Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-10-12
Work of the Fish Commissioners.


fisheries and game ought to receive careful
and intelligent attention by the present leg
islature. 1t is the habit Of a certain class
of fishermen and gunners, who would more
properly be called game pirates, to de-
nounce our fish and game laws, and to de-
ride the work of the commissioners. 1t is
also natural that the large class of our peo-
pie who take no personal interest in out
door sports should think it of small conse-
quence whether we have laws for the pro-
lection of our fish and game, and whether
the laws, II we have them, are enforced.
To the first of these classes it is not neces-
sary TO make any answer. The second
class should bear in mind that whatever
makes the state of Vermont attractive TO
its people is worth cultiyating 1t is al
Hampshire reap very large returns-up
among the millions Of dollars-as the
money proceeds from their summer visitors,
and that the fish and game Of those states
are one of their main attractions. This
argument is good so far as it goes. But it
is not the main argument. II is a good
thing for every Vermont boy and girl to
have an interest in outdoor life, to have
the fields and the streams, the ponds and
lakes and the forests, made attractive TO
them. They ought to be attractive to the
children of the farmers, and also to the
children of the villages and cities. Plenty
of fish in our streams and ponds, and plenty
of game in the forests are an attraction to
which all our people have right. 1t is
the right Of our own people first, and after
that, il one pleases, of our city visitors.
1t is undoubtedly true that the commits
sloners of fish and game have made mis-
takes in their work. During the same time
every business man and manufacturer and
farmer has also made mistakes. II he is a
good business man or manufacturer or
farmer he is now trying to correct his mis-.
takes The fish commissioners are doing
the same thing. The experience of the
years since the department was established
has been very valuable. 1t is now in shape
to do more effective work than ever before.
The main thing is TO have the work Of the
commissioners properly recognized and to
have 1t made permanent, so that 1t may be
known from year to year what may be de-
pended upon-what work may be under.
taken with prospect that 1t can be carried
out. 1t is bad economy to pinch the ap-
preparation down to the smallest possible
amount. 1t is an illustration in point that
N ofn nAo Gel,
of the lingering size are worth many times
more than the so called "fry," for the rea-
son that the fingerlings can take care Of
themselves to large extent while the fry is
the helpless prey of multitude of enc
mics.
The commissioners no longer recon-
mend the policy of putting large amount
of stock into any given stream or pond or
lake at any one time and then closing the
waters for term of years. On the con-
trary, experience has shown them that the
wise and economical way is to consider the
stocking of these waters regular part of
each years work; TO put into such waters
each year certain amount of stock,
enough to keep the supply good and to aid
in its reproduction by natural process.
The annual reports of the commissioners
show that the work of the hatchery has
thus far been commercially successful.
That is to say, the amount of fish stock
hatched and grown and placed in the wat
ers of the state is worth, at market prices,
all that it has cost. What the commits
sioners now need is the assurance of a suf-
fcient appropriation, year by year, to en-
able the state to reap the benefit of work
already done and to make plans for the flu
ture with reasonable certainty that they
can be carried out. The sum of $4,000 or
$500 each year would enable the commits
sioners so to increase the state plant that
all the young ist-bTto ok trout, lake trout
land-locked salmon, and other staple food
fishes, could be grown TO lingering size at
the hatchery before planting out in the
streams and ponds. This is on the theory,
already suggested, that thousand fish of
FIN geIling size are worth more for stocking
purposes than 10000 fry. This young
stock would be judlciously distributed year
by year to all parts of the state, ard pres
emily we should again have good fishing all
over Vermont.
There is a sufficient number of men in
this legislature who are intelligently inter
ested in this subject who, If they will give
even few hours attention to the subject,
will become convinced of the general truth
of these premises, and will act upon them
and urge their fellow members to do so.