1.88 THE GAME BREEDER 



sufficient importance to warrant exten- by a fallen tree or a collection of debris 

 sive fish cultural operations, but the or possibly by a few picturesque moss- 

 longer I have been engaged in this work clad boulders. 



the more important it has appeared to me . With the waters provided, the all im- 



f rom purely economic viewpoints. In portant question to be decided is as to 



fact, as a servant of both state and fed- the kind of fish which will best thrive in 



eral governments,, without personally them and produce the most food or 



sacrificing the aesthetic side, I have been game fish and preferably both in one or 



forced to see and preach the economic more species. 



side. This economic side applies just as In the selection of a species best suit- 

 truly to game fishes as to the so-called ed to the waters, maximum water tem- 

 commercial fishes. If the busy man can perature in summer ■ and natural food 

 enjoy the sport and recreative benefits supply are the two most important fac- 

 of angling for game fishes near home, tors to be considered. Water tempera- 

 he can indulge his taste more frequently ture has first consideration because it is 

 and, avoid the fatigue of a long journey not practical to regulate the temperature 

 to some distant camp with attendant to any great extent. In the planning of 

 loss of time in travel and usual expense trout pools the area to which a trout 

 of such a trip. stream may be safely extended either by 



One does not have to travel far from meandering or in ponds is limited by the 

 home to find waters suitable for such volume of water supply, as it may be 

 game fishes as trout or black bass and effected by evaporation, etc. . . 

 in., the wilds of nature. Most country Some waters contain more natural 

 estates have sufficient water supply to food. than others of. the same tempera- 

 feed an artificial pond and with few ex- ture and the higher the temperature the 

 ceptions such water is suitable for either -more rapid is the growth of aquatic life 

 trout or bass, or possibly landlocked upon which fish feed as well as of the 

 salmon. , fish inhabiting such waters. The maxi- 

 . In most instances the land which may mum ternperature at times of minimum 

 be most economically flowed is not par- water supply determines .whether the 

 ticularly valuable or productive. When waters are suitable for trout or other 

 there is no water flowing through one's salmonidae. 



property it often happens that an adja- The natural conditions may often be 



cent, stream may be tapped or at com- improved by the introduction of a judi- 



paratively small expense diverted with cious selection of water plants on which 



an intake so arranged that the maximum various forms of minute aquatic animals 



desired, volume of water may be ob- live and breed, and these in turn furnish 



tained in time of drought and regulated £'sh food. Suitable plants also afford 



in times of freshet. It may be conveyed refuge for the small fisehs against the 



in an open ditch made to resemble a big ones. , - 



natural brook or if the topographic con- I confess that I am an enthusiast on 



ditions prohibit this method, it may be the cultivation of waters .for the produc- 



piped a whole or a part of the way. tion of suitable food and game fishes. 



If a natural strea:m ,.is. available At the same time I do not advise anyone 

 which is not subject to severe freshets, to incur much expense in' the develop- 

 one which has comparatively little vari- ment of fisheries along the lines here 

 ation-in flow, it may be meandered so as suggested until a thorough investigation 

 to produce on a given area double or has been made. The proportion of dis- 

 treble the area of the original brook. The appointments and failures in the promo- 

 contour of the land will govern as to the tion of fish cultural enterprises is per- 

 amount of development of this sort. At haps larger than in many fines of busi- 

 small expense a series of pools may be ness, involving no more capital. 



constructed to resemble the natural pools ^ 



on a forest stream. By natural pools I Subscribe to The Game Breeder, $1.00 



refer to those that are usually formed a year. 



