The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-06-11
Something About Elsa.

opinion frequently solicited as TO the
feasibility of the plan, but for many
chiefly II recent absence
we have up to the present time
been unable to mention the matter
editorally. We will, however, now
attempt to impart what little know
ledge we possess on the subject. But
before taking up the question of our
own lake, it will be we'll to note in
this connection some facts in refer
ence 10 fish in other lakes in Dakota,
as bearing directly upon the question.
1t is well known that there are at
the present time lakes in Dakota
containing fish-such as pickerei--
reaching the weight of from two to
six pounds, and which lakes now
stand where but a few years ago there
were nothing but dry depressions in
the prairie. This, too, with the fact
that the lakes were never stocked
with fish by human hands. The
question at once arises how came the
fish there. This inquiry can be more
easily answered when it is known
how the water came in the lakes.
When an overflow is possible from
an adjacent river the presence OF fish
in lake is easily accounted for, but
when, as is often the case, the lake
has been formed by other means it is
a perplexing question with many
when they attempt to explain the
presence of the fish. Such lakes are
evidently formed either by rainwater
deposits, a surface accumulation or a
reservoir fed by bottom springsrecent-
ly developed. In regard to rainwater
deposits, such ponds are formed by a
surface drainage from showers and
melted snow and can contain no
Indigenous fish. Many of them be-
come dry during the summer, others
hold water the year around, and such
fish as SUI fish and bull heads thrive
when introduced into them. But it
is not at all probable that the better
grades of fish, like bass and pickcrel,
could be propagated. They would
probably die out in a single season.
Hence it is probable that the lakes
mentioned which contain game fish
are spring fed. But how came the
fish there. When the fish weigh from
two to six pounds with the absence
Of small fish or tingerlings, it favors
the waterspout hypothesis, indica-
sing that the fish We're deposited
some years ago-three or four per-
haphs-when a cloud-burst occurred.
and that they were small at the time
when they We're deposited. There is
nothing marvellous or improbable in
such an occurrence, for c~loud-bursts
occur continually in the Northwest,
and phenomena or tish-falls are fire.
qucnt. Only a few years ago a show
er of fish from one to five inches long
-,
fell at Mandan, Oak. during a heavy
rain storm (not cyclone) and many
were gathered by residents and placed
in acquariums. The most tenable
theory, therefore, is that the fish were
deposited in the lakes by cloud-bursts.
They need not have been larger than
the Mandap fish to have grown to
six pounds in from three to hve years.
The constant features of cyclones and
whirlwiEds sweeping owe the eoun-
try are a more or less pronounced in
ward spiral wbirling Of the air near
the ground or water, feeding an up
draft in the centre and outflow above.
They take up large bodies and trans
port them long distances; if over the
water they take up everything on
the surface-frogs, fish, reptiles, &C
quatic plants, snakes, weeds, trash,
etc. They operate with marked
effect upon shallow ponds, sucking
up everything to the very bottom.
In deep water the effect does not
extend lar below the surface, and the
fish escape by sounding. Large fish
are found in deep water, and small
fish in shallow wafer, hence all the
fish deposited by r%alnfalls are small.
We will also add here that water
fowl, especially pelicans, transport
fish from lake to lake, but the water
spout and cloud-burst theory is much
the most tenable.
But about cur own lake. As it is
constantly fed from the artesian well
there is no question but what game
fish, such as pickerel and bass will
propagate under certain conditions
The pickerel if introduced will take
care Of themselves as the lake is a,
present, provided, of course, that the
lake does not entirely choke up viii
grass, but not so with black bass
They must have minnows and insects
to live upon, and unless the lake wa:
well filed with food Of this kind i