The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-09-21
SHALL WE HAVE FISH (?

SHALL WE HAVE FISH?
EDITOR OF TINES AT the last
session of the state Legislature the
following amendment was made to
the act relating to the establishment
of fish shutes in Michigan
Sec. THE Supervision of each
township is hereby made inspector
of dams in his township during his
term of Office, and it shall be his
duty, upon the application before the
Board of Supervisors at their next
regular meeting and upon the APP
proval of said Board, he shall cause
to be constructed by the owner of
said dam fish shute or ladder, as
provided by the terms of this act,
the expense thereof to be audited
and allowed by said Supervisors, and
paid out of the contingent fund of
said county, ETC..
From the amendment it will be
observed that at last there is tangi-
bic way to get shutes put in our
beautiful Shiawassee. AS lover of
the noble sport of angling and firm
believer in the vast usefulness and
practicability of shutes, wish to urge
upon the attention of our citizens
that now is the time to get the thing
booming. This fall is the time Of
all times to build the structures.
The water in the river is very low
and the shutes can be put in vastly
cheaper now than when the water is
high. l have been asked by parties
in different towns show shall we go
to work to get shutes put in" Here is
the way to do it. In every township
let some "devil of a fisherman" get
up petition to the Supervisor of
his township, signed by twelve or
more taxpayers of the township, ask
ing that officer to lay their appli-
cation before the Board of Super
visors at their next regular meeting,
for the construction at once of said
shutes. This will bring the issue
squarely before the Board who will,
undoubtedly, direct them to be i'm
mediately constructed at the expense
of the county. I anticipate that the
Board may want an expression of the
people, indicating their wishes in this
matter. Therefore l suggest that
petitions be circulated in every locali-
ty praying the Board to construct the
shutes. To all who will apply to me
there will be sent petitions and other
information touching this matter.
The putting in of shutes will thor
oughly stock our river with lake fish
of all varieties, such as trout, perch
pike, pickerel, bass, suckers, etc
1t is a sad fact las most any of oul
patient anglers can swear toy, tina,
one may fish in our river day anc
night, hour after hour, with nary 8
bite. The dams effectually cut of
all access to the scaly emigrants O
the lakes. The only source "of an in
crease of population" in our river i.
the result of "home industry
What with fish eating one another
men and boys spearing, trapping
angling and blowing up with dyna
mite. the product is timing out yea
by year. A few more moons ant
the fish hereabouts will be spoken o
additionally like as are the LAST o
the Mobicans." With shutes in on
dams the river will shortly swarm
with fish. 1t will be so that a farme
and his family on rainy day Cal
tumble off to the river-miles away
and be sure of good profitabl
catch. The expense to each ind
vidual will be Insignificant. BY al
means let us club together and &c
these shutes in this fall.
ROLL f. KELSEY, Fisherman.