The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1906-07-27
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
NEW PRESTON.
AGAIN THE FISHING QUESTION.

A0AlN Xd6 ExSn4No w A0A AONs
Since the Editor of TIE NEwTOwN
Ben has re-0pened the pages OF his
paper for the discussion OF the fishing
question, we think the time has come
when the public should be fully In
formed as to what has been done for
the fish life in general In Lake Wara-
maug, why this lake should have pro-
lection by law and should have the
cordial support Of every rig hit minded
person who has any interest whatever
In the future of this beautiful lake.
II Is generally known that T. J.
Blskesiee of New York City became
deeply interested In the fishing In.
terests of the lake several years ago.
At the time good fishing was thing
Of the past. A careful study of the
situation revealed the fact that our
best game and food fish were no longer
breeding freely and unless something
was done In the way of introducing
fresh blood the few remaining fish
were doomed, would soon become ex-
tinct, and the lake would surely be;
come Q "Dead Sea" as we understand
Prior to building the hatchery Mr.
Blakeslee spent several hundred dol
lars that adult fish of all desirable va
rieties might be taken from other
waters and planted In the lake, this
being the only available method for
introducing fresh blood. About 1000
adult fish, bass, pickerel, yellow perch
ana sunfish were secured. Not salts
fed with this, he out of his open
hearted generosity opened his purse
strings, putting thousands of dollars
into an enterprise, the outcome Of
which was decidedly uncertain. 1t is
we'll known that the propagation Of
the small mouthed black bass Is ex-
instance had proved q total failure.
The writer gave Mr. Blakeslee his cor
dial support and devoted his best en-
ergies and limited purse to the devel-
opment Of the enterprise.
That we were successful Is now we'll
established fact and q half million Of
young bass have been planted in the
lake. Not only have there been bass
planted but much time and money
have been devoted to the introduction
of various kinds Of fish that would be
conductive to the best welfare OF the
lake.
The following is a list Of the fish
planted in Lake Waramaug during the
last four years and was taken from
the report of Lake Waramaug AssOci-
cry, black bass, 500, 900, yellow perch.
fry, 5000, trout, $500, adult roach,
100; from other lakes, since 1901, adult
bass, l25; adult yellow perch, $50,
l inch yellow perch, 500, adult roach,
600, inch roach, 1000, adult sinners,
ATS; In 1901, adult bass, pickerel and
yellow perch, 1000, total, 612, ITO.
Above data supplied by II. w. Bee
man for Lake Waramaug Association.
NNt~ In nj \o
year Is not yet complete. Up-to-date,
thousands Of yellow perch Matched at
the hatchery and raised up to the ad-
vanced stage and thousands of adult
bass have already been planted.
To produce this number of bass and
collect the other varieties and plant
them safely in the lake, required the
expenditure of thousands of dollars,
years of the hardest and most exacttng
work. This has been accomplished
entirely by Mr. Blakeslee and the writ
er, that good fishing may be eventual
ly established again In Lake Wara..
may enjoy the fruits Of our labor.
That the lake might receive the great
est benefit from this work some kind
Of protection Is necessary and cannot
be questioned by anyone who has at
heart the future welfare OF the lake.
The present laws are the result Of
much study relative to the spawning
habits of the fish and Is very nearly
what Is required for their protection
during this period. The close season
ia March, April, May and June. That
our fish should be protected from the
greed of man during the spawning
season Is no longer questioned by any
one who has given the subject much
thought. In our lake pickerel spawn
in March, yellow-perch In April. the
bass and other fish IN May and June.
Thus 1t will be seen the present law
only protects the spawning fish during
their respective periods, the balance of
the year being open for all. In fact
May and June Is hardly sufficient for
the protection of bass, as some Of these
fish are still on the nest or with their
young on July l. 1t goes without say.
Ing that every one of these fish found
on the nest on July l are killed and
thousands of their young are left tc
perish. The bass should receive pro,
lection for q few days In July until
the young are capable Of caring fol
themselves. As the male bass are ex.
ceedinQly scarce in all our lakes and 1t
il the male fish that builds the nest,
Dpotaofo tina oOoa and VOlnQ. 1T Ia the