Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-10-27

fishing tour down the Mississippi
He started with his party of eleven
at New Albin, near the north line of
the State, about three weeks ago, on
the little steamer FREELY, chartered
for the trip, and has since been grad
ally been moving southwark. The
party use a seine forty feet long and
are fishing tor black, striped and yell
low bass, wall-eyed pike (sometimes
called salmon, though enormously,
croppies, sunfish and perch-these
being considered the only varieties
worthy Of preservation. Occasion
ally a fine silver cat is saved, but the
common catfish, buffalo and other
varieties are returned to the water as
soon as captured, while the pickerell
which is the shark of fresh water-is
destroyed when captured as a fish not
fit to exist. The fish thus captured
are loaded into the State fish car at
all convenient points and shipped to
inland streams, being distributed
through the State with a view of
stocking up these streams. A solid
bushel of young bass are frequently
taken at one haul.
The car used for the transporta-
ton of fish is unique conveyance
built expressly for the purpose under
Mr.. Shaw's own supervision. 1t 81
supplied with a series of tanks for
holding the fish, land a large reservoir,
holding 20 barrels of water. Pipes
with strainers are SO arranged that
the water is kept constantly moving
through the tanks, so that the fish
are continually supplied with fresh
water, which passes out under the
car as the latter moves along. In
case of long distances to be travers-
ed, when the reservoir cannot be cas-
lily replenished from the railway wa
ter tanks, the supply is not allowed
to waste, but is returned to the res
ervoir above. The party will fill this
car in Clinton this evening with the
product Of two or three days run
from Dubuque, when our citizens
who happen down to the levce can
see the interesting process and learn
more of the plan OF handling and
transportation.
The party will proceed as far South
as Burlington, and in the course of
their travels will have transferred a
multitude of the tinny species to
the inland streams and lakes of the
State. These operations are conduct
ed by Mr.. Shaw and his assistants in
pursuance of the plans of the State
Legislature, an appropriation of 49,
$50 having been made for the pur-
pose by the last General Assembly.
The previous Legislature took the
initial steps towards encouraging fish
culture by making an appropriation
of $4,000 and enacting useful law
for the protection of fish, the opera
ton of which Mr.. Shaw says has been
attended with the most gratifying re-
suits. Mr.. Shaw has never known
SO many fish caught in Iowa In his
eighteen years of residence here, as
during the past season, and it will be
but few years, with a continuance
of the present scheme, before the
streams and inland lakes of Iowa
will be replete with fine fish, free to
rich and poor alike for the mere
catching.
The Commissioners have invested
$4,000 in the State Matching house
at Anamosa, which is a model in its
arrangement and appointments. In
addition, 100000 salmon have been
imported from the East and placed
in every inland stream of any size
in the State. This year, also, loO,-
900 cells have been procured and lib
Grated in those streams. The intro
duction of shad has also been at
tempted but not with the success at
tending the importation of salmon
and trout, as the shad are effect of
foot" and may make their way to the
guilt and ocean as fast as imported
OF these $4,000 have been placed in
Iowa rivers and in the Mississippi
and Missouri. In the North part Of
the State, trout are native, and are
caught in abundance Clinton Her.
aid.
We could continue these interest
ing observations at greater length
did our space permit, as in a few
moments conversation with the cour-
ferrous Commissioner one CLEANS
much interesting information
However, we have given our rea-
ders a good idea of the operations of
the Commission, and further details
Will be cheerfuly given on applica-
ton to Mr.. Shaw.