Anicricav rislwrics Society. 33 



I soon discovered that men witli heavy vested interests whose 

 value depended on a continuance of fishing for a long term of 

 years, and who had experienced the henehts derived from artificial 

 propagation, were in favor of open fishing in November, with its 

 accompanying concomitant, artificial propogation. Through 

 much correspondence and by personal interview. J soon learned 

 that experienced fish-breeders and fish-culturists everywhere were 

 a unit in agreeing that the law was a blow at the only possible 

 means by which the fisheries may be indefinitely sustained. 1 

 have not found a single practical fish culturist who favors the 

 law. 



b'ish must be caught during the spawning season to protect 

 their spawn, and as such protection to the spawn makes more 

 than a "Hundred blades of grass to grow where one grew be- 

 fore," such profital)le increase should not be handicapped nor 

 put under the ban. l)ut should be encouraged and taken advantage 

 of to the fullest possible limit. With open fishing during the 

 spawning season and means provided for saving the spawn, to be 

 multiplied in hatching results many hundred fold, we were on the 

 right track to restore and maintain our fisheries. 



But the introduction of young fish by the millions should be 

 followed up with other measures. Undoubtedly a large percent- 

 age of the youn.g fish from hatcheries are destroyed by natural 

 enemies, as are the young hatched from natural spawning 

 grounds. This of course cannot be helped; but for man to step 

 in and become an ally of nature in the destruction of partially 

 grown fish, is an ofifense that cannot be too severely condemned 

 and penalized. 



So far as reproductive results are concerned, where pro- 

 vision is made to save the ova. it matters not whether spawning 

 fish are caught by commercial fishermen, or whether boards of 

 fish commissioners turn themselves into conmicrcial fishermen 

 by hiring the same men and apparatus, employing the same meth- 

 ods and disposing of the fish at the highest market price. 



But there are one or two points in connection with the catch- 

 ing of spawning whitefish and lake trout by commercial fisher- 

 men, that should be incorporated into law throughout the Great 

 Lakes. For the most part the fishermen are more than willing 

 to save the spawn for hatching, although the work of stripping 

 the fish and caring for the ova involves some labor and expense. 

 Still, commissioners should be empowered to require that the 

 crew of every boat or vessel fishing on spawning grounds, should 

 include at least one expert spawn taker, and a heavy penalty 



