The Saint Paul globe., 1899-06-30

VIII Find Homes for 1000. 600
Little Fellows.
Inc annual distribution of trout fry
through the various sections of the state
where trout streams are located has been
commenced by the state game and fish
commission, and 1t is expected that fully
100000 fry will be put out before the
next harvest of eggs is ready
BY a wise foresight Executive Agent
Beutner delayed the distribution this
year, as the unusually heavy rains and
have carried away and destroyed the
young fish. In fact the trout streams in
Winona, Washington, Stearns, Houston
and St Louis counties have been pretty
well cleaned out of their trout supply by
the unusually severe freshets, and 1t is
especially fortunate that the commission
is able to repair the loss.
The trout streams in Winona county
suffered most from the freshets and a
great deal of meadow land is still under
water and all the fish have been killed
The trout is a very delicate fish, and
will not live in water that Is not clear,
sparkling and pure.
The state game and fish commission
now has on file application for perhaps
6,0O0,G0O fry, which is more than can be
supplied, but they will be distributed just
as fast as they can be conveniently
shipped
The commission has on hand about
100000 fry from last falls crop, the
largest Of the trout variety that have
of them are fully two inches long, and
when put in foreign waters will be fully
able to take care of themselves.
The eggs were secured last fall from
the old fish at the hatchery, of which
there are several thousand kept all the
time for breeding purposes. They have
been nurtured and fed at the hatchery
during the winter on grated liver and a
dough-lilse mixture, and are in good trim
TO go out and battle with their fellows
in the rushing meadow and woodland
stream.
They fry Is being distributed principally
ir Winona, Houston, Stearns, Washing
ton and st. Louis counties. as the trout
streams are principally confined to those
localities Usually five to ten thousand
are shipped on each application. although
the commission has found it necessary
TO reduce the large orders somewhat to
make the supply go around.
The distribution, however, is wholly at
the discretion of the commission, and
through the wardens the executive agent
knows just what is needed in each coun-
ty. While trout are distributed almost
exclusively to the counties named the
other sections of the state profit by the
distribution of millions of fry Of other
variety.
To successfully breed the trout to a
point where 1t is safe to put It out un-
protected in streams a great deal of care
and painstaking IS required. They must
be fed five or six times a day on grated
food. as any stringy substance gets
caught in their throats and very quickly
suffocates them. Special case is used
in shipping to have the water in the
cans fresh, and the consignee meet the
shipment at the destination
Executive Agent Beutner said yester-
day that 1t was matter Of regreat that
the legislature did not close the trout
fishing fifteen days earlier in the fall, as
nearly every famale trout caught after
Aug. 15 contained eggs, and the breeding
was seriously interfered with by the late
fishing season. The season closes Sept
l in this state. and Aug Is in Wisconsin
MIR. Beutner further stated Yesterday
that the trout was becoming very popI-
lar In Minnesota, and the requests this
year for fry had greatly exceeded any
year in the past. To meet the growing
demand the commission had decided to
put in enlarged facilities at the Willow
Brook fish hatchery during the summer
to enable them to breed an additional
1900 during the fall. The breeding
season lasts from early September until
cold weather sets in.