The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-11-26
MILLIONS FOR MICHIGAN
Work Of Fish Commission Means
Big Sum to the state-Much
Worthless Land Redeemed
AN Important Work.

Audt the propdSatiOn OF game us
in the streams and lakes OF Mich
gan is OF great commercial value t
the residents OF the state, and tha
\ the work OF the state board of fis
commissioners has more than pai
for itself, is the opinion expresse,
recently by F. R. Dickerson, presi
dent of the board, to the Detroi
Free Press. He has made a tour O
the state within the past year ant
has thoroughly investigated the pos
sibilities in connection with th,
above statement. In speaking a
length upon the subject, in which b,
takes such an interest, he said:
"The lay mind does not begin t.
comprehend what has been done to
replenish Michigan's streams with
game fish. If l were to tell the
ordinary man, who does not take
especial interest ia rod and reel, that
his native state has become known
the world over for the excellence oi
its trout fishing, be would appear
credulous. II were to say to him
that more than S., 900, 900 revenue is
derived by the residents as result
of the fishing, he would question my
veracity.
IAN offhand statement that people
come to fish in our strerms from
every part of this continent and
Europe naturally challenges atten-
tion, but when I say that enough
strangers come here to leave at
least $1,000, 900, the extent of the
possibilities is made apparent.
When you add to this that the work
OF propagation is in its infancy, so
to speak, you have situation wor-
thy Of the greatest attention. 1t is
a condition OF affairs not generally
known. ! regret to say.
Michigan expends tho sum Of
$4,000 yearly for fish propagation,
all of which is spent in planting and
trouspating cs-enis--trout, rainbow
wall-eyed pike and other specree.
The question is often asked, Does
it pay?' and the answer is certain,
though it is really hard to correctly
estimate the exact benefits. Aside
from the fact that the streams are
stocked with choice varieties OF game
fish, know that the influx of non
resident sportsmen has only just
begun.
"What the strangers leave in
money in the state can only be ap
prcximated.
1.-The Grand Rapids & Indiana
railway officials estimate that over
$500, 600 is received each year by
their road during the fishing seasor
alone, aud not from tourists, but
from people who 20 fishing. Other
roads, boasting OF the excellence o
the streams over which they run
give like estimates OF the money pait
out in railroad fares. The fishins
season has come to be regular in
stitution with the railways, and eacl
one floods the country with attract
i've advertising, setting forth tn,
particular merits claimed for it
territory.
Railroad fare, you might say, i
the smallest part OF fisherman
bill OF expense when he goes ava.
on trip. In fact, it is safe to sa.
that it represents only about one
fifth OF the total expense. Roughl.
speaking, there is no man who take
a trip who does not average at leas
$50 above his railroad fare. In say
| ing that the larger amount goes T.
pay for teams, provisions, tents
boats, guides and incidentals, yo
quickly realize that the people i
the immediate vicinity OF the fishin
grounds are the ones who profit.
IF as much as $500, 900 is spent 1
transportation, it is certain tina
about 81 ,OO0,O 900 more goes for th
other necessities OF the trip. Wit
the patrons OF one road leaving Q
. much money as that in the state,
J is not unreasonable to suppose tha
: the many others have patrons VIII
} leave equally large amounts. 1t doe
(, not need a rapid sy tim OF compstl
: tion to reach Che five million mari
although have not reckoned whs