News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-01-24
Vermont Fish Commissioners,

vermont Fish Commi SSionerS.
The recently issued biennial report
of the Vermont fish commissioners for
1878 is an interesting document of
81 pages. The commissioners ex-
press great pleasure and satisfaction
that so fully has experience demon
strated the wisdom and beneficence of
the existing laws for the protection
and propagation of fish in the waters
of Vermont, they have become gener-
ally respected, and their enforcement
| by process almost entirely uncailed
for. The commissioners state that
! the constitutionality of the protective
laws, restrictive of net fishing, has
been sustained by the supreme court
in test case tried since their last re-
port, and that many of those who
were at the outset bitter enemies have
come to be warm friends and sup
porters of the fish law. The report
states that Vermont has nearly or
quite 200 miles Of Lake Champlain
shore, and that nine-tenths of the
breeding and fishing grounds of that
lake are Vermont waters. Lake
Champlain offers the best fishing TO
be found in the East, which fact can
not fail TO bring large accessions of
summer population to Vermont. Had
not wise protective laws been enacted
and enforced, fishing in the lake and
it's tributaries would have been prac-
tically destroyed by this time, as the
great nets that were being used were
sweeping the spawning grounds and
destroying the fish to that extent that
they were simply doing the 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 different waters,
favorable and encouraging beyond the
most sanguine expectations. During
the last two years land locked salmon
have been planted in Lake Dunmore
and Molly, Tobin, Berlin, Nelson,
Dog and No. 10 ponds. 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
Oswego bass, pike, shad, and in fact
of all fish native to those waters.
Black bass have also been planted in
the Lamoille river at Fairfax and in
Lake Seymour, Lake Hortonia and
other waters"
The commissioners further say that
the necessity for attention to viola
tions CT the law having become so
much less than formerly, they pro-
pose turning their attention to the
stocking Of the smaller lakes, ponds
and streams with trout and other fish |
suitable to the different waters, The
report contains list of the lakes, |
ponds and streams in Vermont, also |
a list Of fish commissioners 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 speckled trout, lake
trout 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 immedi-
ltely to the commissioners for the
same. Applications from parties re-
siding on the west side of the noun
ain should be made to Hon. Herbert
3rainerd, st. Adams. Parties resid-
ng on the cast side of the mountain
should apply to Frank H. Anterior,
Waterbury. All such applications
hould be endorsed by one or more of
he Selectmen of the town as a guar
ntee of good faith.
The commissioners recommend that
II applications for fish no eont in ho-
ore March I, and request The appli-
ants to give full description Of the
7aters which they desire to stock. 1t
J the purpose of the commissioners
D replete the waters of the State with ,
sh and restore the original bouDtifuI i
upply.
Much credit is due fish commission o
r Brainerd for his we'll directed eff v
orts and his efficiency in sustaining
nd enforcing the game and fish laws
f the State since his appointment in
oS2. Mr.. Brainerd has also been
lccessful in his negotiations with the
dominion minister of marine AMI
sheries for the prevention of the
'holesale destruction of fish and
pawn in Lake Champlain by net
shing by Canadian subjects.