IT is doubtful if one per cent of the people of .Minnesota real- 

 ize the stupendous possibilities in the fishing industry of 

 this State. Under favorable conditions many kinds of fish 

 can be made to multiply at a rate almost comparable to the 

 increase shown at times in insect hordes. In Minnesota condi- 

 tions are favorable almost beyond belief. With our thousands 

 of square miles of lake and river surface, the quantity of fish 

 that might be produced under even half-way scientific manage- 

 ment, and proper stocking of the waters with vegetation suit- 

 able for fish food, would make our tables groan and our bank 

 icounts swell. A friend of mine in Colorado tells me that 

 lis fish pond yields him more money, acre for acre, than his 

 jst fruit or alfalfa land. Of course, that is the result of in- 

 msive methods of fish culture, and is comparable to truck 

 irming. A small hatchery is necessary in order to obtain 

 ich results. Sometimes natural conditions are very favor- 

 )le to the installation of little hatcheries at trifling expense. 

 There are so many kinds of fish that most any pond, stream 

 lake can be made to produce quantities of fish of some kind 

 >r other. For this reason, it is possible for every locality, in 

 fact nearly every farm, to produce its own fish supply. This is 

 no idle dream; it is a feasible, sensible thing, and a move 

 which should be brought about just as soon as people can be 

 educated to it. Why shouldn't our farmers become familiar 

 with this form of "live stock" as well as with cattle and hogs 

 and poultry and bees? Even now, more fish than beef is 

 eaten in the United States. The price " on the hoof" is about 

 the same. Much more beef than is now grown in Minnesota 

 can be produced here, for we have much unused range, espe- 

 cially in the rich Rainy River country. Hogs and sheep may 

 be increased to a greater extent than cattle; but for food pro- 

 duction these are slow in comparison with fish. 



With fish, as with trees, nature makes lavish provision for 

 reproduction. One crop of seed from a pine tree, if it all were 



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