Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-04-18
HE Fish OrUhiO.

Mr.. John H. Klippart and John
Hussey, Fish Commissioners, under
the recently enacted Ohio law estab-
fishing them, have submitted to the
Governor their first annual report.
They first discuss the causes of the
decrease in the supply of fish in the
streams of Ohio, and attribute the
same to the destruction of timber and
consequent drying up of the small
brooks and swamps that served for
spawning beds. Many of the streams
themselves, being near dry four
monthes each year, of course produce
no fish.
The erection of dams for slack
water navigation, has cut off the
supply in the larger streams. The
State dam across the SciOtO near
Chillicothe, has almost destroyed the
buffalo, the white perch and the jack
salmon in the river above that dam.
The spoon-bill is extinct. The black
bass, not being migratory, still flour
iShes.
Deleterious substances thrown into
streams from sewers, factories, etc,
have also diminished the quantity OF
fish and prevent their increase. The
discharge of gas refuse units catfish
for use, even when it does not de-
stroy them.
The report details various expert
ments to show the fatal effect of even
Il small quantity of certain deleteri-
Gus substances, acids, alkalieS, etc,
upon fish. Sulphurie acid and lime
are active PoisOns, and sawdust Is
very destructive, by getting into the
gills and producing sutfocation.
The law against the use of seineS
in taking fish has been violated with
impunity by irresponsible persons,
and this is terrible source of de-
Struction. The Commissioners have
not the "sand" to make seine fishing
an offense punishable by imprison-
ment; they get off a little weak SEN
timentality about it, and they arrive
at the rather .inglorious conclusion
hat the law should be modified so as
to prohibit seining only at certain
seasons, and amended so as to regu
late the size of the meshes. 1t is diff
ticult to see how the irresponsible
parties they speak of, who are now
destroying the fish of Ohio and cut
ting off for this and futlre genera
tions a noble supply of cheap food,
could or would be affected by the
changes which the Commissioners
propose.
Nor do the Commissioners propose
any relief for the destruction OF hsh-
es by poisons throgD into the streams
except from gas works. They mere
lv recommend that more means be
placed at their discretion to supply
an increased amount Of young fry,
so that out of the great number sup
piled, enough may escape TO prevent
all from being poisoned. This is
little as if when city is being desc
lated with cholera on account af IL
thy streets, some one should propose,
instead of cleansing, that great mum
bers of people should be brought III
rom other places, so that out of the
vast supply some might escape, and
thus the city not be wholly depopn-
lated.
Still, it is not to be wondered
that the Commissioners are moder
ate, aud even timid, in their recon
nendations. The care of fish is
comparatively new and unknown
thing in Ohio; and it may be the part
of wisdom and good sense IN MesSrS'
Nlippart and HusSey TO ask for Ou'
little until our people are somewhat
iamiliarized with the great ana am
portant interest they have been ap-
pointed to foster.
Even the fish in the lakes and res
ervoirs are being rapidly destroyed,
md the startling statement is made
hat the quantity in Lake Erie is on
ly one-twentieth what it was twenty
five years ago.
The reservoirs, 55 square miles in
extent, are next taken up. In these,
from the variety of temperature, ETC.,
vIst quantities and great varieties OF
fish may be grown. But they must
he kept clear of decaying timber,
which is exceedingly injurious to the
ish, poisoning them with fUagus mat
ter, etc. Some of these reservoirs be
long to private individuals, but the
greater portion are public property,
and If well stVcked with fsR might