Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-02
FISH FOR IOWA WATERS
State Commissioner Lincoln Be-
gins Annual Work of Stock
ing Streams
FIRST CAR FOR CLEAR LAKE
Between 100000 and 100000 Game Fish
Will Be Placed in Waters ut Differ
snt Parts of the State Before Winter
Sets in-Good Work of Fish Clubs in
Protecting Finny Tribe.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Sabula, Oct George A. Lincoln,
of Cedar Rapids, state fish commits
sioner and game warden, arrived in
this city today to begin his annual
work of distributing fish to the differ
ent streams and lakes of the state. The
work will be vigorously prosecuted for
month or six weeks, and by the time
cold weather sets In, betwe en- 100000
and 100000 game fish will be trans
ported from the state hatcteries here
to different parts Of Iowa.
Mr.. Lincoln will take the first car of
fish to Clear Lake. What o';her places
will receive fish this fall has not been
definitely decided. However, he has
requests for fish from large number
of places. Even under the most fav-
orable conditions it will be impossible
to meet the wishes of all who have
made requests, but he will do SO as
nearly as possible. The fish will all be
Of the game varieties, bass, croppies,
perch, pickerel and pike, and OCCASION
ally others. They will vary in size, but
practically every fish taken and plac-
ed in the waters Of the state will be
large enough by another season to be
taken with hook and line.
Work Of Much Importance.
The Importance Of the distribution
of game fish is each yea. becoming
more apparent. During thu past sea-
son fishermen have enjoyed better
sport than for many years, and 1t is
very largely due to the distribution of
fish in past seasons by the fish and
game warden. The appropriation for
this work is not nearly so large as it
should be, and not as large as it is
hoped it will be possible to secure In
coming years. Nowhere IN the coun-
try are the streams and lakes better
adapted to game fish than in Iowa, and
once they abounded in great quanti-
ties. But wholesale seining, dynamite
ing, spearing and enforcement OF
the fish. laws almost depleted the sup
ply. In recent years there has been a
more rigid enforcement OF, the laws,
and with the annual distribution, each
year witnesses a larger number of t1sh
Much Vet to Be Desired.
There is yet much to be desired, and
until the existing laws ire changed
very radically not much Improvement
can be hoped for. While there is bet
ter enforcement of the laws today than
formerly, at the same time it is an open
secret that the fish laws are f1agrantly
violated continually. The cause Of this
violation Is found in the system of laws
made by the state The enforcement
Of the law is placed upon the shoul-
ders OF the state fish and. game wslr>
dens and deputies he may appoint
These deputies must depend for their
pay entirely upon the fees they secure
from the prosecutions The system Is
pernicious in It's inception and leads
to all sorts of abuses. 7. Many men do
not care to be identified with prose-
cutions under such conditions. The
people generally have little respect for
such law and do not hesitate to violate
1t. Mr.. Lincoln has beer fighting for
q number of years for a resident hunt
#ers' license law, which would. place in
the hands OF the commissioner a large
sum of money annually. Mr.. Lincoln
also would like to see the fee system
abolished and the employment of men
of standing and reputation upon a
stated salary to enforce the law, this
same as other laws are enforced. In
this way It is believed that the evils
Of the present law will be largely elm
mated. The law would continue to be
violated, but not so promiscuously and
generally He has not asked for the
abolishrne nt of the fee system, but he
1,r,c t.nr ln eli
ture to enact the resident hunters Ii.
cense law, and hopes to yet succeed.
Bayous Full OF Fish.
The bayous along the Mississippi
river in the vicinity Of this city, are
filled with game fish. They run into
the places around the spring freshets,
and remain there during the summer
The SEEMING crew under Mr.. Lincoln.
commenced work last Thursday and
has been taking the fish from the.
bayous since that time, placing them
in tanks, ready to be transferred to
the state fish car. Unless the river
rises and the water becomes too deep,
and Unless the water gets too cold to
seine, the work will be prosecuted for
six weeks or even longer. The taking,
of the fish from the bayous works no
hardship on anybody, for if they were
not taken out many Of them would
freeze to death during the winter The
people of Sabula have always shown
the proper spirit in this work and af-
ford the state fish and game warden
many privileges.
Fish Clubs Do Good Work.
Another thing that has a tendency
to better the sport in the state and Sc
curing a. better enforcement of the
laws, is the organization of numerous
fish clubs in different parts of the
state. They have taken an active in
terest in the work and there have been
numerous prosecutions as a result Of
their work. Mr.. Lincoln has encour-
aged the organization of these clubs,
and afforded them every possible aid.
He would like to see q. club organized
in every city and town in the state,
with members from the rural districts
Public sentiment ana organized pub
lie sentiment, has much to do with the
enforcement of the laws. and these
clubs have Wonderful influence for
good.
EXCURSION PROSPECTS FINE.