The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-10
FISH PRESERVATION.
Nr. ThOmpsOn's Views Pronounce,
Reasonable and Sound.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The article of Mr.. c. g. Thompson, of
Warren, Ind, published in the Journal last
Thursday, contains more prac teal common
sense upon the subject of fish preservation
and fish culture than anything that has yet
appeared. The seine is not nearly so de-
structive to the Foolish supply as are dy-
Mantle, poisons, filth, rapid overloys and
floods of muddy water fishing in breeding
time and the miserable German carp. Our
smaller streams in central and eastern In
diana, that few years ago furnished an
abundance of good fish, are now practically
depopulated. Ditching and dredging are
responsible for much of this loss, but still
there are mill ponds and pools in which
many fish might and would he bred but
for the very general opinion that seems TO
prevail that it is all CANNON and nonsense
to care for such insignificant things as fish.
The truth is that the destructive
spirit which has SO ruthessly swept
away the forests, the game
and the fish is only just beginning TO sub
side, and, in many neighborhoo1s. the fish
law is not only a dead letter, but 1t is
openly violated as long as there are any.
fish in the streams for the violators TO
prey upon. Any man who tries TO have
the law enforced is regarded as the friend
of idle or snobbish fishermen and an en-
envy TO the community, and yet the comnlu-
nifty is always the greatest sufferer by such
wanton distractions and waste OF natures
bounties. The first and greatest need is a
better state of public Information and pub
lie sentiment upon the subject. Think of
permitting a StrawbOard factory to uoison
the waters of such streams as White river
and its tributaries destroying, in TWO CT
three days time, FISH that were worth more
In dollars and cents than the concern that
causes the loss. and when are capable of
almost indefinite increase III food value If
carefully cultivated and guarded, And this
simply TO save the companies who manu-
facture the board the cost of providing
some other method Of .iisposing of their
poisonous refuse.
young fish are watched by jealous eyes,
not for their preservation, but that they
may be dynamited or Melted as soon as
they are large enough TO go into the frying
pan. This ought not TO be, but nc law that
the Legislature can pass will check il so
long as no means are provided for the ex-
reached, perhaps. by providing a lively lit
tie fine for each offense and dividing 1T be-
tween the informer and the prosecuting at
torney; but that would provoke a spirit OF
reprisal that might not be any better for
the security of the fish. In our smaller
streams the native fish should be cared for.
tected. The least of these are the black
bass. the white perch. the google eye or
big-mouthed perch, the black sucker. and
the mud and yellow catfish. The red horse
or white sucker and the spotted or mud
sucker are fairly good fish, but not
The yellow sucker or muliet is
rot cften found in our streams. and is no
better than carp. Suckers are usually
speared or seined, but they can be readily
caught with hook where they are numer-
Gus and the fisherman understands his
game. There was also pike that was
formerly plenty in our eastern Indiana
streams and ponds. but il seems 10 have
entirely disappeared.
The streams of eastern Indiana are sub
ject 80 alternate floods and stages of very
low water. This Is caused by the removal
OF the drifts and old-time mill dams, the
drainage OF the slaShes, ponds and smaller
brooks, and. often. by the dredging OF if
teen 20 thirty miles CO the upper portions OF
the streams themselves. While il will al
ways be necessary TO maintain the admir-
able drainage system OF This part of the
country. the experiences of recent years. in
which deadly droughts nav alternated with
seasons OF Hood. demonstrate that a time
is coming when il Will be indispensably
necessary 10 establish systems of pools
along and In connection with these smaller
stTeans-a thing that can be done without
adversely affecting the drainage system.
Whenever this is accomplished IL will be
practicable TO restock the streams with
the native fish; but every German carp
should. in the meantime be caught and
eaten-by those who are fond OF carp.
a closed season is as necessary for fish
as for quail squirrels, and law estab-
fishing such a closed season would doubt
less meet with far less opposition than