The daily sentinel., 1905-07-12
GRAND MESA
FISHERIES
How They Are Being Operated BY
The Government Hundreds of
Thousands Rainbow and Brook
Trout Deposited in Lakes
Grand Mesa Lakes,
limo D
To The Sentinel:


shown by the citizens of Delta, Mesa
and adjoining counties, and on ac-
count of the equally general lack OF
correct Information as to the condi-
tions under which they are now op-
Grated by the United States bureau
of fisheries, I feel that it is but prop
er to present the matter TO the read
ers of your paper from an official
source.
During the past year we have re
ceived the support and cooperation
of very large proportion of the res
idents of the immediate vicinity
The United States bureau of fish
cries is operated entirely in the in
terest of the people. Its aims and
work are so entirely free from self
ishness or self-interest and so gen
orally and impartially beneficial to
the individual and community alike
that they have but to be understood
to be appreciated.
Many have inquired of me as to
the manner in which the title has
been acquired to the fish cultural
rights on the surface creek system of
reservoirs: others are probably equal
ly interested. For their benefit l
will say that in March, 1892, Alex
ander and Forest made an agree
ment with and secured a lease from
voir Company. Said Alexander &
Forest gave quit claim deed to
certain lakes and reservoirs. and al
so agreed to and did do certain stat
ed work on various named reservoirs.
In return they were to receive and
did receive from the Surface Creek
company the rights TO all fish then
contained in the lakes and streams.
also the privilege of using them for
. gh NJ
ming of boats thereon.
At this time the shareholders re-
served the privilege of fishing in the
lakes during the open season with
/ hook and line and subject to the
fish and game laws of the state of
Colorado, This agreement was to
run for a period not TO exceed 80
years and covered all waters then
owned and controlled by the Surface
Creek Ditch & Reservoir Company
or that should thereafter be acquired
by them, and was signed by Henry
Kohler, president, and Francis E.
/ Boyd, secretary.
The Alexander & Forest rights
were afterwards bought by VIM. Rad
cliffe, who, in August, 1900, made a
| supplementary agreement with the
Surface Creek company wherein the
| latter surrendered the shareholders
tional water rights, embracing the
use of the water stored in Arch
slough, on alternate years and the
use OF one-half the water stored in
! Alexander lake each year, which had
been retained by Alexander & For
est at the time of the prior agree
ment. Henry Kohler. president. and
A. l.. Reynolds, secretary, signed this
agreement on behalf of the Surface
| Creek company.
Mr. Radcliffe secured state Ii
cense on the waters as a private pre-
/ serve for the propagation of fish. In
| November, 1901. he assigned his
] lease hold to Geo. NJ. Bowers, com
missioner acting for the United
| States. for a period ending June 80,
/ 1905. He, Radcliffe. later disposed
of his entire interests to the Grand
/ Mesa Lake & Park Company of Den
YER. of which corporation Judge ID.
1 c. Beaman, the well known angler
and authority on fish and game, Is
| president and counsel, and NJ. Lille
is secretary. This company has re-
Gently granted an additional lease to
the United States bureau of fisheries.
My first visit to the lakes con
vinced me as to their great value
as a spawning field as well as their
| possibilities as a fishing resort. ]
have since earnestly recommended
the erection of a hatchery building
and the introduction of the rainbow
and eastern brook to further en-
hance their value to our bureau and
to the fishing public as we'll. Our
commissioner has now authorized
the plants above mentioned, and
$50, 900 rainbow eggs will be shipped
from the Leadville hatchery next
Monday. They will be hatehed in
our local hatchery and placed in a
suitable lake, probably Ward.
I During the summer or early fall
100000 young eastern brook trout
will be shipped in and deposited in
these waters. The hatchery project
has been given careful consideration
at Washington. Much depends on
the interest and cooperation of the
citizens of western Colorado.
The United States now exercises
absolute control over the fishing priv
neges and is holding them in trust,
as il were, for the benefit of her
people. is your privilge to enjoy
the excellent fishing
For the benefit of others, who are
not so fortunately situated, two lakes
are reserved exclusively for fish cul-
tural purposes, no public fishing be
ing allowed, in order that an ample
supply of spawn may be secured to
stock other public waters in this and
adjoining states, wherein other cit
izens of our common country may
enjoy the pleasure of fishing
make no pretense that these lakes
are now being operated for the direct
and exclusive benefit of this immed-
late locality. Our bureau is national
in its scope: we have no arbitrary
boundaries other than those OF the
whole country. No distinction as
to men. other than our common cit
izenship. While tnis is true in ev-
cry particular. it is equally a fact
that. incidentally and properly, the
local community derive a much larg-
er proportion of the benefits of our
work than do those of any other sec
ton Your fishing is preserved and
enhanced at a very considerable eX-
tent; your men are given employ
ment; your merchants are patron
ized by oar bureau: your county COM
missioners can secure an ample sup