The morning call., 1893-05-31
BEFORE DAYLIGHT
Two Lakes Stocked With
MuskaIonge.
AN EARLY MORNING VISIT.
At ? O'Clock This Morning 100, 900
Small Fishes Were Placed in
Lakes MERGED and PiIarcitos.

Between anu o CLOCK tnlS IN OrDl0S
Lake MERGED and Lake Pilarcitos were
stocked with over 100000 choice Muska-
longe, which arrived here yesterday on
the overland from Lake Chautauqua, New
York.
This is the first time that carload of
small fish has ever been brought clear
across the continent. This was in the
nature of an experiment, and proved en-
tirely successful.
At o'clock the special train, consisting
Of an engine. the United States Fish Com
missions private car and Southern Pa
cific caboose, reached Ocean View.
In the Government car were Colonel G.
Lambson and five assistants, 100, 900 Mus
kalonge and Deputy State Fish Commits
sioner Babcnck.
The fish were brought here in large cans
about the size of the ordinary milk can. A
wagon was in waiting at the station at
Ocean View, and little over half of the
fish on the car were transferred to the
wagon and taken down to Lake MERGED,
distance of less than two miles.
Before emptying the contents OF the can
in the lake the temperature of the water
was taken by Colonel Lam bson, and found
to be about right for the reception of the
young fish.
The latter are but days old and wee
small things not much larger than the
point OF Il sharp leadpencil. Each can
contained thousand or SO of the minute
creatures, and in all, sixty caus were emp
tied into Lake MERGED.
The work was done quickly, because it
had all been admirably planned before
| hand. At three different places within
distance along the shore of less than a
mile the cans were emptied.
When the work was done here the party
returned to their car and the special train
ran speedily to Millbrae. where the re-
| naming cans were conveyed about seven
miles in wagon to Lake Pilarcitos.
About the same process was gone
through there, the cans being emptied at
| different places where the water is shall
low and much warmer than tits farther out.
The temperature of the water was also
taken by Colonel Lambson and found to
be the same as that at Lake MERGED
The work was done very eXpedltiously
and in a manner that caused Colonel
Lambson to compliment the State Fish
Commission and express the opinion that
it could not have been done better.
1t was about midnight when the Gov.
ernments special fish-car arrived at
| Fourth and Townsend streets, where it
was boarded by CALL reporter. who &C
| companed the party on their early morn
ing iSh-stUcking excursion. The car itself
is built specially for the transportation of
| young fish. On both sides of the sic that
runs through the car from entrance to en-
| trance are the tanks, or wooden recepta-
| cles. for the cans containing the fish.
These reeeptacles are covered over, and
on their covers are dozen or mnre reyolv-
ing chairs for the accomm odation of the
Federal Fish Commissioner and his as
sistanfs.
AT the forward end of the car are several
| large water tanks and a small fnr
! generating steam to heat the car when the
severity of The weather requires 1t.
During the overland trip from New
YORK no artificial heat was needed,
| thermometers in the car, but they man
aged to keep the mercury in these about
right by opening and shutting the win
duws.
There are hunks in the car that let down
the same as in Pullman sleeper, and IN
the rear end is. besides more water tanks.
miniature kitchen and larder that suffices
amply for the culinary needs of the partv
I'VE had very pleasant trip" said
Colonel Lambson. land were quite sue
cessful in the transportation of our cargo,
A few OF the fish died while crossing the
mountains, but their number is really too
small TO consider seriously out of a total
of over 10000
Yes. We find enough work to do on a
trip like this. We have the water TO
change every day or oftener, the temper
ture TO keen just so. and fresh air to admit
and exclude al different times and a whole
lot of that kind of attention to bestow on
| these tiny young creatures
They are pretty small now, but If thew
do as we'll out her as they do in Lake
Chautauqua and other places in the East.
they will grow to weigh as much as thirty
five and forty pounds. l have seen MANY
of them at the latter weight.
I'VE carry the water with us and ice az
well. The weather has been so even on
this trip, though, that we have not used
much Of the latter. In these tanks here
we have about 1000 gallons of water. and
we had ton Of ice aboard when we left
| Chautauqua.
What is the hurry in getting the fish
into the lakes tonight? Well, this is the
first experiment of the kind made by the
Government. and we are not going to
waste moment or leave a stone unturned
That might make toward success.
$50 far we have been very successful.
ana nave no doubt that the fish we have
put in tonight will thrive as well here as
in their native waters"
1t Is calculated that when full grown the
imported muskalonge will kill off the
myrlads OF worthless carp with which
Lake MERGED is now infested.
This Is SAID to be the chief reason for
bringing the muskalonge out here. though
In themselves they are very gamy fsh
LOT spoTLsHen ana their flesh is choice
when properly cooked.
1t might be supposed by the uninitiated
that there was danger to these Young
muskalonge from the fierce and warlike
nature of the carp, but this is not so.
"Thr carp is vegetarian" saws Colonel
Ian bson, "and will not eat these young
fish. When they get little bigger thew
will be more than a match for The earn.
| They can be depended u on to clean ont
the carp entirely in due time. for they are
fish OF prey and fight like lions for their
! food.
"All slothfnl and useless fish the muska.
longe prey upon, and will in time drive out
of The waters.
Il will probably visit the lakes we have
stocked ton ght in day or two again. and
then proceed TO Monterey with this car.
Here we expect to make collection of ma
tive fish for the Government fish exhibit at
the Worlds Fair. Yes; we will work
pretty fast at Monterey, ana hasten back
to Chicago As speedily as possible.
The muskalonge-some authorities cal,
it maskinonge-is the most beautiful sneci-
men OF the pike family. The tribe is ma
tive to the range of large lakes and rivers
OF our northwestern boundaries. and n
most OF the lakes and rivers in the vast