The Grange advance., 1876-02-16

ton to the value of the production in
fish, j. e. the pleasure seeker finds the
chief attraction gone, and he seeks 9TH
er fields where more intelligence is man
ifested or where fewer vandals hands
and stolid brains have been operating
in their work Of destruction.
The very best of our river fish, the
rlke-perch Of DeKay, (but really not
allied to the pike family is fast disap-
pearing from our rivers by the constant
war carried on against it with all the
devices known to man for it's destruction;
winter, spring, summer and autumn,
every day in the year, finds the enemy
on the alert. A fish, formerly very plen-
ty, and very game fish, the best as a
food fish of the pike family, and l think
the same known as the great northern
white pickerel, is now seldom seen, but
one or two specimens having been
caught about here during the last year.
Formerly it was not unusual to catch
them, weighing from ten to thirty-fye
pounds; now what few are caught sell
dom exceed three or four pounds.
Other fish of less value are likewise dis,
appearing in the area under my obser-
vation.
The cause is apparent enough. Fish,
ing by seine, gill net, hook and spear is
constantly and largely carried on and
immense amounts Of fish are disposed Of
to farmers in the fresh state, conveyed
in tanks or wagons. The surplus not
Immediately wanted, is confined in large
pound nets, to await orders from towns
and cities, many miles distant. Last
season Winonn and St. Paul received
heavy consignments of these fish.
A quarter of a century's residence in
this State has given me some opportun-
ity for estimating the decrease of many
game and food fishes, such as book
trout, plke-perch, white pickeral, and
other varieties of the pike family, black
and white bass, catfish, etc. Brook
trout, have disappeared in the ratio Of
80 per cent; pike-perch, 60 per cent !;
white pickeral, 95 per cent; other pike,
65 per cent; black and white bass, Is
per cent; catfish, 65 per cent; all as to
number; the weight decrease is much
greater. No.argument is needed to de.
monstrate the value of fish as an article
of food, the very fact that they are so fast
disappearing shows plainly that their
value is appreciated. Their value as a
healthy food is also demonstrated in the
physique of those who use them largely
here, and who in other countries used
them almost to the exclusion of other
flesh-food.
The appropriation by the State last
year in the interest of stocking the waters
with foreign and native fishes, amount.
ed only to one thousand dollars. This
was to meet the expenses of Matching
and raising to certain age, the dis
tribution over the State, and necessary
expenses of the commission. Of course,
IN none of the branches required for the
fulfllment of the object was the appro.
priation sufficient; and most emphatic.
ally was it insufficient in the relation of
Importance to the State. Let any one
take the trouble to estimate the amount
of fish eaten, good, bad and Indifferent,
make his figures in regard to the value
in lieu Of pork and beef; also, estimate
how much more acould be eaten if of
better kind and quality, both fresh and
salt, and he will be then better qualified
to Judge Of the Importance of supplying
our fish preserves with good edible
fishes, and paying his share of the taxes
for this purpose, with thankfulness
rather than with grumbling. How
this matter may strike others, know
not, but having paid some attention to
it, I am satisfied, and want the appro-
priation this year to be large enough to
meet all the demands of the Commits.
sioners, and increase every year until
the stocking of our fish preserves is
completed and properly protected by
. law. Yours, X