The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-05-12
PLANTING FISHES.
Uncle Sam Provides for the Sport
of the Angler.
How the Finny Tribe Is Propagated and
Observation-Disclosures of Little Fishes
Annually Liberated In
Our Waters.

Two and half millions of yearling
fishes were planted last year, says the
Washington Star, in the waters OF the
United States by the fish commission.
This statement is more remarkable than
il may seem. Up to 1886, all the fishes
artifcially Matched by the government
were turned into the rivers and lakes to
shift for themselves, as soon as they
were out of the eggs. Consequently
nearly al OF them were devoured, and
out of every thousand young FRY but
few were expected to survive aAd reach
maturity. Five years ago nrst expert
ment was made with the planting OF
$4,000 "fingerlings." that Is, fishes which
had attained . seasons growth.
Before long all the fishes artificially
propagated for planting in this country
will be allowed to, get years growth
before they are let loose. 1t has been
found that one acre of water will accom-
modate 100000 fry from the time they
are Matched TO the condition of finger
ings. Under such circumstances SO per
cent. Of the baby fishes survive the sea-
son, at the end Of which they are able to
take care OF themselves and have passed
the danger point. In other words, when
permitted to escape and look out for
thsv moet,v escape destruction and
raaeh mat,,ya Asbhood
pr.ttv soon th;s nlan will be exclu-
s;valv nrrauad n the propagation of
shsd for stocle;no the rivers. Con-
ver;.ntiv near IN each stream will be
established suitable ponds. The fish
commission viii simply hatch out the
frv and send them Immediately to these
preserves. where thew will be permitted
10 grow IN \ fingers length before they
are let po. Fishes only grow during
the warm season. So mt the end of four
months when Matched in spring, they
are yearlincs in size. A pond 100 acres
In extent will accommodate 50 0OO, 900 Of
shad fry, and at the end of 100 days COM
munication with the river can be opened
and $4,000. 900 little fishes will swim
merrily away, to return in future years
Of q remarkable size.
Unlimited quantities of shad eggs are
always obtainable in the season, and as
many millions Of them can be Matched
in glass Jars rs are desired Thus the
!. result 10 be secured by artificial culture
in any river n only limited by the pond
area used. A majority of the finger
lings let 20 win certainly live to grow
up and swell the schools which annual
" visit the streams for spawning. Ex-
aetly the same proposition applies to
other kinds of fishes. The fish commits
sion Is ct present rearing trout and sal
mon on . like principle and with SINH
lar results. A large pond is now being
prepared at Gloucester, Mass, for stock
ing with newly Matched Goldfish which
will be put into the sea as yearlings.
In this way 1t is hoped that the catch
Of this valuable food fish along the New
England coast will be greatly increased
after awhile.
The same method would be tried with
Holsters, but for the fact that these
pugnacious crustaceans cannot be made
to grow up together peaceably. You
put Q dozen newly-hatched specimens
into an aquarium, and within few
days there win be only one-a large,
fat and promising youngster. He has
eaten all the rest. Therefore, baby
Holsters have to be let loose in the
ocean when they are just out of the
egg. and in this plan not much profit is
found, because they are quickly gobbled
by fishes. The fish commission is hatch
ing .OOO. 900 Of Young Holsters yearly.