The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-17
CARP MORE NUMEROUS
AN UNDESIRABLE FISH RAPIDLY IN
CREASING In NUMBERS.
Points from the Annual Report of the
United States Fish COmmissioner
distribution of Fry.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 16.-The annual re-
port of the United States commissioner OF
fish and fisheries, George NJ. Powers
says the present amount of capital invested
ir the fisheries of the New England States
is $685. CSC. showing decrease of s4s7. 75S
since the commissions last statistical can
vass in 1889. This decrease, however, IS
stated TO be only apparent. being caused
chiefly by the transfer of the menhadden
industry to New York. The New England
creased in quantity and decreased only
slightly in value. There are So, AS persons
employed in this work and LAY vessels.
valued. with their equipment, at s4224. 3S9
The total product is 393, $3.50 pounds,
worth 1852, 7O2.
The inquiry conducted on Lake Erie in
the calendar year 1899 shows a decided in
crease in the fisheries of the lake since the
last canvass in quantity and value of the
product, capital invested and number of
persons employed. This is chiefly shown in
the catch of whitefish and lake herring
The yield of pike perch, though large, is
not considerably greater than In former
years. Three thousand seven hundred and
twenty-eight persons and 10i vessels are
engaged in the industry, representing an
Investment of S2.719,60U. In 1899 IS, 393, 900
pounds of product were obtained, worth
si,150, $780, A feature os the fisheries is the
number of carp which were taken. the
catch amounting TO over 100000 pounds,
valued at sd, 400
On Lake Ontario, where, for several
years, there has been a decided falling off
in the commercial fisheries, there was
found to be a material Improvement, the
yield being nearly three times as great as
II. 1897, and 1T would appear that the effect
Of the fish culture operations which have
been conducted there is beginning to be
felt. The number of persons engaged aud
capital invested also are proportionately
greater. The yield in 1899 amounted TO
nearly 2,500,0c0 pounds, valued at over $780,
coo.
The quantity of fishing products landed
at Boston and Gloucester shows an IN
crease of more than 33,0OO.00O pounds. with
an increased value of over $1,200.000. The
tulk of the increase is to be credited to
Gloucester. The total products landed
from American vessels at the two ports
amounted to 176,774,3o l pounds, and were
valued at nearly $,00,000.
Inquiries now In progress along the great
lakes and in the Mississippi valley show
that an increasing number of carp are
being caught and shipped chiefly to the
markets of the larger Eastern cities. From
Lake Erie and the Ohio river and certain
of its tributaries the quantity of this spe-
c:es taken is nine times as great SIX
years ago. From the Illinois river more
carp are taken than all other species COM
bined, the catch for 1899 amounting to 6,332
800 pounds, valued at $lS9,900. 1t would
appear that this fish will become more and
more an important factor in the food sup
ply of the country.
The American fur seal herd continues to
decrease in numbers through the continu-
ance of pelagic sealing, and the recent
counts show that fewer pups are born.
The total number of fish distributed by
the government the past fiscal year was
I164, 1885, 154. an increase, principally of shad.
about 1O0,00O,000 over the previous year.
About 100000 lake trout eggs were col
lected on Lake Michigan spawning grounds
and over IL, 200 from the Lake Superior
grounds. At the Lake Erie station over
So, S3S. 600 whitefsh eggs were Matched and
the fry liberated, a gain of nearly 200, 900
over the year before.
In the Mississippi valley thousands of the
fishes that had been left in the receding
waters in ponds and lakes have been trans
ferred 10 the main river or some of its
tributaries and thus preserved.
The stocking of suitable streams with
various species of trout has been continued,
special attention having been paid to the
distribution of brook trout, rainbow trouI
and black spotted trout.
Investigations designed to give practical
assistance to the oyster industry have
been carried on. The results OF the ex-
Ieriments in fattening oysters by increas-
ing the productiveness in inclosed waters
Of their natural food have given much en-
COurageme