The Jersey City news., 1899-12-16
FISH AND GAME
Commissioners Ask Funds
to Stock Waters and
Uplands.
STURGEON PROPAGATION
Indifferent Success With
White Bass Better Re-
suits With Quail.

An urgent appeal for more funds with
which to continue stocking the rivers and
lakes of New Jersey with fish, and its
meadows and uplands with game, is made
by the Fish and Game Commissioners in
their annual report submitted to Governor
Voorhees, yesterday. The report says that
an appropriation of s., 900 would have en-
abled them to do better work in this di-
rection last year than they did during
the preceding year. and they find It difii-
cult TO see where such a sum could have
been expended with more pleasure and
profit to the citizens of the State.
The Commission, says the report, has
been assured of hearty support onthe part
Of a number of Senators and Assembly
men to secure the passing Of a supple
mental appropriation bill in order that the
work Of stocking may not be interrupted.
The Commission says it is willing and
anxious 10 make the best use possible. in
Its judgment. of any further sums Of
money, but II funds are not Forthcoming
all applications for fish and game will
have to lie over indefinitely.
The Commission interpases a number
of defenses to the criticisms made
against it that the fish and game are not
equally distributed among the several
counties and sections of the State.
Wherever there was any ground for
such statements, the report says, it was
due to the fact that in some counties
the people were more anxious for fish
and game than in others. The Commits
sion deemed it proper and expressed will
ingness to look after the welfare Of the
allotment, as far as possible, should be
first attended to.
In securing fish for stocking purposes
the Commission took pains to take them
from waters where no person had any
interest In the fish or where their re-
moval would be positive advantage.
Among the latter waters are the reser-
voirs of the East Jersey Water Com
pany in Passaic and Sussex counties. In
order to preserve the waters in these
reservoirs suitable for domestic pur-
poses fishing has been interdicsed, the
result being an increase in the number
of fish until there were more than were
desirable
The Commission admits that there Is
bound to be a difference Of opinion as to
the practical results attending the work
of stocking. There can be no doubt, how
ever. tnat the number of quail has ma
terially increased, for results are easily
observable swhere the fields are stocked
with these birds The quail distributed ali
came from the West, and reports received
agreed that the birds not only multiplied,
but that they showed no disposition what
ever to migrate, differing from the South
ern birds in that respect.
The report says there may be fewer ma
tive quail IN some parts of the State. but
the fact is indisputable that the total
of quail has been increased by the
exact number OF the Western birds and
their progeny, for no instance has appear
ed where these birds did not do well.
The Commission finds it too early to
speak definitely as to the Introduction OF
the ring necked pheasant, these birds
having been protected only since last
spring Before that time they were ruth
lessly shot on by pot hunters, who kept
within the letter Of the law which per
mitted the killing OF these birds.
The report says 1t is also too early TO
say whether he Introduction into the
State of the pike perch. white bass and
channel catfish has been success or a
failure. These fish have been taken in
the waters where they were placed q
year or two ago but even If the first lot
planted had spawned the report says
they would hardly be large enough to
make much of q showing yet.
The least encouraging OF all the ex-
periments was with the white bass, but
very little having been seen Of them
since they were first brought here.
Compared to the size Of the bodies Of
water. the report points out thar the
fish were exceedingly few in number,
and in order to warrant any belief In
success the stocking should be kept up |
for several years in succession This the |
was unable to doAon account |
Of funds.
The rise In the price Of caviar from |
$40 to s110 keg has spurred piscicul- |
turists to renewed exertions toward solv- |
ing the problem Of the artificial propa- I
cation of the sturgeon. On the subject |
of sturgeon propagation the Commission /
has this to say
considerable advances have been made /
n this direction, SO much so that the Fish T
Commission OF Pennsylvania has con-
,luded next year to try the experiment OF
artificial propagation.
Now. nearly all the sturgeon fishermen /
ire residents Of New Jersey. for the
.eason that the channel OF the river fay0rs
he New Jersey side With q sistsr State /
Wiling to devote its money and the time
if its officials toward a project which f
promises by far the greater benedt to our
,wn state. It would seem almost nigsardiy
4F<4r, %lsalf