Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08
FISH COMMISSION WORK
OUTPUT OF HATCHERIES NEAR
LY TWO BILLIONS.

A preliminary statement made by George
NJ. Bowers. United States commissioner OF
fisheries, to the Secretary OF the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor Of the oper-
atoms Of his bureau for the past fiscal year
says that the aggregate output Of fry from
the commissions hatcheries during the
year was only trifie less than two bill
lions. The actual figures were 1881, S54, zoe
an increase of nearly zoo, GOO over the
output Of 1906.
Millions of young yellow perch, white
perch, rock fish and shad have been liber-
ated in the streams of the eastern seaboard
from the government hatcheries.
On the great lakes the plant of white
fish, lake trout and wall-eyed pike has been
commensurate with the operations of an
long ago have exhausted these inland seas
had not natures efforts been supplemented
by artificial propagation.
In the Interior.
The waters Of the interior have been re-
plenished with what are regarded as the
most desirable Indigenous fishes. and each
year larger numbers Of large-mouth and
small-mouth bass are planted. Innumer-
able small lakes and ponds, many of them
artificial, have been stocked, and these
often constitute the only source Of food
fish for the community. Under the bureaus
policy. the small farmer, the owner of pri-
vate preserves, the sportsmens club, may
have waters in which they are interested
planted with the most suitable fishes, and
even the humblest negro in the cotton fields
or sugar plantations in the south may have
brook stock Of gamy sunfish or plebeian
catfish which will soon give good account
OF themselves and provide food and fun
for the entire family.
Cultivation Of Salmon.
The cultivation Of the Pacific salmon at
fects directly or indirectly, according to
Commissioner Bowers, more people than
any other branch of the work, when, in ad-
dition to the multitude Of fishermen and
factory hands. the millions Of consumers
of fresh, smoked and canned salmon are
taken into consideration. The quantity
Of salmon eggs taken and Matched by the
bureau at its stations on the western
streams was last year over 400 bushels.
The year was marked by the inception of
governmental salmon culture in Alaska.
through the completion and operation of
of the territory. Mr.. Bowers, who has re-
Gently returned from Alaska, Is pleased
with the outlook for successful salmon
propagation on the part of. the govern
Afognak as the best site for another hatch
cry soon to be built by the bureau. the
money for this purpose having already
been appropriated.
The only unsatisfactory feature of this
work cited in the statement is the condi-
ton Of the shad fishery, about which Com
missioner Bowers sounds a note of alarm.
So long as the supply of shad eggs for
Matching purposes Is ample, the mainte-
nance of the fishery is assured, but under
the conditions which have been becoming
more and more pronounced the run of fish
for spawning purposes has been practically
wiped out in many of the most important
streams, and unless the states promptly
take some action by which a fair percent
age of the shad may reach their spawning
grounds the future Of this fish Is gloomy.