498 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 8, 1891. 



r 



COLORADO FISHCULTURE. 



ENVER, Colo., Dec. SO. — The Fish Commissioner sub- 

 mitted his report to Governor Cooper last evening. 

 The following abstract of the document is given in this 

 rooming's llvptitHUxmi: 



When I took charge I found the only hatchery in use 

 (nine miles below Denver on the Platte) in very bad condi- 

 tion. After more than eight years of service the cheap 

 wooden structures had decayed so badly as to be unfit for 

 another season's work. There was, however, a fine lot of 

 trout fry ready for distribution, somewhere about 300,000. 

 These were sent out over the several hues of railway for dis- 

 tribution in public waters. A few thousand fry were sold 

 to private parties. I do not encourage the sale of fish to 

 stock private lakes; had 1 done so there would not have been 

 any left for public waters. I pursued the same policy this 

 year, and only sold small lots to four or five persons. People 

 who desire fish to stock ponds can easily obtain all they 

 need from those who make a business of growing eggs and 

 fry. The live fish dealers of Denver are able to supply 

 almost any kind of fish suitable for stock! ng ponds or lakes. 



The State has so large a territory to stock that there is 

 never enough to go around. As soon as the work of distri- 

 bution for 1889 would permit au attempt was made to estab- 

 lish the branch hatcheries that the law called for. The 

 amount of money at my disposal for each of the three 

 branches was limited to §400 for the construction. I dis- 

 covered that this sum was inadequate, and determined to 

 use the old branch hatchery at the outlet of the Twin Lakes. 

 The result was not satisfactory, owing to the difficulty of 

 catching the spawning fish from the wild waters. 



THE DENVEK HATCHERY. 

 The Denver Hatchery had to be entirely rebuilt in order to 

 hatch the eggs for the" season of 1890. This work has been 

 done, new ponds made, the water supply increased, a 

 dwelling for the superintendent constructed, a stable for 

 the horse and wagon and a complete change made in order 

 to facilitate the handling and shipping of fish. To-day the 

 establishment is in better order than at any time since the 

 place has been in use. I placed W. S. Kincaid in charge as 

 superintendent Oct. 1. The season of 1S00 has been success- 

 ful, although the branch hatchery at Gunnison did not suc- 

 ceed in securing a sufficient number of breeding native trout 

 to enable them' to score a success for this year. However, a 

 fine showing is made for 1801. At the Twin Lake Hatchery 

 over 50,000native trout were hatched and distributed in 1890, 

 and a large supply of eggs insured for next season. At the 

 Denver Hatchery over 47,8,000 eggs end fry were distributed 

 for 1890. These were sent all over the State. The State 

 superintendent traveled over 9,454 miles distributing them, 

 and part of the time three other persons were employed in 

 the work. The season of 1891 bids fair to eclipse all o'thers. 

 Everything is in excellent order and there are now in the 

 Denver Hatchery over 400,000 eggs, and the season is not half 

 begun. 



MAGNITUDE Of THE WOIIK. 

 There are about 6,000 miles of the trout streams in Colo- 

 rado and uot less than 500 lakes. These bodies of water are 

 mostly barren of fish life, yet, they are excellent for the. 

 growth of fish. The reason is that the waters abound in 

 life, making excellent fish food. 



ECHO LAKE HATCHERY. 

 Echo Lake, uot exceeding forty acres iu extent, has pro- 

 duced many thousand trout that weighed over a pound each 

 since it has" been stocked, and is now alive with them. This 

 is one among many hundred lakes that are scattered over 

 our mountains. The field for fishculture is far in excess of 

 what is generally known. Such bodies of water contain 

 enough food for 10,000 trout to thrive on for two years. This 

 would yield five tons of the choicest fish for au outlay of say 

 §100 for the young fish as seed when but %'in. long. The 

 experience at Echo Lake has shown a better growth than 

 lib. in two years for the planting. There are over 500 lakes 

 in these mountains as large or larger than Echo and all now 

 stocking. If the. State should succeed in pJaci ng 10,000 trout 

 fry in each of only 100 of these, the increase of a choice fish 

 food for the people would exceed l,000,0001bs. in two years at 

 no other cost than the planting, as these idle waters now 

 contain the food, if half should be lost the gain would be 

 still 500,000. 



The State can produce uD.6Se. seed fish for less than £5 per 

 1.000. By an expenditure, therefore, of less than .$5,000 it is 

 possible "to furnish the seed for a food -product of over 

 D,000,0001bs, The rapid growth of the trout in our lakes is 

 due largely to the presence cf countless swarms of gam- 

 mams, or fresh-water shrimp. Other aquatic insects exist 

 in great abundance. 



