Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-10

year III comparison WIN years.
d
Striped Perch and Rock Bass.
Little has been done with the striped
perch for the last two years and the NUM-
Der planted has been disappointing to those
VINO delight in that class Of fish. An effort
Will be made to get in new supply of adult
perch at the hatcheries this spring. Tho
perch is decreasing rapidly in the waters
of Nebraska, which are infested with carp.
They spawn their eggs in a ribbon-shaped
gelatinous mass which the carp easily dis
cover and greedily devour.
The commissioner has deemed 1t advisa-
BILE to stop the propagation of rock bass.
The table of distribution shows none of
these little fish have been sent out for the
elast two years, and none have been planted
at all. This decision was reached because
of the slow growth of this fish and the
lack of results from plants made in former
years.
The state fisheries have made q hit all
over the state with the channel catfish
which have been planted. During the two
years just past 24OS5 catfish were collected
from the Platte river and distributed over
the waters of the state The catfish were
In splendid condition and as they are highly
esteemed and recognized as one of the best
native fish, their distribution has met with
favor everywhere. Good results have been
produced by the distribution of this class
OF fish.
Gold fish are grown at the state fisheries,
and during the last two years over 1000
were disposed Of and large supply is still
on hand These fish are sold In lots of one
TO 100, all for ornamental purposes. About
two-thirds of the moneys realized from fish
sales comes from this class of fish They
more than pay for their cost of production.
The sun fish which the table shows the
fish commissioner planted were secured I'm
the sloughs near Cut on lake and the re-
mainder from Gibson lake, near Nebraska
City. This fish is also a dainty table
morsel, equal, in the opinion of many to
the bass or crappie They thrive in waters
where tile bass are decreasing.
-
Hullheads and German Carp.
During the last two years more bull
heads have been propagated and distributed
than during the previous ten years of the
existence Of the hatchery. A demand for
this fish is increasing in many sections OF
the state where the waters are no longer
adapted to the better class of game fish.
They thrive under all conditions and, while
some may take an axe to kill them, they
are still very good fish and many which
are caught around Omaha are put to good
use. Deputy Commissioner Pierson often
catches a sackful and distributes to the
hospitals of Omaha. 1t is the opinion of
many that their propagation could be
profltably increased.
While the German carp was propagated
and distributed during the first years of
the existence Of the hatcheries. IT has been
deemed advisable to discontinue the prac-
tice Carp is disliked by the lovers of the
fish St lakpa xUhara
carp were planted became so overstocked
to such extent that the culture of carp
was discontinued in 1896. They are the
worst fish in these waters for destroying
the eggs OF game fish, and many wish they
had never been planted. The opinion seems
TO prevail that a law should be passed
permitting the carp to be Melted from the
lakes and, at the present high price which
is being paid for fish, considerable revenue
could be derived from this source.
Summary of distribution, 19O5-O8: