Omaha daily bee., 1888-04-22
THE SOUTH BEND HATCHERIES
A Visit to an Interesting Nebraska
Institution.
HOW THE FISHES ARE CARED FOR.
Some of the Antics of the Little
Wards Of the State-How they
Thrive and MuItiply-A
Successful Enterprise.

mile from JDS VllldHe. INlRub III lTOnJ
flows the muddy, riley waters of the
Platte, broken here and there by
patches of dry sand, or which rest
numerous geese, ducks and other wild
fowl. To the left stretches a long, up
land valley between two bluffs, dotted
here and there by the calm clear waters
of a pond-the very "beau ideal" of
what a fishery should be. Down we went
the wooden flight of steps leading to
the Matching house." which is fur
nished with q constant supply of water
by q pipe leading from the main spring
some few yards above. What an inter-
esting sight presented itself herel A
regular fish aquarium. All around the
room are a series of glass
cases divided into compartments eXhib-
ting the various food fishes in their
living and natural conditions and at all
stages of growth and development.
Commencing on the left as you enter is
n tank containing quite n colony of
hardy, tough little sunfish swimming
gaily about, now and then taking a bite
off the healthy fibrous roots of the water
cress. Deep down on the bottom lies
the half dormant, lazy-looking turtle,
and scattered here and there, moving
slowly along by means of a thick fleshy
organ known as the foot, stalks the
freshwater mussel or shellfsh.
Tn the next box are two splendid
adult specimens, male and female, of
California or rainbow trout, so called
from the presence of q red band extend
ing from the gill cover to the tail, the
band being much more prominent in
the male than in the female. Then
come several carp quite a contrast to
the trout in their being nearly entirely
devoid of scales.
Quite a score or two of that handsome
fish, the speckled trout, have a place
reserved specially for themselves where
they thow off to advantage the varie-
gated spots which are SO characteristic
of them.
Below these glass cases are the
"hatching troughs, where the ova are
nursed and brought to maturity, and
after emerging from the egg the little
fish may be seen sporting about in their
almost helpless infancy. In addition to
his are a series of bottled specimens
illustrating the indigenous and i'm
ported fishes, as well as many other
fauna that are either destructive to or
form n means of sustenance to the fish
a capital nucleus for u museum, accom-
mediation for which is greatly decided.
On asking the superintendent what
he fed them on, he took up a basin con-
tanning some minced blood, and
told me to follow him up the
valley to a pond where there were
a large number of yearling speckled
trout. With a little tin cup he threw
some into the water. The moment it
touched the surface quite a crowd of
| 90 Tnr Itt1n fnllnyuS vnrn cnnt, dnShttn N
and spluttering one over the other in
eager haste to grab a morsel, and
don't believe a bit of the blood was al
lowed to sink to the bottom. In this
manner they are fed twice a day and
seem to be thriving splendidly on it,
but no doubt they pick up a good deal
of the natural food existing in the
ponds. Following in close succession
are some twelve other ponds, each vary
ing in size and containing various
species of fish at various stages OF
growth. One of the most important
factors in the success of fish culture is
the presence of q continual flow OF
spring water through the ponds. This
is beautifully carried out here, the
| ponds being on a different level, thus
causing a fall of some few feet from one
pond to the other.
A fish always keeps its head up stream
and when the sun shone out we saw some
of the trout in one pond making strenu,
Gus efforts to leap over a waterfall some
two and a half feet high. If they failed
once they tried again and ultimately
succeeded, thus showing the amount Of
| agility and perseverance possessed by
these fish.
In some of the larger ponds various
| species of bass are kept, which are left
to pick up what food they can the ponds
in which they live having been stocked
with minnOws which form an excellent
bill of fare for this fish.
The generality of people think that
the science of fish culture is confined tc
the few, not to the many. True enough
but it has u direct relation with all and
sundry, from the fact that its aim is tC
supply a good and economical source o.
nutriment for mankind, For example,
take man of the poorer com
munities throughout the United
States. Maize meal and bacon
form a large part and in some cases the
sole food of the people. What is the
consequence. They are all "ill-nourished
and suffer physically, intellectually and
morally. Now take the same class
whose diet is of oatmeal and fish which.
though a frugal but rational diet, shows
its effects in producing greater physi-
que, intellect and moral force. This il
due in a great measure to the presence
IN the fish of a substance known as pro,
TEN. Fish gather materials hat would
otherwise be inaccessible and lost, anG
store them in the very forms that are
most deficient in the produce of the
soil.
Again it supplies the demand for a
iety in diet. AS civilization and culture
ad vance SO will the demand for variety
in diet increase.
From the state fish hatcheries are
sent out annually thousands of fry tc
stock the lakes and treams of the state
as well as many private ponds belong
ing to farmers. In time this will be 6
great source of wealth, for a farmer who
has successfully reared his fish may, il
he choose, put the products of his la
Dor into the market just as he would
the products of his land, at q price with
in easy reach ofall conditions of people
and there are not a few who are doing
SO.
The results of fish culture will open
up to many a healthy source OF amuse.
ment. One of the greatest charms Of
field sports consists in breathing fresh
air amid the wilder scenes of nature. In
this respect fishing, especially river and
L nlH EALa,- 1Aa go H.