Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-18

fore many years will reap the benefit
Of the COMMISSIONS work. Biological
RESEARCHES have been made in many of
the States. with the idea of increasing,
by artificial means, the productiveness
of inland waters,
These inquiries have developed the
fact that many streams which were
once productive OF fine food fishes have
become sadly depleted through the
denudation of the forest lands. the
pollution OF waters, dynsmiting, dam
ming Of streams and other changes in
the conditions principally duo to in
dustrial operations. In most cases the
remedy of these conditions lies with
the State authorities, and successful
cooperation of State Fish Commits
sinns with the National Commission
can only be secured through proper
State laws and regulations regarding
the pollution Of the streams.
NJ UGH Of the work of the United
States Fish Commission consists in
transferring and transplantipg fish,
oysters and Holsters from ore cart of
the country to the other. One of the
first experiments in this line was the
introduction on the Pacific coast of
the Eastern shad. There was time,
not very many years ago, when shad
sold for 81 each in San Francisco and
other Pacific coast towns. Last year
this fish was so plentiful in the
ColumL 10 River and other streams
emptyIng into the Pacific that they
were caught and used for fertilizer ON
the land. The presence Of the shad
has in no way interfeIred with the
salmon.
From the middle West, Minnesota
and the Mississippi Valley. there has
been brought to the East within recent
years delicious table fish known as
the "crappie Its propagation has
bern very rapid ari tois year the dis
tribution of Graphic fry will be so ex-
tensive as to insure the fish a first
class place in the markets of the East
within year or two. The large mouth
bass was introduced into the Potomac
within q comparatively recent period,
and that stream below the Great Falls,
is now so we'll stocked with them that
| 100, 900 pounds Of this first-olass game
and food fish were sold in the Washing
ton market last year,
The small mouth black bass for
which the upper Potomac has long
been famous and which is regarded by
sportsmen as one of the gamest fishes
south of the Lake regions. is becoming
very popular. The commission is push
ing its propagation with all possible
speed and one OF the principal stations
for the work Ia in Texes. 1t is probably
fortunate that the headquarters for its
propagation is in the Lone Star State
because more requests are received
from that State than from any other
for that particular fish. This may be
due to the fact that Colonel "Bill"
Sterret, former Washington cor
respondent, has gone to Texas to live.
While here he became an enthusiast
over the Potomac small mouth black
bass and never tired of singing its
praises and devoted all his SPARE time
to whipping the upper Potomac in
pursuit OF it. lie has doubtless spread
its fame into Texas to such an extent
that the Fish Comm issioD cannot keep
up with the demands foi black bass
fry to be distributed in that State.
Mr.. Bowers, the efficient head of the
commission, comes from West Virginia.
State noted for it's trout and black
bass streams, and is a lover OF the
sport and an enthusiast over the propa
cation of fishes, ''The-active work OF
distributing eggs and fish fry has now
begun said Commissioner Bowers to-
| uhy. lWU VI uuT cars are dltSduJ
motion through the West and three
more we have in Washington here will
start on their distributing journeys
within a few days This work will
continue all the summer and late into
the fall. The fish are distributed in
response to requests from citizens OF
the United States. These requests
come from all sorts and conditions Of
men, from sportsmen g associations,
from individuals and from firms, but
no matter how obscure the citizen may
be, If this commission has at its dis
posal the number and kind of fish he
asks for he has the proper streams in
which to place them, he is going to
get his fish.
1.-The work of the commission is in
creasing every year and our reports are
annie evidence of the benefit the insti
tuition Is to the country at large. There
is no longer any trouble with local OF
State authorities, but almost without
exception the most complete harmony
and cooperation is experienced. We,
of course, have nothing to DO with the
administration of game laws and are
saved a great deal of money ano
annoyance thereby. We gather the
eggs, hatch them and distribute the
fish and there our responsibility ends. =
The annual spawn harvest has begun
along the Potomac and will soon begir
7 ON the Susqnehanna and the Delaware
The work is done by fishermen ant
farmers who from long experience are
experts in that line. The government
pays them so cents quart for eggs
or about 800 million eggs, The fist
: from which the eggs are removed ar,
salable in the market, but the amour
the government pays for the eggs II
quite an addition. The largest hatcher,
! is on the Susquehanna River nea
Havre de Grace, Md, where It's, 900, 00
fish we're produced last season.
1t is estimated that the government
will save from destruction at least
billion fish eggs which otherwise woult
be lost, as the fish which contain then
? would be sold in the market and eaten
This government work is liable to maxi
shad roe scarce article of food, bu
, the O. gs will be put to much bette
! use in being Matched to increase tn
fish supply than in appearing upon tn
breakfast table OF the nation.
Commissioner Bowers is one of tn
: prominent active business men ant
Republican leaders of West Virginia
He is under 40 years of age, but ha
had varied experience in practica
busir ess life and in the politics of hi
native State, In 1883 he was so activ
10 the campaign that Gen. Colt termei
s him his fright hand Bower" He wa
a commissioner to tine Worlds Fair il
! 1893, and he has held various position
of trust and confidence 10 his State
= | He ia a man of fine presence and