BARREN RIVERS AND STREAMS. 



There is within our 104,000 square miles of territory over 

 1,000 miles of suitable waters that now contain no trout. 

 The iTorth ParK has by far the largest area of such waters. 

 Biz Laramie has only the few trout placed there by private 

 enterprise and the generous aid of Wyoming's Commis- 

 sioner. The rest are such streams as flow above high im- 

 passable falls. These waters should be stocked with the 

 Eastern brook trout, which are better for the reasou that 

 our native trout have a natural habit of running down 

 stream upon the approach of winter, and are apt to get 

 below these impassable falls. 



There is room for both the United States hatchery at 

 Leadville and all the State can do besides. The United 

 States hatchery is not solely for Colorado waters. They in- 

 tend to grow trout for other States and Territories. Their 

 work has, so far, been confined to Eastern brook trout, but 

 will handle our mountain varieties iu the spring. 



Because the work is of great magnitude I have sought to 

 encourage private enterprise and have recommended the 

 construction of branch hatcheries. 



I could easily dispose of 7,000,000 trout, and really need 

 more every year. Both the hatching and feeding capacity 

 at Denver'should be exdarged. An increased flow of water 

 can be had by extending the present system of drains up 

 along the base of the bluff that now yields the water for 

 both' ponds and hatchery, and this should be done without 

 delay. The number of fish to be carried the present season 

 is much larger than in any previous year. 



PROPAGATION OF TROUT. 



The reason the State Commissioner devotes so much time 

 to the propagation and distribution of trout is owing to the 

 tact that most of our waters are naturally adapted to those 

 fish, and not suited to bass, pike, perch, etc. These waters 

 axe the natural home of the trout and all varieties intro- 

 duced here have done remarkably well. There has been a 

 great deal said about the brook variety of our common 

 sucker. The statement of their being a, destroyer of out- 

 trout is, I find, hearsay. New varieties of trout introduced 

 into Colorado waters have shown no tendency to change 

 their habit of spawning. The growth of our native black- 

 spotted trout when placed in new waters is rapid. The 



troduced variety, has made wonderful grovMh and given 

 much satisfaction to anglers. 



Our branch hatcheries have been constructed with a view 

 to propagate our native mountain trout, of which we have 

 several Rocky Mountain varieties. Their eggs will hatch in 

 water of sixty degrees Fahrenheit in eighteen days. 



SCREENS EOR DITCHES. 



Reports still continue to come in about the destruction of 



fish on our irrigation canals. It is only a question of 

 another season before all the water flowing in our streams 

 where the destruction is greatest, will be used by the canals. 

 I can see no use in placing screens at their head gates, as the 

 trout would perish, being held there in great numbers with 

 no deep water to afford shelter or food. I believe that by 

 making large, dams in the streams above where the ditches 

 are taken out, that the trout would uot go below them, but 

 remain in the deep waters all winter, where they would find 

 food and shelter. Thousands of them do find shelter in all 

 our deep pools and natural lakes. Irrigation is of such 

 great necessity that every T drop of water will be used, and 

 then the screens will be of no benefit. We have enough of 

 trout water to furnish good angling for all time to come if 

 properly cared for. There are over a hundred miles of trout 

 waters above Del Norte and the great canals on the Rio 

 Grande alone. 



The improvements asked for will enable the commissioner 

 to place in the public waters of the State more than 3,000,000 

 trout. This will not only contribute a vast amount of fish 

 food for the people at a nominal cost, but will attract visitors 

 in great numbers to our mountain resorts. 



The expenditure asked for will bring back returns far 

 greater than a like sura expended for any other purpose. 



The experience of the Commissioner goes to show that the 

 small sum of $f>Q0 allowed him for actual expenses is wholly 

 inadequate to enable him to visit and encourage fish propa- 

 gation in so vast a territory as is embraced in this State. 

 Our State has the water and the fish food, and by proper 

 means can grow the fish. 



Gordon Land, Fish Commissioner. 



MAINE FISHCULTURE. 



TVHE report of the Commissioners of Fisheries and Game. 

