94 Conservation Department 



when the canal locks at this point are operated, the fishway was 

 installed to allow these to return. From all evidence secured it 

 seems probable that few if any fish use this fish ladder. Many 

 observers spoke of the great numbers of pike, carp, suckers and 

 others, which congregate in the pool below the dam, apparently 

 wishing to ascend but not knowing how to use this structure. 

 Evidently it is not of a type suitable for many of the species found 

 here. Doubtless it was designed after the manner of a fishway for 

 salmon but does not seem adequate for most other types. If fish- 

 ways are to fulfill their function in our inland waters, much time 

 and thought should be given to the construction of ways suitable 

 for the species concerned. 



Some Factors Contributing to the Decline of Fishes. — ■ 



Throughout the Oswego drainage complaints are often made by 

 anglers that the fishing is poor. Several old residents, when inter- 

 viewed, said that the fishing was not as good at the present time 

 as -it was some years ago. The full causes for the scarcity of fish 

 are not easy to understand but certain factors which have con- 

 tributed to this scarcity may be listed : 



(1) Angling: The number of anglers has increased in recent 

 years. 



(2) Pollution: This has certainly caused a scarcity in certain 

 waters. 



(3) Canalization : The construction of the Barge canal resulted 

 in the draining of the Montezuma marshes and other spawning and 

 feeding grounds of fishes. This has changed the character of the 

 Seneca and other rivers to the detriment of angling. A new 

 stream bed made by dredging could not be expected to produce 

 fish food in abundance. The violent agitation of the shores caused 

 by canal boats must also be destructive to fish spawn. 



(4) Netting: Formerly there was much netting of fish in 

 the region. Professor Embody x cites this factor as a cause for 

 the scarcity of bullheads in Cayuga lake. 



(5) Natural enemies: Some losses of food fishes are caused by 

 lampreys, watersnakes and fish-eating birds. However as natural 

 enemies have always existed, even when fish were known to be 

 abundant, they can hardly receive blame for the genera] scarcity 

 now. 



(6) Unwise stocking of waters: There is a common belief that 

 there has been a decrease in the native fishes of certain waters due 

 to the planting of these waters with carp or other non-native 

 species. Doubtless this belief is well founded. As Kendall 2 points 

 out, the artificial introduction of fishes into Sunapee lake, New 

 York, was followed by a decline of some of the native species. 



i Embody, G. C. A Study of the Fish Producing Waters of Tompkins 

 County, New York. Conservation Commission 1922. 



2 Kendall, W. C. The Status of Fish Culture in Our Inland Public 

 Waters, and the Role of Investigation in the Maintenance of Fish Resources. 

 Roosevelt Wild Life Bull., Vol. 2, no. 3, March, 1924. 



