The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-26
CULTURE OF FOOD FISH
SUMMARY OFF THE WORK OF THE
UNITED YATES COMMISSION.
hundreds of Millions OF Fry Planted
I'm Rivers, Lakes aud ~Seas-Great
Benefits ut Little Cost.

WASHINGTON. Jun S-The work of
the fish commission is practically COM
pleted for this year. According to the OFF,
Gals OF the commission when the reports
are sent in July 1 they will show that it
has been its most successful year in the
history Of the commission. The great bulk
OF the work has been In the collection and
distribution of eggs and fry of commercial
food fish, and this year more cod. white
fish. pike. perch, bass. fiat fish and lobster
have been planted than ever before. Fully
as many shad have been planted this year
as last, when the high water mark in shad
propagation was reached. The great COM
mercial value of the work done by the fish
commission can best be illustrated in the
case of shad. The catch of shad in 1885 was
100000. The systematic collection of eggs
and distribution of shad fry since that year
have increased the catch annually until
this year it reached 13, 000,O OO, an increase
of l0 per cent. in fourteen years. At the
same time the cost of shad has been de-
creased to the consumer more than 80 per
cent. The value of the catch this year
was upwards of $4,000 This result has
been obtained by the commission with a to-
tai expenditure of s42, 600. SO successful was
e'c ape iHtOc StNtidi years dSO %
the introduction of shad and striped bass
on the Pacific coast that the planting of
those two food fishes on that coast
has been suspended. The shad catch
on the Pacific now ranges from
one to two millions annually. The to-
tai cost of introducing shad into Pacific
waters was but 5000. 81 plentiful nave the
striped bass become in the Pacific coast
streams since their introduction that they
can be purchased in The markprS of the
coast cheaper the year around thar in the
Eastern markets. When they were first
introduced they brought 81 a pound.
The work at the California stations this
year has been confined TO the propagation
of the commercial salmon and the sockeye
nave been distributed from these stations.
From the five Oregon stations on the Col
,umbia river 20. fry have been planted
at Bakers lake, Washington, established
for the propagation of the blueback and sill
Yer salmon, will begin operations July 1.
In the Rocky mountain region there are
stations in Montana, Colorado and South
Dakota for the propagation of Eastern
brook trout. craving, mountain or black
fry were distributed in the streams Of
Colorado. Washington, Idaho, Montana,
South Dakota, New Mexico. Arizona and
From the middle states stations in Iowa,
Illinois. Missouri and Texas, for the prop
agation of brook trout and rainbow trout,
oldCh bdsS III CTOppit, l,Wv,VV lily VI Ill
kinds We're distributed in stocking private
ponds and streams and some public waters.
From the stations on the great lakes,
where the white fish. lake trout, herring,
pike, perch and walled-eyed pike are col
lected, 750,O00,0N eggs of all kinds were
taken and 5000, fry planted.
At the shad stations at Bullockville, Ga,
Edenton, N. c., Bryan's Point, Va, Havre
de Grace and Gloucester. in the Delaware,
300. O00.0 900 shad eggs were collected and 230.-
100000 fry planted in all the important
streams from Florida to Massachusetts,.
There are stations in Virginia and Tennes-
see for the propagation of black bass and
trout but these have done little this year.
In Massachusetts there are two of the
largest marine fish culture stations in the
world. At these the cod, pollock, fiat fish
~(founder), and lobster are propagated. Over
800, 600, 900 cod eggs were collected here and
between. 80. 0O0, 900 and 20,O 900. 600 fry dis
tributed. Over 40. 600 fiat fish were
planted. The lobster season has not yet
closed. Over 100, OOO. 900 eggs nave already
been taken and 1t is expected that 100000
more will be taken before the close of the
season.