Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-05-02
AN IMPORTANT WORK.
Spring Meeting of ths Missouri
Fish Commission
Fifty Chase Hatchiug J'rs o b. Il
cd in the ST.. Joseph Hatchery

cd in the ST.. Joseph Hatchery
lFrom the St. LOUIS Republican. Apri22
The Missouri fi-h commission met
yesterday at the "ffi e of DR. Steed-
man, chairman, 2S0S Pine street. 1t
was determined to construct an aqua
rum car as early as practicable with
the money appropriated by the last
legislature for that purpose. Two ad-
di,ional ponds were ordered built q,
the st. Joseph hatchery. To supply
these ponds with water an effort is to
be made to secure favorable lease on
spring adjoining the state hatchery,
the present spring not being sufficient
for the additional ponds. The interior
arrangements of the 81. Joe hatchery
have been adapted to the Matching of
fish eggs on large scale. Fifty Chase
matching jars are to be placed in posi-
,i"n Immediately for use in May and
June. Each jar is capable of hatching
half million eggs, the fifty Matching
total OF twenty five million eggs. Con-
tracts are already made to secure this
number of eggs from Lake Huron, the
delivery to begin about the first OF
May. This fish is indigenous to Mis-
souri, waters, but in limited numbers.
1t is only adapted to clear running
streams with sandy and gravelly bot
toms. The fish is variously named
wail-eyed pike, glass-eyed pike, ja, &
salmon; but his proper name is pike
perch. The fish is not only very game,
but most highly priced for the table;
there are two varieties in the state, the
smaller one averaging from one 10
three pounds, the larger from four to
ten pounds. In some sections of the
United States attaining twenty pounds
in weight. This pike-perch is very
voracious, living entirely upon young
minnows; therefore he should not be
placed in ponds with other valuable
fish.
HOW FISH CAN BE PROCURED.
Parties who have suitable ponds or
streams can secure supply of these
fish by applying Immediately to Elias
Cottrell, state hatchery, st. Joseph,
Mo-. and paying cost of can and ex.
press charges. The can must be sup
piled with ice, therefore cannot be
| shipped without All attendant. 1t is
the purpose of the commission to place
these 25,000,000 of pike-perch in all
the rivers in the state deemed suitable
for their propagation. 1t is useless to
put them in sluggish and muddy Ionds
or streams. 1t would be waste of
valuable material. The commission
has lbegun Ithe propagation OF black
bass in Forest park by stocking Syl-
van lake, three and half acres, with
spawning bass caught from Creve
CGur lake by nets. 1t was necessary
to take these bass from sluggish lake
as the ponds i'm Forest park are now
poorly supplied with water, and would
not support in health and vigor bass
taken from clear running streams, such
as the Meramec or Gasconade. The
commissioners are sorry to learn that
offense has been given to residents and
land owners on and near Creve C9ur
lake because of this netting Of bass for
use of the state ponds in Forest park
When it is explained to these parties
that 100 spawning carp and 5000
young carp 10 months old have been
placed in this lake within the past four
months, they must see that more has
. been given them than the commission
has taken away. After two weeks
netting and seining only seventy five
spawning bass were caught and deliv-
cred in Forest park. Should these bass
, spawn satisfactorily it is proposed tC
return many thousands to Creve CGu,
lake during the coming fall.
AN IMPOTANT PROJECT.
eI 1t was also ordered that hydraulic
ram be placed in position near the For
y rest park springs, and water be elevat
ed to the hillside above high waite
D of the River Dcs Feres, and that pond
9 be built here for additional accon
0 mediation in propagation of ma
;, tive and imported fish. This actiOl
: has been taken in anticipation of tn
/. city water pipes being laid over Lin
J. dell avenue boulevard road into tn
j. parks, SO rs to render the springs nn
necessary to the city. Park commi:
II siOner Maj. Eugene Weigel and tn
board Of public improvements hav
d most effectually seconded the efforts G
is the state fish commissioners by gran,
|: ing valuable privileges in the Fores
/: park ponds, which have been in th
,e past and will continue in the future {
II inestimable value to the fish interest
" of the state. While these privilege
,e have been of such value to the stat
they have in no wise interfered wit
W the public enjoyment of the park; @
of the contrary, additional charms an
l. interests have been added to th
,r thoughtful and educated parts of IL
10 community. 1t is to be greatly regre
y ted that the last general assembly GU
l. tailed the appropriation asked for all
= needed by the commission to nearl
l. one half the necessities. This con
Is pels the operations for the two years
* be restricted within this limited apprC
ar priatiOn.