78 American Fisheries Society 



We are laying down our opportunities and rights by neglecting to 

 take advantage of our resources and making something out of these 

 fish. I went before the legislature and had them pass a closed season 

 of over six months against the protest of the fishermen, recognizing 

 that it was necessary because these fish are disappearing from the 

 waters of our State. 



Prof. Dyche: If the fishermen get such a high price for the eggs 

 it will be but a short time until you will have no fish. The lake stur- 

 geon were caught for their eggs and in a short time they were exter- 

 minated. You will have to have some restrictions regarding the 

 management of that business. 



Mr. Alexander: We protect them six months out of the year, and 

 permit no fish to be taken under twelve inches in length. 



Prof. Dyche: That is taking a long chance on saving them. You 

 might protect them nine or ten months, but if you allow them to be 

 caught at the spawning time the same result will follow. 



President Ward: Professor Dyche is quite right in emphasizing the 

 danger in collecting fish for caviar. They must be taken at the time 

 when the eggs are nearly if not fully ripe and the consequent destruc- 

 tion is, of course, enormous. This might be met by providing pro- 

 tective measures through hatching, or otherwise, but it certainly is 

 dangerous ground that the fishermen are treading on when they cap- 

 ture ripe fish for the eggs exclusively, and it is a fact that sturgeon 

 have been exterminated in certain regions of the earth by reason of 

 their pursuit for the eggs. 





