balance in these matters. We 

 have garfish, big pickerel, pike and dogfish all dwelling together in 

 harmony. 



Mr. Musgrove: But one lives at the expense of the other. 



Mr. Mii.es : But remember that the young dogfish are excellent 

 food for bass and other game fish. I am commissioned by the Com- 

 mercial Club, of Indianapolis, to induce this Society to meet at Indian- 

 apolis next year, and if you do we shall offer you a dogfish dinner 

 at one of the hotels, and ask you to pass judgment on it without 

 prejudice. 



Mr. D. C. Beaman, Denver: I move that the discussion of the dog- 

 fish matter be laid on the table until next meeting. 



Mr. Seymour Bower, Detroit, Mich. : I have never, eaten the dogfish, 

 but T think Mr. Miles is correct when he says they are wholesome food. 

 A number of years ago I was employed at the Put-in Bay hatchery 



