Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-12-12
Food Fishes in lows.

sSSSs eOAsS0 - oVW -
The forthcoming report of Fisl
Commissioner Shaw, Of Iowa, for thl
past two years, gives gratifying re.
suits. During the past year he hal
taken large numbers Of fish from
sloughs along the Mississippi river
where they die by millions, By reason
of the drying up Of the sloughs, and
transported them to the lakes ahi
streams Of the State. He has thus dis
tributed 3l9, 600 bass, croppies, sunnsh
perch, drumfish, wall-eyed pike, etc
As these are all fish native to these va.
tiers, short time will make . porcep.
tible increase in the waters stocked,
as they were large fish and moi
spawn. These were distributed ia
the Fall of 1875. Lack Of funds pre-.
vented q continuance Of the distribu-
ton in 1877. In July, 1876, there
were distributed In the northern
lakes SO, 1000 Penobscott salmon. OF
these fish distributed two and a half
years ago, specimens have been taken
weighing two and a half to seven
pounds each. In the Winter of 1876,
533, 600 California salmon and lake
trout were distributed in lakes and
rivers over the State. There are now
SOC, 600 lake trout ready for distribu-
ton. Eighty thousand brook trout
were distributed in 1877 in the few
good trout streams In this State. In
July, 1876, 10000 shad were placed
in tho Des Moines river, at Des
Moines, which makes $50, 600 deposit
ed here, 100000 being deposited in
1915. 1t was expected there would
be return of these fish here this
year, but it is shown by actual results
that q longer period is required; yet
they will assnredly return from the
sea to their native rivers, and to
spawn where they started az young
fish. It may be expected that in an
other year shad may be caught in the
Des Moines river. In March, 1876,
there were deposited In Clear Lake
l25, 600 white fish, as an experiment.
About lO9, 900 cells were deposited In
May, 1876, In various streams. If
they multiply as expected, they will
soon fill the streams. In 1873 about
sixty were deposited in the Buffalo,
near Anamosa. During. the present
year numbers have been caught with
hook, which were from twenty to
twenty-four inches long. During the
next year the introduction Of carp
will be made, q fish but little known
in this country, but of great value, and
especially fitted to many Western and
Southern localities.
As to the success of this work II 10
needless to argue. The first fish was
planted in Iowa three years ago. It
requires from four to ten years to
mature fish; yet from all over the
State reports are received that the
fish are doing well and growing rap
idly. In private pond at cGreg0r
are Penobscot salmon, 3 years old,
weighing ten pounds. In 1872 about
zoe, 600 bass were put in the Wapse-
pinnicon, where none were known
before. In September last fishing
party at Qnasqueton reported the FIN.
est sport at bass-cetching they eyeI
knew. SO at other points on the
stream. Iowa is large State, and 1t
requires time and labor to distribute
fish in all its waters; but like results
will come wherever the fish are rplac.
ed, provided they are protected dur.
ing thespawning season from unprin-
cipled fishermen and rapacious seihcs