Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-03
OUR FINNY TRIBES.
HE STATE FISH coMmIssIos.

Data.
Since the delivery of a certain memorable
speech by Representative Frye of Maine
before Congress. some six years ago, the
subject of fish culture has taken deep hold
npon the American public. and in most
of the States of the Union] the most practical
and enlightened means have been provided
for the introduction and carrying forward
of the great work.
About four years ago, taking advantage of
handsome beginning that had been made
by Sherwood Watkins, ESQ.,, as an indi-
vidual enterprise at Red Wing,
our State Legislature fell into line
with the rest, and not only organized a
State Fish Commission but provided the
means necessary to inaugurate the import
ant project of pisciculture on such basis
pro bono pu5lico as would soon re-stock and
supply the grand lakes and rivers of Mime
sofa with varieties of fish that would in
few years furnish not only rare article of
food, but in such plentitude as to make this
source of supply an important item in the
economy of our general subsistence as peo-
pie.
While many thousands of the best
varieties of fish have been successfully
Matched and distributed from the Red
Wing institution, yet its limited capacity
and general lack of the most important nat
ural advantages have obliged our State Fish
Commissioner to seek out suitable site and
establish hatchery, not only on larger
and more convenient to the necessary means
of rapid transportation.
LOCATION SECURED.
Two years ago, the present commission,
consisting of Messrs. r. O.Sweeny and VIM.
Golcher, of st. Paul, with Grover G. Burt,
of Mankato, was created, and an appropria-
ton of $4,000 made by the Legislature to
go forward and perfect the good work al
ready SO creditably begun. During last
summer the commissioners were especially
fortunate in securing the lease to the State for
term of IL years (by the mere payment of
taxes, $15 or 500 per annum) of most pictur-
esque and desirable spot of ground, about
six acres in extent, on Willow brook, Just
beyond the 'spoint of rocks" and at the end
of the gravel track of the St. Paul & Mil
waukee road, near Pigs Eye, and only about
two miles below the city. It is really ro-
mantle and beautiful spot, half encircled by
high, bold bluffs on the north, and looking
southwark out upon broad meadows, the
busy railway, and the orest-bordered Missis-
sippi. The ground is naturally terraced,
and in the centre, back near the towering
bluff, is grand cluster of boiling cold
springs, which, when brought together as
they have been, within their res
ervoir, form real fountain of
the purest water possible, and of such
supply as to meet all demands of the fishery
even should it be greatly enlarged in the fu-
ture.
It was to this new State institution that a
hundred or more of the Senators and mem
bers of the Legislature, with as many more
citizens of st. Paul and of the State, by in
vitation of the Commissioners, paid short
but very agreeable visit yesterday afternoon.
Through the generous courtesy of General
Agent Chandler the Minneapolis and St.
Paul lying over train was standing ready at
3:3O at the Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot,
to receive the excursionists, give them a
pleasant ride to and from, and abundant
time while at the point of interest.
Commissioners Sweeney and Golcher did
the honors of the occasion, although we
found on the grounds Superinten-
dant Watkins and assistant, who
showed every attention necessary
to make the visit pleasant and instructive.
THE HATCHERY.
The improvements upon the premises con-
sist of a neat white cottage about 25x35 two
stories, plainly furnished, a reception room,
N1rofv pnr%or do
''work" room for the superintendent and his
helper Mr.. Collins. few rods distant is
situated the "hatchery,'' substantial one
story building about 2Ox4O feet on the
ground, we'll lighted and airily perched upon
the bank just above and about midway of
the three connecting fish ponds.
Inside of said hatchery are numerous long
zinc trays or troughs, each about twelve
inches wide and four inches deep, set on a
slight incline. These trays are partitioned
OFF into spaces one foot square; the bottoms
covered with clean fine gravel, and depth
of one inch of the pure spring water is con-
stantly coursing through the trays from one
end to the other, and in said streams,
the eggs lying on the surface of the gravel,
the myriads of fine young salmon, speckled
trout DC, are being constantly Matched and
passed on out into the beautiful ponds in
front. The entire party were afforded the
opportunity of Witnessing this interesting
process of "hatching,'' and which was par
ticularly pleasing to all present.
In the first two tiers of trays, and now
undergoing these finishing touches of crea-
ton, we're 10000 eggs of our own home
speckled brook trout. Next came a pair of
trays in which 10000 Lake Superior trout
were coming forth. Then came $4,000
Land Locked" salmon eggs received from
the "Grand Lake Stream" Maine.
No artificial heat is required in the hatch
cry, the fresh living spring water which
flows in numerous streams through the
building affording its own thermometrical
equilibrium both in summer and winter;
80 that while the place seems quite cool in
summer, it has apparently the reverse tenn
perature in the winter.
The $4,000 California salmon hatchlines
that were taken out of the trays in Novem-
Der last, were now disporting themselves in
the beautiful ponds out doors, and behaved
splendidly while being fed, to the infinite
amusement of their numerous unlocking
guests. The said ponds are three in number
about 100 feet each in length by 80 or &C
feet in width, the three being so graded and
located as to afford connections by waste
gate and pretty waterfall of four feet in height
between each, and fair constant current