The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-17
VERMONT FIsH COMMIssIoNERs.

NEhmONT FISH COmmISSIONEhs.
The recently issued biennial report of
the Vermont fish commissioner of 1887
is an interesting document of 81 pages
The commissioners express great pleas
ure. and satisfaction that, so fully has
experience demonstrated the wisdom
and beneticence OF the existing law for
the protection and propagation of fish
In the waters of Vermont, they have be-
come generally respected, and their ZEN
forcemen by process almost entirely un-
called for, The commissioners state
that the constitutiOnality of the protec-
tive law, restrictive of net fishing, has
been sustained blythe supreme court in
test case tried since their last report,
and that many of those who were at
the outset bitter enemies have come to
be warm friend and supporters of the
fish law. The report states that Yer
mont has nearly or quite 200 miles on
Lake Champlain shore, and that nine
tenths OF the breeding and fishing
grounds of that Lake are Vermont
waters. Lake Chaimplain offers the
best fishing to be found anywhere in
the East, which fact cannot fail to bring
large accessions of summer population
10 Vermont. Had not wise protective
laws been enacted and enforced, fishing
in the lake and its tributaries would
have been practically destroyed by this
time, as the great nets that were being
used were sweaping the spawning
grounds and destroying the fish to that
extent that they were simply doing a
work OF determination.
Regarding the results of stocking and
protection, the commissioners say: 1--WE
have received from all parts of the state
reports from the fish planted in the DIFF.
terent waters, favorable and encouraging
beyond the most sanguine expectation.
During the last two years Jand-locked
salmon have beeD planted in the Lake
Dunmore. Molly, Tobin, Balm, Nelson,
Dog and Number 10 Pounds, The trout
planted in the small rivers and brooks
show large increase. Reports from
the different fishing points on Lake
Champlain show that since the protec-
tive law has been enforced there has
been a large increase of black and
O5wego bass, pike, shad and in fact all
fish native to those waters, Black bass
have also been planted in the Llmoille
TIver at Fairfax and Lake Seymore, Lake
Hortonia and other waters"
The commissioners further say: "The
NlOldLlOn6
the law having becom so much less than
formerly, we purpose turning our at
tention to the stocking of the smaller
lakes, ponds and streams with trout and
other fish suitable to the different
waters" The report contains a list of
the lakes, ponds and streams in Yer
mont, also a list of the fish commission
ers in other states and an appendix of
the fish and game laws of the state,
Hon, Herbert Brainerd, chairman of
the Board, has made arrangements for
supplies OF speckeled trout, lake Il out
and land-locked salmon fry from the
best sources for stocking purposes.
These fry will be ready for distribution
about March LIST, and parties desiring to
stock waters with fish of any kind should
apply Immediately to the fish commits
s'oners for the same. Applications from
parties residing on the west aide of the
mountain should be made TO Hon. Her
bert Brainerd, st, Adams. Parties re-
siding on the!east side of the mountain
should apply to Frank H, Atherton,
waterbury. All such applications
should be Endorsed by one or more of the
selectmen OF the town as guarantee Of
good faith.
The commissioners recommend that
all application for fish be sent ia before
! March /, and request the applicants to
: give full description of the waters
which they desire TO stock. 1t is the
purpose of the commissioners to replete
the waters of the state with fish and res
tore the original bountiful supply
Much credit is due Fish Commissioner
Brainerd for his well-directed efforts
and his efficiency in sustaining aud en-
forcing the game and fish law OF the
state since his appointment in 1882.
Mr., Brainerd has also been successful
: in negotiations with the Dominion min =
! ister of marine and fisheries for the pre-
vention of the wholesale destruction of
fish and spawn in Lake Champlain by
net fishing by Canadian subjects.