, 1884-02-21
CONSTRUCTION or r1sn PONDS.

AHTTEE'
fish. either for personal use or market,
should construct a pond supplied with
water from springs, or water may be
taken from a stream in q ditch and
carried away 80 as to be secure against
being flooded from high water in the
stream. or all the game fish that have
been handled by the commissioners,
none have undergone the ordeal of a
long and tedious transportation or been
placed in the water in q condition
promising so much in the future as the
bass. This confessedly game and robust
fish attends to its Matching and cares
for the young with an anxiety, faith
f~ulness and watchfulness that Is in
comparable, and woe betide the fellow
that dares encroach on his breeding
ground; growing rapidly In the water
that suits, and with a long lease of life.
A stream stocked with bass will bear
more fishing than any other Hsh water.
The young grow very fast, measuring
about five inches when they have
attained their hrst year, and at two
years old reaching as much as two
pounds, maturing at about the eighth
year and Weighing i've TO six pounds.
1t is probably better suited than the
trout for such waters as the Platte and
Laramie rivers. The commission
having to choose from the Hsh calendar
what they believed would prosper In
the above named streams, selected the
bass as promising the most good for the
least money.
STOCKING STREAMS.
The attention of the commissioners
has been strongly urged to fsh-ways,
especially to n owe the dams that
have been erected across the Big
Laramie and Platte. That the work
Of the commission may be successfully
accomplished, fish must be afforded a
a free and unobstructed passage from
the rivers up their various tributaries,
and from them into the brooks through
out the entire territory. Persons may
stock a stream between dams, 1t is
true, but only benefit u small locality,
while If nsh had a free and unbarred
passage up and down a stream, they or
their product would distribute them
selves over a wide area, repopulatting
the smaller as well as the larger. The
undertaking Of stocking all points
between dams, all lakes or streams,
separately, would-if not impossible
be so extravagant p%ecuniarIly that IL
could not command the venture. Ii
fsh-ways were provided, SO as to per-
init the free passage, all b work That
ia necessary would be done by natural
means. No matter where a plant WAS
made, we should see the whole system
benefited, thus securing to all portions
u liberal share of tsh. To this end the
commissioners have notified all persons
that the law must be complied with,
and urged immediate action. Plans
and specifications are furnished on
application.
WIDE AREA OF STREAMS.
Wyoming territory has an area of
rivery, small stream and ponds, esti-
mated at three hundred or more square
miles. Few states are better waJered
or a~dvantaged for the cultivation Of
fish. IL is conceded that every here Of
water, intelligently and carefully man.
aged, becomes more valuable for its
product of fish than an equal number
Of acres of the best land for profit in
tillage. 1t is well known hat most
states interested in fish culture have
Matching house with adjacent grounds
and ponds, capable of holding, for ex-
Fermentation and distribution, a great
variety OF fish, the property of the
state. A superintendent and one or
two assistants have entire charge Of the
work, subject to the direction and sug-
gestion OF the hsh commissioners.
Under this arrangement, suitably ap.
pointed, a large number Of tish can be
~propogated,
ATTACHING HOUSE.
The commissioners believe that the
interests Of the fish industry, as well
as efficient administration OF the fish
commission, demand the erection of q
Matching house. Millions OF fry eau be
Matched for the sum of money attend
ing the purchase, transportation and
planting OF a few thousand. The scope
of work laid out for the coming season
embraces a very wide region, now bar
rem of any edible fish, which labor can
hos 10 ouCCcooiuhJ CCOLuplleutu Wltu-
out a home hatchery and necessary i'm
plemeDts. There are a number Of
springs of pure water in convenient
situations, with q never.failinv supply,
ft locations for a hatchery. The rest
would be the work of time.
GREAT RESULTS AccoMPLIsHED.
The commission has accomplished,
with a small amount OF money placed
at Its disposal. results hat have re-
quired in other states 4 much larger
appropriation and greater expenditure
OF time. Accompanying, as a segment
OF this report. will be found q state
ment In tabular form. Of the amounts
expended and what we have to show
for such expenditure. The territory
of Wyoming possesses the physical
features and climate characteristic
peculiarly attractive to the pleasure
tourist and health seeker. The nat
ural capabilities OF few countries fur
nish such diversified and charming
scenery; her towering mountains, beau
tiful rivers, mountain peaks, deep
cahOns and broad p~lateaux stamping
Wyoming the ideal region for the
scientist, sportsman and tourist.