Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-10-29
In Rivers and Creeks of Idaho
by the State Fish Hatcheries
During Present Season
FINE EASTERN BROOK TROUT
Grown Near the Warm River Hatchery
That Weigh as High as IL Pounds
Game Laws in Need of Revising

Geo. H. Isaac, Supt of the Hay Spur
hatchery, was in Shoshone between
trains recently and from him was
obtained some further information re-
garding the progress of the work of
the state fish hatcheries.
Mr.. Isaac had just returned from the
Warm river hatchery on the Yellow
stone route where he is putting in much
time owing to the fact that the facili-
ties for handling big business there
are much better than at Hay Spur. He
will return there again this week.
About % miles from the Warm river
hatchery is located private hatchery
owned by the Glen Rea Company. 1t
covers $40 acres and the facilities for
handling a fish business profitably are
practically unlimited.
Ia the lakes of this hatchery are
found Eastern Brook trout that were
planted years ago ard they have grown
and developed under the genial inAu-
ences of a new environment into beau
ties that will tip the scales at 10 and II
pounds while there are plenty of ripe
females that weigh to pounds.
Mr. Isaac has secured monopoly of
the egg supply for this season at least
and he will hasten his return to reap
the harvest of the spawning season
where the larger females will yield
5000 to 1000 eggs apiece without injury
to the fish which will be thrown back
into the lakes after they have given up
their treasures.
Sportsmen and epicures of Idaho are
well aware of the fact that an Eastern
Brook trout in its wild or usual state
will not compare in delicacy and flavor
with the Silver Greek natives of Idaho. |
But Mr. Isaac has ascertained by re-
peated tests that an Eastern Brook |
raised in hatchery in Idaho will COM
pare favorably with a Silver Creek
specimen. This adds immensely to its
value for commercial purposes.
When pressed to give an estimate of
the output for this season of the three
state hatcheries of Idaho, Mr.. Isaac,
after careful estimates, gave the fol
lowing approximation:
Native fry and fingerlings planted in
the rivers and creeks of Idaho.
Sand Point hatchery 400, 900.
Hay Spur hatchery 500, 900.
Warm River hatchery $50, 900.
Total Natives 1850, 900
Eastern Brook fry and fingerlings.
Sand Point hatchery none.
Hav Spur hatchery ATS, 600.
Warm River hatchery 1000, 900
Total Easter Brook 1,47S, 900. '
Grand Total 3,12S, 900.
Take notice that of the total of over
three million constituting the seasons
output, that over half of them were
natives, either Silver Creek or Bear +.
Lake varieties.
A part of Bear Lake projects over
into Utah and because of this fact the
Idaho law applying to native trout
does not include the Bear Lake variety
which can be sold on the general mar
Set the same as Eastern Brook or
Rainbow.
But the Silver Creek species which is t
the best of all cannot be sold at all. Il
If there was ever any reason for this 0
law there is none now. il
With state hatcheries capable of o
stocking every stream in Idaho with "
Silver Greek trout, there is no reason
=hy private hatcheries should be re- c.
itricted to imported fish and deprived v
# tee privilege and right to propagate
be choice native species and develop c.
business that would bring thousands or a
Millions of dollars into the state with
,ut the least possible danger of exhaust hi
ng the supply. In point of fact the a
npply would be increasing all the time. al
The fish industry of Idaho is scarcely tt
n its infancy yet. 1t is destined to
row to vast proportions. And it is te
he past of wisdom to repeal all res
rictive legislation that stands as til
arrier against its fullest development ne