The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-01-20
FOOD FISH.

Hon. L.. Is. Croker, representative in the
Illinois legislature from this county, we oh
serve, has introduced bill in the house for
the protection and propagation of food fish
in the lakes and streams of this state. We are
not advised of the exact nature Of the bill,
but presume it is something like the measure
adopted on the same subject in a number of
the eastern states.
The practicability not only of conserving
the fish supply Of our lakes and streams but
of immensely increasing 1t, was demonstrated
years ago, but it is only within the last eigh.
or ten years that the business Of replenlshing
exhausted streams and rendering productive
has assumed practical shape and attained
important dimensions. 1t Is not over five
years ago when New York organized her
board of fish commissioners and the leglsla
ture granted them a stingy appropriation of
few thousand dollars to aid their operations
Yet a report made to the legislature of that
state year ago showed that in four years the
fish board" reduced the price of shad from
IS cents per pound to 3 cents per pound,
and that the lakes that had become almost
barren OF fish now afford fine fishing.
Equal success has crowned similar efforts
made during the last three years in Michigan.
Wisconsin began year ago by appointing
fish commissioners and approprlating &c.,
600, and the result already is, that they have
in the Matching establishment at Milwaukee
100000 white fish and salmon trout eggs
Matching. Ninety-fve per cent of these eggs
will hatch and the young be distributed IN
the waters of the state. The greater part will
be deposited in Lake Michigan.
The returns for money invested in fish cul
ture is generally enormous.
The fisheries of the dominion of Canada
for the year of 1875 yielded 81, 0Oo,0 worth
of fish more than in any one year before artl.
fetal Matching was begun. 1t is reasonably
estimated that water with less culture can be
made to yield more food per acre than land.
By circular before US we learn that Hi
nois has nearly 100000 acres of water which
will grow many good varieties of fish, and a
state like this can not afford to let this water
remain almost idle, as it is. SEEMING and
netting of the fish Just at the spawning sea-
son, and using of seine with a mesh so
small that all fish are taken and small ones
thrown away and destroyed, should be pro-
hiblted. Fish culture is the agriculture of
the waters, and the subject is well worthy of
the attention OF the State Board of Agricul.
ture.
Hitherto, on this subject, our Legislature
has not even made provision for receiving
the spawn offered the state by the fish CON-
missioner of the general government, and
which would only cost the trouble and ex-
pense of Matching, which is very small. We
hope Mr.. Crooker Will not be backward in
urging this matter upon the attention OF the
legislature with all that persuasive earnest
ness he can so readily command. One-tenth
of the money wasted upon several prominent
state follies, such as the board of warehouse
commissioners the rowing charity board, the
state bugologist, etc, nationally expended to
promote the propagation of edible fish in our
waters, would yield just 500 per cent. more
than it does now, wasted as it is on the tolies
indicated.