The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-28
Report of the Commission
ers to the Legislature
on a Years Work.
FISH FROM THE GREAT LAKES
Trout, Pike-perch and White Bass
-pheasants and Quail--The
Open Season.

tonight. The report Will give a detailed
account of the work accomplished by the
Board during the past year and will also
contain much valuable information rela-
tive to the fish and game interests of
the State. It contains a number of COM
ments on the general fish and game laws
and their practical operation, with recon-
mendations for future legislation.
The principal work of the year has
been the introduction into the waters of
the State of valuable fishes from the great
lakes and the protection of the Indigenous
fauna of the State. The work has been
attended with considerable success, as is
shown by the details given in the report.
Some years ago, says the report, the
State established a fish-hatehing station
for the purpose of propagating fresh
water fish, and especially brook trout,
for replenishing the ponds and streams;
but the conditions proving unfavorable
and the result unsatisfactory. the project
was abandoned after a few years trial.
Private enterprise, where the conditions
were more favorable. has established
large hatcheries, where the fish can be
purchased much cheaper than they can
be produced by the State. From one of
these the Commission has secured during
the year SO, 1000 semi-yearly brook trout for
distribution.
Concerning other desirable food fish,
with which it is proposed to stock the
waters of the State, the Commission has
learned that it is preferable when posi-
BILE to secure adult fish from their native
waters on account of the difficulty of
producing the fry. The feasibility of this
plan was demonstrated by the introduce
ton of adult pike-perch from the great
lakes. During the past year the Com
mission has secured a large number of
these fish from Lake Erie, and consider
able quantities of hanne catfish and
white or silver bass. The latter, the
Commission believes, will add greatly to
the supply of valuable food fish, as the
channel catfish attain great size, and their
flesh is. white, firm and sweet, while the
silver bass are of particularly fine flavor.
On the first trip to Lake Erie the Com
mission secured 1000 pike-perch and
70 white bass. Fifteen of the pike-perch
were placed in the Raritan River and the
remainder in Greenwood Lake. In April
the Commission made a second trip and
secured 400 channel catfish. Three hum
bred of these were placed in the Delaware
IllNCt at L 4 L = o. llOlitC Ntlit ~ y
gether with sixteen white bass, were
placed in Greenwood Lake. A third trip
was made, on which a quantity of silver
bass were procured for distribution.
The Commission has found a constantly
increasing demand throughout the State
for black bass for p~ropagating purposes.
This demand they a found much diff
Guilty in supplying, there being no water
known where the fish can be taken in
any considerable quantities and no mar
ket where they can be bought. Through
the assistance of Vice President Hobart
and Governor Griggs the Commission has
recently secured a contribution OF about
loco black bass from the United States
Fish Commission
The report also speaks of the work of
restocking the Delaware with shad ac-
counts of which nave been published from
time to time during the year.
About $4,000 900 eggs of anadromous
smelts have been procured during the
year for the purpose of restocking the
Hackensack River and introducing them
into the Delaware and Raritan Rivers
and some of the inland waters, where they
will serve the double purpose of afford
ing sport for the anglers and food for the
game fish. The eggS were distributed as
follows:-Delaware and Hackensack Riv-
ers, IL, 900, 900 each; Raritan, A,000, 000, and
Greenwood Lake. LOCO, 900.
The Introduction in a lumber of States
vi LIN AikA6 LSShSa ~
Commission to try the experiment in New
Jersey. They procured 24S of the birds,
which were distributed in f1ocks of a
dozen about the State.
Numerous applications were received
for quail during the earlier part of the
year, the severe winter of a few years ago
depleted the number of these birds. At
tempts at acclimatizing the Southern
quail having proven failures in so many
thn ni1ai1 from tho WeSt thaV hainU hnth
larger and harder birds. Late In the
spring, as an experiment, 1,032 western
quail were purchased and distributed for
propagation.
The Commission records with approval
the establishment of the Audubon So
ciety, of New Jersey, whose objects are
as follows:-
First-The purpose of the society is
to discourage the purchase and use of
the feathers of any kim for ornament,
except those of the ostrich and do
Second-Members shall discourage
the destruction of birds and their eggs,
and do all in their power to- protect
them.
Third-Members shall use their in
fuence to establish 'Bird Day" in the
State of New Jersey.
1t is estimated that taking all the pub
LEGATIONS together. about 100, 600 copies OF
the Fish and Game laws were distributed
through the State. Under these circum-
the Commission thinks that ig-
norance of the laws Is certainly a poor
excuse for violation to urge in ameliora-
ton of their offenses.
In commenting upon the legislation for
the protection of fish and game, the Com.
mission says that the present law has
been in force for two years, which is a
sufficient time to determine Its value. 1t
continues that owing to the difference in
the latitude of the extreme northern and
southern parts of New Jersey and the
consequent difference in the habits of
animals in the two sections, it is mani
festly impossible to enact any measure
whichs will satisfy all the residents of the
The conviction which prevailed a
year ago that the present law IS made
ouate to carry out the purposes for which
It was enacted has been intensified. and
there has been a general and continual
demand all over the State for a law max
ing a uniform season for all woodland and
field game. This. the Commission says,
can only be accomplished by a modifica-
ton of the demands of interested per-
sons in different parts of the State. If
the gunner of the north would agree to
open the season for wOOdcock and par
fridge fifteen days later than a date such
as might be indicated by climatic condi-
lions, and il the gunner OF the south
would agree to cease shooting quail and
fifteen days earlier than his de-
mands have insisted upon for some years
a uniform season might be secured.
A law opening the season for wood
land and field game on November l and
closing it on nua I Wouid be accept
able to the people in the southern part of
the State, but would be objected to in
the northern part, as 1T would prevent
altogether the killing of woodcock, which
nave moved southwark before the first
open day. 1t would also mean the kill
of hundreds of rabbits and quail in
the deep SHOWS which frequently precede
49, laliJoxyc A Ia on60fnQ the season