PROTECTION OF THE UNDERSIZED FISH 



By G. H. Thomson 



My paper will be mostly a summing up of the work 

 performed during the last four years along the lines of 

 education and protection. 



The action which the American Fisheries Society took 

 at its meeting held in Washington, September 21-24, 

 1908, when it recommended that the various state com- 

 missions educate the people by every means in their 

 power to follow the directions given on my post card, 

 which reads as follows : 



A PLEA FOR THE FISH 



When removing an undersized trout from your hook, always 

 moisten your hands before grasping the fish ; otherwise the dry hand 

 will remove the slime from the back of the trout, when it is only a 

 question of time until fungus sets in and the fish will die. 



Always kill your fish that are large enough to keep, as soon as 

 taken from the hook. This can be done by giving it a stroke with a 

 stick on the head, back of the eyes. It will avoid all suffering, and 

 make your fish far better for table use. 



The American Fisheries Society, at Washington, D. C, September 

 21-24, 1908, recommended that the various state commissions educate 

 the people by every means in their power to follow the directions given 

 about wetting the hands. 



Indorsed by twenty-eight fish and game commissioners throughout 

 the United States. 



G. H. THOMSON, FISH CULTURIST, 

 Superintendent of the Estes Park Fish Hatchery. 



During the winter of 1908-1909 I took the matter up 

 with every game and fish commissioner in the United 

 States, asking for their endorsement of the directions. 

 I secured the approval of twenty-eight. Many of them 

 asked for the privilege of reprinting them for their use, 

 which was granted. 



I have used the press as a means of education. Many 

 editors, just before the opening of the fishing season, 

 have used the card as a standing advertisement for the 