 X of the State of Maine, for the year 1889-1890, shows 

 gratifying progress in stocking the waters of that common- 

 wealth. The number of anglers visiting the State, many of 

 whom have, built cottages on the shores of inland lakes and 

 ponds, is steadily increasing, and the benefits derived from 

 their presence are clearly apparent to all. To quote from 

 the report, "They come for the sport of catching our fish or 

 shooting ouAganie; it goes to swell the wealth of our State 

 and is a benefit to all; it supports many a poor man in our 

 backwoods, Mmo acts as guide; it sells the product of many 

 alarm which lies away from market, and at city prices; it 

 runs many hotels back "in our forests; it patronizes our rail- 

 roads; i n fact, it is a product hardly second to any. Without 

 our fish and game many farms and thriving villages would 

 have to be abandoned, where now they have many comfort- 

 able homes." Maine is wonderfully rich in ponds, lakes 

 and streams, which are full of choice fish, while the forests 

 are full of game. Most excellent laws are upon the statute 

 books, and if they were obeyed the supply of fish and game 

 need never be diminished. There is, however, a vast deal of 

 illegal fishing and shooting, and not a little injury from 

 polluted waters. The deadly spear and the villainous dyna- 

 mite destroy thousands of fish upon their spawning beds, 

 and in a certain portion of the State deer are killed in and 

 out of season with dogs. On the headwaters of the Penob- 

 scot River fifty moose were killed last spring by a French- 

 man living in'Canada. Maine is suffering for the want of 

 adequate protection, and unless the relief asked for is soon 

 granted, crust-hunting, dogging, the spear, dynamite and 

 mill refuse will undo all the labor of the Commissioners and 

 leave the State shorn of its chief attractions. 



The continuance of the Penobscot as a salmon river is 

 threatened by the presence of dams and pollution from 

 mills, and unless the condition is speedily improved the 

 future of that river is without promise. In 1889 600,000 

 salmon were planted in Maine rivers, two-thirds of them in 

 the tributaries of the Penobscot, and the remainder in the 

 tributaries of the Kennebec and Androscoggin. In 1890 

 200,000 were placed in the Crooked River, a tributary of the 

 Presumpscot, and an equal number in the Kennebec and 

 the St. Croix. The following requisites for the successful 

 introduction of landlocked salmon are announced by the 

 Commissioners: "The ponds must be of good size and of 

 clear pure water, with streams flowing in of swift running 

 current, clean gravelly bottom to which the fish can have 

 free access to deposit their eggs, and must also contain 

 plenty of fresh- water smelts or spring spawning minnows 

 for food. The smelt spawns and hatches at the same time 

 in the spring when the young salmon an: beginning to feed, 

 and is just what they need at that time to sustain them. 

 We think many o£ the young salmon die for the want of 

 proper focd, and the young smelt is what they require. W e 

 have caught the young smelts at Sebago in the spring and 

 put them with the young salmon beginning to feed in the 

 hatching house, and they would be as eager for them as a 

 cat for a mouse, and would pursue them until the last one 

 was eaten. * * * Last fall the results of our hatching 

 operations and protection began to show. Hundreds of 

 young salmon from Ulb. to 21bs. came up the river (Crooked 

 River), many so small that they went through the slats of 

 our weir— something never seen in the river before. Last 

 spring a great many small salmon were taken in the lake 

 trolling. In previous vears it was au exception to take one 

 of less than 41bs. Nearly all the opposition to our opera- 

 tions by the people living on the banks of the river and 

 vicinity has ceased, and their sympathy is in our favor." 

 Associations have been formed for fishculture and protec- 

 tion at Range! ey village and at Auburn Lake. At both of 

 these places hatching houses have, been built with private 

 funds. Six hundredTand fifty thousand landlocked salmon 

 were distributed from the hatcheries at Auburn, Enfield, 

 Weld and Edes Falls in 1889, while in 1890 140,000 eggs "of 

 this species were hatched at Rangeley, Weld, Enfield and 

 Edes Falls. The greater part of these were deposited in 

 tributaries of Sebago Lake. 



The Commissioners recommend the following changes m 

 the fish laws: (1) A heavy penalty and imprisonment for 

 using dynamite or any other explosive in taking fish. (2) 

 The repeal of the prohibition against using spoons, since 

 they cannot be seen when in use and are no more deadly 

 than other bait. (3) Placing a bounty upon the killing of 

 seals, which are of trivial value and prove very destructive 

 to salmon and fishing apparatus. (4) A measure to prevent 

 the destruction of young salmon on the board floors of 

 weirs, which are left dry at low tide. 



The report of the Commissioner of Sea and Shore Fisheries 

 for the years 1889-90 follows that of the other two Commis- 

 sioners. Mr. Counce estimates the catch of lobsters on the 

 Maine coast in 1890 at about: 20,000,000, a reduction of 20 per 

 cent, compared with the yield in 1888. Lobsters seem to be 

 decreasing in number yearly, and probably some of the 

 practices of the fishermen will explain this decline. It is 

 illegal to retain females, but many lobstermen knock off 

 the eggs and defy detection. Many fishermen also destroy 

 all undersized lobsters taken iu the traps in order to prevent 

 their returning and eating the bait. 



