The Grange advance., 1876-02-16

sprightliness so eminently possessed by
all the salmonide family. From ap-
pearances would say that at least IS
per cent. of the ova furnished Mr.. Wat
kins are represented by living salmon
frv in his ponds. In length they vary
very few as short as an icch-the
majority from an inch and half to two
inches, and IRE very healthy. They
certainly have excellent appetites from
the quantity Of food they devour, some-
thing above 400 pounds of liver per
per week; besides their regular allow
ance, they are always ready to accept
an invitation to lunch between meals.
learn that some of the fry put into
our lakes last year have been heard
from, notably from lake Elysian, and
that three specimens were caught weigh
ing about half pound each. Mr.. Wat
kins has IL few in his ponds of the same
age, but they are not quite 50 large as
those caught at lake Elysian, owing,
doubtless, to their confined range and
diet limited to the bill of fare in the
hatcheries. They are handsome enough,
however, to justify the most sanguine
anticipations of those who advocate the
acclimatization of these fishes in the
waters of our State. From what have
seen l am ready to admit that the prob
lem is solved in 80 far as relates to stock
ing our deep, cool lakes with handbook
ed salmon; the probabilities in regard
to our rivers, confess, are not so
cheering, nor indeed, are they so impor-
tant, in my estimation.
+ In reading over the Report of the
Fish Commissioners of our State | was
surprised at the extent of our natural
fish preserve, (1,6o0,000 acres) but
upon consulting the map am satisfied
that the area is underestima:ed. The
extent of area, too, is in that part less
adapted to the production of that cereal
most important in stock raising namely,
Indian corn. These natural advantaq-
es improved upon, would more than
counterbalance the disadvantages of soil
in pecuniary results.
| am glad that the experiment has
been initiated by the State in acclimat-
ing foreign fishes, and protecting na-
tives "to the manor born" Why one
fish, and a native fish, too, has not been
extensively disseminated into every fa-
vorable water in our limits, I cannot
well understand. / allude to the white
fish Of the Great Lakes. Many years
ago, (24), when citizen of St. Paul,
1 was informed by the traders and voy-
ayers that it was caught in some of our
northern inland lakes west of Superior.
Its qualities as food fish need no ar
gument in commendation; accessibility
as to supply for stocking is apparent to
every one, and the only question to be
solved is the necessary conditions in
water supply and climate, for healthy
growth. If these are attained in less
than half the area of our fish preserve,
source of prosperity is insured to the
State, justifying the yearly outlay Of
many thousand dollars; an outlay that
would be Immediately made were these
natural advantages possessed by indi-
viduals instead Of being under public
control. Unfortunately the people can
hardly be expected to pursue steady
policy tending to future public good,
} when they so persistently refuse to acqui-
, esce in measures demonstrated as nec-
essary to preserve advantages possess
7 ed when our State was in its wardship.
The laws for the protection of game and
other fish are a uullity, and the conse-
quence is that our native edible fishes
! are fast disappearing-trout have been
e killed on their spawning beds, have
e been netted, poisoned, speared and
grappled until the places that haze
0 known them, 'soao know them no more
: "a source Of wealth to certain local..
d ties has been Withdrawn, out of proper