THE USE OF COPPER SULPHATE FOR THE 



DESTRUCTION OF OBNOXIOUS FISHES 



IN PONDS AND LAKES 



By John W. Titcomb, 

 State Fish and Game Commissioner for Vermont. 



In the early days of the State Fish Commission it was 

 found that black bass multiplied rapidly when introduced 

 into new waters and as a result the Fish Commissioners 

 in the various New England states, and particularly in 

 Vermont, proceeded to introduce black bass in trout 

 ponds and lakes where the trout fishing had become poor. 

 The bass thrived until the trout were all devoured, and 

 then, for lack of sufficient food and range, they were 

 forced to live on each other and in some instances, due to 

 environment, became a stunted race. Perch, pickerel, 

 bullheads and other coarse fishes were introduced either 

 by the Commissioners or by individuals. As a result 

 many cold water ponds and lakes have been ruined for 

 trout and furnish rather poor returns to the angler in 

 the warm water fishes which succeed them. 



To illustrate conditions, attention has recently been 

 called to the fact that in one town there are fourteen 

 trout ponds ranging in area from ten to thirty acres, all 

 of which contain perch. The presence of this species 

 renders the waters almost uninhabitable for the trout 

 family, none of which is armed to compete with its spiny 

 rayed enemy. 



Fortunately a remedy for these conditions has been 

 discovered which, at comparatively small expense, makes 

 it possible to restore some of the smaller lakes and ponds 

 to their original condition as trout waters. 



*The use of copper sulphate for the destruction of algae 

 in municipal water supplies first led to experiments 

 to ascertain how strong a solution can be used without 



*Kellerman, Bui. 76, and Bui. 100, part VII, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