Menhaden returned to Maine waters agaiu in 1890, and it 

 is estimated that 10,000,000 were convened into oil and fer- 

 tilizer. Certain steamers have cast their seiues contrary to 

 law iu small bavs and rivers and escaped before the wardens 

 could board them. Small menhaden are useful for bait, 

 and many of them are canned as '-'sea trout," "ocean mack- 

 erel," and "blueback mackerel." 



The list of the f cm miss; oners ot 1 1 i. • ;•• ib.es not agseie 

 in many respects with the one soon to be published by FoR- 

 esj AND Stream The appendix is devoted chiefly to valu- 

 able statistics of the sea fisheries furnished iu advance of 

 their final publication by the XT. 8. Commission of Fish and . 

 Fisheries, There is also a letter from Adolph Nielsen, Super- \ 



intendent of Fisheries of Newfoundland, containing some 

 details of the propagation of cod and lobsters. Up'to Nov. 

 17, 1890, the output of the hatchery at Dildo, Newfound- 

 land, was 17,100,000 cod and 15,070,800 lobsters. Mr. Nielsen 

 briefly describes his cod hatching boxes and refers still more 

 briefly to his patented floating incubators for lobsters. The 

 incubators, he states, hatched 390,934,500 eggs during the 

 last season, and the young lobsters were fed on chopped 

 mussels and occasionally yolks of eggs until they had fin- 

 ished their first moult. The appendix closes with a graphic 

 sketch of the sardine industry, copied from the St. Louis 

 Globe-Democrat. 



IT. S. FISH COMMISSION WORK.— The present season 

 promises to be the most successful known in the hatching 

 of cod and pollock by the U. S. Fish Commission. Up to 

 Jan. 1 the Woods Holl station had taken 51,000,000 cod eggs 

 and turned out 12,000,000 fry, the hatching percentage being 

 55 per cent. If the same ratio is continued the output from 

 this station will be 30,000,000 young cod. At Gloucester the 

 number of cod eggs collected was 38,000 000 and of pollock 

 eggs 35.000,000. It is the intention ot the Commission to 

 push this work on marine food fishes to the fullest capacity 

 of the stations. 



All communications must reach us by Tuesday 

 of the week they are to be published; and should 

 be sent as much earlier as may be convenient. 



FIXTURES. 

 DOG SHOWS. 



.Ian. 6 to 9. -Delaware and Susquehanna, Poultry and Pet Stock 

 Association, at Bingliamton, N. Y. 



Jan. 13 to 17.— Third Annual Dog Show of the South Carolina 

 Poultry and Pet Stock Association, at Charleston, S. C. Ben.i. 

 Mclnness, Jr., Secretary. 



Jan. 20 to 25.— First Annual Dog Show of the Louisiana Poultry 

 and Pet S'tonk Association, at New Orleans, La. A. E. Shaw, Sec- 

 retary, Box Tfi58. 



Jan. 20 to 25.— Dog Show of the Georgia Poultry and Pet Stock 

 Association, at Augusta, Ga. A. H. Vomlerleitb, Secretary. 



Jan. 21 to 26.— Dbg Show of the Elrnira Poultry and Pet Stock 

 Association, at Elmira. N. Y. Carl Hart. Secretary. 



Jan. 27 to 30.— Inaugural Dog Show of the South Carolina Eeu- 

 nel Association, at Greenville, S. C. P. F. Capers, Secretary, 



Feb. 24 to 37. — Fifteenth Annual Dog Show of the Westminster 

 Kennel Club, at, New York. James Mortimer, Superintendent. 



March 3 to 0.— Second Annual Dog Show of the Maryland Kennel 

 Club, at Baltimore, Md. W. Stewart Diffenderffer, Secretary. 



M arcb 10 to 13.— First Annual Dog Show of the Duquesue Kennel 

 Club, at Pittsburg, Pa. W. E. Littell, Secretary. 



March 16 to 19.— Inaugural Dog Show of the Washington City 

 Kennpl Club, at Washington, D. C. 



March 24 to 27.— Second Annual Dog Show ot the Massachusetts 

 Kennel Club, Lynn, Mass. D. A. Williams, Secretary. 



March 31 to April 3— Seventh Annual Dog Show of the New 

 England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. K. H. Moore, S> cretary. 



April 8 to 11.— Third Annual Dog Show of the Mascoutah Ken= 

 nei Club, at Chicago, 111. John L. Lincoln. Jr., Secretary. 



