Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-07-16
State Hatchers Turning Out A
Tremendous Supply of Fine
Fries for Distribution
1900, 900 FROM HAY SPUR
Warm River Hatchery Will be Able to
Plant 1000, 900 More with Sand
Point Coming in Soon

The State of Idaho was fortunate in
deed when the services of Geo. H
Isaac were secured to develop the fisl
industry Of the state some eighteei
months ago. Mr. Isaac had served five
and ahalf years in the government service
before entering the service of this state
Three years of that time were spent II
distributing fish fry to nearly every
state in the Union, or to be exact t(
% states. Then he worked in govern
nent hatcheriss for two and one hall
years.
When Mr.. Isaac took charge of the
Hay Spur hatchery there was nothing
5oing. This season this hatchery viii
plant about 1,2O0, 900 trout fry in the
streams of the state. Silver creek
trout are the favorites everywhere and
New York City is offering rs cents a
pound for all on the market.
The largest hatchery in the state, and
there is none larger in this country, is
located in the eastern part of Fremont
county and is called the Warm River
hatchery. This will be able to plant
,. 900, 600 fish fry this season besides
developing 400, 900 trout eggs for the
new hatchery at Sand Point this sea-
son. The Sand Point hatchery has
only been established this season and it
is being stocked by Bear Lake trout
from the southeastern part Of the state,
and it is the only source of supply for
this kind of fish.
At Warm River are produced the
Eastern Brook and Black Spotted or
Mountain trout, besides the variety
lust mentioned.
Mr.. Isaac is practical man who dons
oyeralls and gum boots when necessary
and rushes into the work from five in
the morning to nine at night and this
six days in the week. Last spring he
seined Silver Creek on which Hay Spur
is located and from the ripe female
trout he obtained about 1,058, 900 eggs
snd fertilized them from the males in a
manner similar to that pursued IN
obtaining the eggs. After using these
fish they are thrown back into the
creek without injury except in the
case of very few.
After these eggs were Matched the
fry had to be fed pulverized beef liver
seven times day for a long time,
then five times day will answer
Later three times day will do and the
liver can be mixed with shorts, thus
saving much of the expense.
The temperature of the water which
must be pure running spring water de-
termines the rapidity Of Matching and
growth of the fry A difference OF ten
degrees in the water makes vast diff
ference in the time of developing the
eggs and in the growth of the young
FISH.
A false report was given out IN Hal
ley last spring to the effect that dead
fish lined the banks of Silver creek as a
result of. the operations of the hatchery
in securing eggs. Mr.. Isaac affirms
that he is willing to make affidavit that
not more than 25 fish were killed dur
ing all the time of the work there. In
order to make up for the trout eggs
lost to the creek by the operations of |
the hatchery there were 100000 trout |
fry planted back in the stream after /
the eggs had developed and the fry had |
reached length of IL to Is inches.
Mr.. Isaac is ambitious to foster the
fish industry in Idaho till many OF our
rauchers take a. hand in the business
as money making proposition. The
demand for mountain trout can never
be supplied. 1t costs but little TO raise
them in proportion to the profit. With
4 few small spring ponds rancher can
sell fish every day in the year at tre-
mendous profit. Bob Osborne and DR..
Turtin are ranchers located near the
Warm river hatchery and they sell
from $50 week each up to much
higher figure.
Mr.. Isaac speaks in the highest
,erms Of praise regarding the work of
State Game Warden, Stephens He
.ttributes his own success in a large
MEASURE to the backing of Mr. Steph-
ms. But in comparison with the gov
,rnment service he claims that the lat
er has the advantage in the matter OF
unds. The state system is supported
Wholly by fees while the government