Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-05-23

nCtaity-to be exact. ..-.s-.s-sss.-s tAasss@
Total number Of fertile eggs coli
lected ........ ...-......-,.-.t.s.. 2,S7S,s1S
Total number Of trout and salmon
fry, and hEeeslings planted IN
Green lake waters ,..-..-,.,-...- 2,i'i.'A
'sThe fry resulting from the trout and
salmon eggs collected last fall are still IN
the hatchery. II only . per cent. Of last
falls collection is returned. the total
number planted will have exceeded the
total collection Of spawn. The writer has
already received instructions regarding
the disposition of stock ca hand, and
Green lake waters will receive liberal
plant"
THE State hatchery at Cold Stream
pond was operated as an auxiliary coll
Letting station for two years in connection
with the work here, and Commissioner
Bowers would gladly have planned 5oo,-
600 Of the togue. (lake trout fry in Green
lake waters as he believed the introduc-
ton of this species would be sn improve
ment to said waters, but the eottagers at
the lake did not want them planted, and
so stated IN a letter on file in this office
SOMETHING ABOUT RACERS.
The Bangor man makes the assertion
that the so-called racers, or thin fish
frequently caught in the pond are fish
which have been stripped of spawn and
put back in the lake. In regard 10 racers,
Mr.. Racelgives some information which is
of special interest to fishermen. He says:
at Gamble said in justice to the gentleman
that there are others who believe that the
racers are fish which have been stripped
of spawn and put back into the lake, but
this is mistake-once racer, always a
racer. As my personal knowledge of
this unhealthy fish differs very much
from the views expressed by the gentle
man, it may not be out of place to say,
that it has been my privilege to make an
Investigation Of the coastal fisheries from
Eastport to Texas, and also very many Of
the other important fisheries of the
United States for the federal government.
Ii can be said without fear Of proof to the
contrary, that this emAciated freak is
found wherever man has dropped hook
and line"
1.-The writer has seen them among the
menhaden (BrevOortia tyrannusl in the
vicinity OF Cape Henry; among the buff
falo fish (Ietiobus eyprinellal in the Mis-
sissippi river; among various species in
the Alabama river; rivers and sounds OF
North Carolina; Chesapeake, Delaware
and Hudson rivers, and also among yari-
Gus species in the Great Lakes and fribu-
taries. Has caught them in the Gulf OF
ST. Lawrence; east Of Cape Breton Island;
seen them among the islands Of the West
Indies, and as far south as Buenos Ayrss,
South America, but it Is not necessary TO
go far from home to find them among
fishes that are of little commercial value
as food fish, or among fishes that are never
srtiheially prop&gated-
Take trip TO Green lake with the dis
complainant, and overhaul the
eel oeds. The eel (Anguilla chrysypsl is
the most prolific species in the lake; and
after experimenting with both this salt
water and fresh water species (which sp-
parently are identic&lly the same) for
about thirty years, they are TO my mind
the most mysterioasly propagated fish in
the world, but one will find racers
among them, nevertheless"
Supt. Race, with characteristics modesty,
passes very lightly over the charge that
''the employees at the hatchery are not
competent tor the work they are supposed
to do, saying simply that sin justice to the
foreman, fish cnlturist and laborers, it can
be said thar on account Of their long and
practical experience in fish cultural work
they are valuable men for the bureau"
The fact that Mr.. Race has for eleven
years been in charge OF this hatchery, and
as the largest fresh water fish hatchery in
the United States, is sufficient answer as
TO his own qualifications
VALUE OF HATCHERY TO MAINE
In closing his letter, Mr. Race says:
"A fish story which seems of such vital
importance that the State fish commits
sioners have been called upon 10 pass iudg-
ment, would seem to warrant me in say
ing that there are two important ques-
tions for their consideration. The tirst is,
NSA fAC~SN A4024 y IO-AA44zNAN414 c&82A1-
point, what benefit is the Green lake
hatchery to this Stste9 In answer it can
be said without dong an injustice to any
other hatchery, that it is the largest and
best equipped heavy weight tfresh wster)
hatchery in the United States 1t is be-
iieyed that the cost OF this plant, inclnd-
ing operating expenses, has exceeded BY
more than a,ooo, the total cost OF every
summer cottage and farm building within
one-hah mile OF Green lake waters. The
money used in constructing and operating
this plant has practically all been ex-
pended in this State, and the product Of
the hatchery largely distributed in state
waters
claws which gave this State control
over all inland waters containing more
than ten acres were not executed for a
select few. No legitimate industry which
gives employment to the lzboring class.
produces food for the needy and pleasure
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