April 11 to 17.— Fourth Dog Show ot the Cleveland Kennel Club, 

 at Cleveland, O. C. M. MnfibaU, Secretary. 



Sept. 1 to 4.— Dog Show of the Youngstown Kennel Club, at 

 Youngstowu, O. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Jan. 19.— Eighth Annual Field Trials of the Pacific Kennel Club, 

 at Bakersfiold, Gal, H. H. Briggs, Secretary. 



Feb. 8.— Third Annual Field Trials of tho Southern Field Trials 

 Club. T. M. Brrmby, Secretary, Marietta, Ga. 



DOG SHOW AT CANTON, O. 



[Special Report hy the Judge.} 



IU July last a meeting was called at Canton, O., by some 

 of the dog and poultry breeders to discuss the advisa- 

 bility of holding a bench and poultry show in that city. It 

 met with general approval, and it was unanimously decided 

 to fix the dates for such show for Dec, 30. 1800, to .Ian. 3,1891. 



To show that business was meant, they at once selected the 

 following officers: A. G. Dart, President; S. W. Gibbs, Vice- 

 President; Jas Sterling, Secretary; H.G McDowell, Treasurer. 

 Executive Board, A. G. Dart, S. H. Oberlin, H. Berrar, Ed. 

 A. Heed, J. H Parr, A. A. Dart, Jas. Sterling. Judge of 

 dogs, Joe Lewis, Canonsburgh, Pa. Superintendent of Ex- 

 position, Ed. A. Reed, Canton. O. 



I may here state that many of the dog friends in that city 

 and locality were of the opinion that if such a show were 

 held it would meet, with little or no success, Irat on the con- 

 trary, I am glad to state that it proved satisfactory, finan- 

 cially and otherwise. 



It was held in the "Big Tabernacle," about three squares 

 distant from the center of the city, a building not well 

 adapted for such a purpose (although well ventilated), it. 

 being very dark and small to suit the number of entries, 

 there being about 150 dogs and 800 entries in poultry. There 

 being no other building suitable, the club had to put up 

 with the inconveniences. The foundation stone of the. show 

 now being laid, it is hoped that the affair will prove an 

 annual one. 



It was mentioned by many present about applying for 

 membership to the A.K.G., and if accepted I think there 

 would be no difficulty in getting two or three hundred dog?, 

 here. 



The secretary, Mr. Jas. Sterling, I may mention, was en- 

 tirely new to the "dog" business, he beiug formerly a chicken 

 breeder, and though this was his first effort in this capacity 

 he gave universal satisfaction. The committee, in my 

 opinion, did well in selecting him, as he was indefatigable 

 in his efforts to make it a success. He is a hard worker, 

 kind and sociable, with a pleasant smile for every one with 

 whom he comes in contact. His duties he discharged 

 admirably. 



Ed. Reed, the general superintendent, together with E. 

 Probert, Salem, O. (specially engaged as superintendent of 

 the dogs for that week), made good managers, it being their 

 first attempt. Mr. Probert attended to the feeding of the 

 dogs, who did justice to Sprat ts biscuit. Mr. John M. Ber 

 gold, Canton, an old exhibitor of beagles, volunteered his 

 services, which were much appreciated, he retiring for that 

 week from his usual business to assist the boys, and indeed 

 he made it thoroughly pleasant for every oneconcerned, and 

 in time, I think, we shall have him again in our ranks. The 

 judging started on Wednesday morning, and the dogs in all 

 classes numbered over 150. 



Among the list of exhibitors we find the name, of the 

 Oriole Kennels, Youngstowu, O., represented by H. F. 

 Peck, manager, who had his usual string of fox-terriers. 



In the pointer class Mr. John R. Daniels, Cleveland, O., 

 had also his string of dogs, and handled by Mr. Ridge, a 

 man well adapted for the business, and a hard worker. The 

 Howard brothers, Columbus, O., attended and exhibited 

 their kennel, having their latest importation, the pug dog 

 Peru-ice, which is a good one, and will undoubtedly make it 

 "warm" for the pug breeders when shown *n the eastern 

 circuit. E. Probert and Sons were there with their usual 

 • a e! of King Charles and Blenheim spaniels. John E. 

 Morgan, Martin's Ferry, O., also showed up with his fine 

 kennel of French poodles. Mr. H. W. Loeffier, Masillon, O., 

 attended with his fine kennel, and I would like to see him 

 show up iu some, of our Eastern shows, he owning such a 

 magnificent collection. The Xildare Kennels were well 

 represented there by champion Ruby Glenmore, Kildare and 

 Winnie H. Mr. Cook, Canton. O., had for exhibition only 



