The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-02-25
BAIRD ON WISCONSIN FISH CULTU Pc

BAIRD ON WISCONSIN FISH CULTU Pc
John Hicks, of the Oshkosh Northwestern q,
now in Washington, has had sn interview
with Professor Baird. United States Fish
Commissioner. He says:
The art of artifcially propagating fish
has been carried to such state of perfection
that va hold in our power the means of
stocking lake ard rivers with an abundant
supply of the best fish. asked Prof.
Baird what he thought of fish culture in
Lake Ninnebago.
"Lake Winnebago," said he, "can be
stocked with white fish just as easy az not.
You can have them there just as plentiful as
suckers. They are tho easiest fish in the
world to propagate. 1t is as simple as SOW
ing wheat, and you are much more certain
of an abundant and prompt return than the
farmer Is of his CROP"
"How would you introduce them, in the
spawn or the young fish p"
eve distribute the young fish, as We find
this to be the surest way
The Professor told me that by the means
now used in the artificial Matching of the
spawn, they had no difficulty in obtaining
supply of young fish. In The natural
growth of the fab, out of every thousand OF
the spawn, only one, on an average, grow
to the size sufficient to take care of itself.
In the waters of our lakes and rivers, when
lett to itself, the spawn Is swept away or
destroyed by other fish, SO that a very small
proportion survives. But in the artificial
systsm Of impregnatlng the spawn, 1t is
found by experience that $50 out of every
], COO eggs live and grow to the size specified.
Thus, with the modern appliances for fish
culture, the supply May fairly be said 20 be
unlimited.
Wisconsin, with it's numerous large lakes
and rivers, ought to be one Of the first states
In the Union to encourage the cultivation
of fish. Whitefish, salmon and shad, Prof.
Baird considers the best adapted to our
lakes and rivers. June %, 1873, one of Prof.
Baird assistants planted 10000 young shad
at Appleton in the lower Fox. The plan
adopted is to place the young fishes In the
rivers where they will have a chance 20
grow, then when they are found to be plen-
tiful at any one point in the river, the people
will demand that ish-ways are put in so
that they may pass up stream. Prof. Baird
thinks that in the summer of 1875, some of
these shad will be found at Depsre orWrights-
town, as it takes about three years for them
to develop.
Prof. Baird is very we'll satisfied with the
Wisconsin Fish Commissioners, Messrs. Hoy,
Palmer and Day, and thinks all that is nee
essary is q reasonable appropriation from
the State to enable them to carry on their
work. The Legislatures of other states
have made appro lriations for this purpose,
and many of them have been amply repaid
for all expenses.
I told Pref Baird of the measures now
being taken to seizure more stringent law
Tor the protection of fish in Lake Winnebago.
"Why," said he, eff your Legislature will
help the Fish Commissioners for few
years TO get your lakes stocked and then
give them the facilities for adding q little
every year, you would need no protection.
Ii the course of few years, fish will be so
plentiful that neither nets or seines will
diminish the supply"