THE GAME BREEDER 



47 



AN ARTIFICIAL LAKE FOR FISH. 



By Deputy Warden W. O. Hadley. 



Two years ago M. Thornton & Son, 

 of The Dalles, constructed an artificial 

 lake, covering twelve acres, on the 

 Thornton ranch, three miles west of The 

 Dalles and one-fourth mile from the 

 public highway. The lake is situated at 

 the head of a valley at the foot of Seven 

 Mile hill. The depth of the water is 

 from two to fifteen feet. 



A rocky ridge runs part way across 

 the valley at this point, which forms a 

 portion of the dam. From the west end 

 of the rock ridge a cement wall, 195 feet 

 in length, has been constructed, which 

 forms the lake. A neck of land runs 

 out into the lake, which adds to the 

 beauty of the place and making the lake 

 horseshoe in shape. 



Nearly two years ago 39,(X)0 black 

 bass were furnished by the State Fish 

 and Game Commission to stock this lake. 



When planted the fish were from two 

 to three inches long, and now they will 

 average about sixteen inches. Mr. 

 Thornton estimates that he now has in 

 the lake from the spawn of these fish 

 from three to four million fry. Four 

 thousand young catfish were also planted 

 in this lake, and these fish have grown 

 to an average length of fifteen inches. 

 They were about three inches long when 

 planted. 



The owners made this lake mainly for 

 their own pleasure and to beautify their 

 ranch, but they will sell a part of the 

 fish raised and probably later on will 

 allow the public to fish in the lake under 

 restrictions. 



I believe this is the largest artificial 

 lake in Eastern Oregon, constructed 

 solely for the purpose of raising fish. — 

 Oregon Sportsman. 



FISH AND IRRIGATION DITCHES. 



(From the Forest Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Portland, Oregon.) 

 Thorough tests of devices to prevent public by affording good fishing. Where 



fish from entering irrigation ditches are 

 to be made by Forest Service officers, 

 who say that thousands of the trout 

 placed in Western streams by the Gov- 

 ernment are killed through being car- 

 ried into the ditches and washed out on 

 the fields. There are not less than 1,200 

 irrigation projects on or near the Na- 

 tional Forests, and in many places the 

 loss of trout is very heavy. The amount 

 of water used in irrigation, it is said, 

 often determines the advisability of ar- 

 tificially stocking the streams. 



The Government annually plants large 



much of the water is used for irrigation, 

 unless the ditches are screened, the 

 trout enter and are washed out onto 

 the fields. While fish are said to make 

 good fertilizer, officials think that trout 

 are too expensive to be used for that 

 purpose. 



A number of devices for screening 

 the ditches are in use, and while two 

 or three have been found to be fairly 

 effective, most of them are said to be 

 unsatisfactory. It is asserted that this 

 subject presents an excellent opportunity 

 for inventors, since a successful screen 



quantities of fish fry in the streams of will be sure to be widely used. Under 



the National Forests. Last year over present conditions, officials are slow to 



1,100,000 were planted in Colorado and recommend that the trout be placed in 



Wyoming alone. This was done to ren- streams where they are apt to be . led 



der the forests more attractive to the off into the irrigation ditches. 



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