The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-08

Faribault, MINI, July s.-Cannon
river trout is popular order with cpl
cures who patronize one of the best
known of Kansas City restaurants. This
fish fried in butter. with a soupcon Of a
peculiar sauce, the invention Of the chef,
to give it just the right twang, is de-
icious. When the DIRK is plunged into
1t the delicate pink of the flesh that is
exposed and the aroma arising from the
dish would tempt st. Anthony himself
to become gourmet.
Here come the paradox, while the
fish in question are undoubtedly caught
in the Cannon river in great numbers,
put on ice and shipped to Kansas City,
there is neither trout nor salmon nor
spawn of fish of the salmonidal family
in that classic stream. Indeed neither
pike nor bass find it possible to perpetu-
would not remain long if it were not for
his migratory hahits and the fact that
his colonies are replenished by spring
migrations from the father of waters.
There are suckers in plenty in Cannon
river, which come up stream in increas-
ing numbers as the dog days approach,
and which appeal later in the season.
But there is one species of fish that is
thoroly atShome in these waters.
| Ravenous for the Bait.
Drop your line anywhere and some
member of the family will start open
mouthed for the hook. On fine morn
ings you will see schools Of them, half a
| dozen perhaps, at time, ripping the
surface in as many different directions
as they come up to view the landscape.
In winter and in summer these fish
make their home there and in spring
the township has been compelled to
make an appropriation to inter the re-
mains Of members of the family which,
| 1, L.. olo lO1
been cast ashore by the high waters and
left by the hundreds Of thousands to
rot on the bank
/ This fish, which is rapidly driving out
all others Of Cannon lake and river, and
which is represented in the Missouri
commercial capital as Cannon river
trout, is the bullhead.
1 An important result of the Kansas
| City demand for Cannon river trout is
to make the fishing of bullheads in Can
non river and in Cannon lake, which is
it's source, an industry of some import
ance. There are many men who make
the fishing of bullheads the year round
scarcely anyone who lives on the lake
who does not devote some time to it. In
the idle time between grain and corn
planting it is not at all uncommon for
1 the farmer, his wife, his sons and his
daughters to HE them to the lake to fish
! bullheads. Every Sunday the bridge at
Sheffield IS mill is lined with hundreds
catch or expect to catch is bullheads.
/ When the weather gets fine and the
days warm, colonies of the fishermen
pitch their tents on the shores Of the
lake, and all day long and far into the
evening angle for bullheads.
Everything Goes
| Their industry has it's reward. There
| is nothing fnicky about the bullhead
He ism It particular about the kinr OF
bait rendered him. He likes frogs. He
dotes on minnows. A piece Of perch is
1 q tidbit he will always make a plunge
for: He will eat lamb, mutton, chicken
able appetite for beef. In short the
bullhead's head is all mouth, and he
will eat anything. He is the scavengel
of the lakes and the river.
Z 1t is because he devours their spawn
that no other fish can be propagated in
while this spawn forms a favorite food
Of the bullhead, there is no fish in the
lakes which take such precautions tc
protect his own, and none who will
fight with so great persistence anc
valor against any foe which menaces it
In such a contest odds are nothing tc
him. @
Hard to Kill Him.
There is another popularity about
, the bullhead. He is tremendously ten
!, acious Of life. There is no fish that
can live SO long out Of water. A bull
head can lay for an hour or more in
4 the, bottom Of boat and when restored
to his native element, is very quickly
revived. This fact is taken advantage
of by those who make business OF
catching bullheads. Before they &c
fishing, they prepare wooden cage
and set it in the river where the water
: can flow thru it. When their catch is
4 made they return, dump the fish they
'have been catching all the morning in
the cage. Soon the fish are swimming
around in it as lively as ever, and there
they remain in perfect condition until
market day.
!, Bullhead fishermen are put to neither
!. trouble nor expense to preserve the
I. harvest Of the river or the lake. AL
the capital required for the industry il
enough to buy boat, a few bamboo
poles, any kind of cheap lines ani
hooks and a pound or two of raw beef
j, for bait.
TRANSIT ormed into Trout.
Nor is there any trouble taking Thu
fish to market. The market comes tx
q the fishermen. Twice a week the ship
per makes his rounds with his wagol
loaded with barrels and ice. That il
the busy day for the fishermen, for OF
THAT day the ugly bullhead has to b.