The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-10-08
BREEDING FISHES AND BIRDS
Phenomenal Success of the Idaho
Fish and Game Depart
ment
Gooding Leader

Gooding Leader
1t is a little bit curious that thu
doings of tho state fish and game
department are not mere widel.
known through the state; it is one
of the most interesting department.
of tn state government, and 1t is do.
ing its work in so successful a man
ner, as we'll as making such great
profit for the state, that it is worthy
of better attention from the press OF
Idaho.
The department recently procured
large shipment of Monaghan pleas
ants from over in Oregon, to set free
for breeding purposes in the sections
Of the state where they are believed
to be the best adapted. One thous-
and of the birds are to liberated, in
pairs, and they will be widely enough
scattered that the whole state can
have trial as to their adaptability
to the Idaho climate. Over in Ore
gon, they have proved to be about
the finest bird, imported or native,
ever found in the wilds They are
hardy, and can care for themselves
both in the way of finding food I'M
der adverse conditions, as well as
being wary enough to be able to live
in wild state, even in close prox-
unity to man. So many otherwise ex-
cellent game birds and animals are
not able to keep clear of men, with
out setting sail for the wilderness
where there are no men.
Last year, the experiment was
tried of breeding pheasants in capti-
witty, near Boise. A good stock of
breeding birds came from Oregon,
and they received the best of care.
The experiment was not conspicu-
Gus success. though the original
stock was increased somewhat for
the year This year, it has been
thought better to buy the birds and
set them free, to breed in the wild
state. A number of birds were liber
ated last year, and glowing reports
come from these, from various sec
tons of the state. A number of
fine coveys of young birds have been
raised, and are now to be found in
the timber and brush along some of
the rivers. 1t is believed that the
pheasant will be fine game bird in
Idaho.
The department, wishes to expert
ment with the Hungarian partridge,
a smaller bird than the Monaghan,
but harder, swifter flier, and one
that can live almost in the barnyard
of man. yet preserve itself in all it's
original wildness. 1t is 'rockety"
flier, and as hard to hit as the blue
quail. 1t is b. lived to be the very
best game bird yet proposed, though
it is hard to get in sufficient num-
bers.
But the fish, II is the propaga-
ton of trout that the department has
made its greatest record. Some of
the trout fry Matched nine months
ago, have been takn within the past
two weeks, measuring IN inches in
good, marketable fish, worth
from As to rs cents a pound in the
epicurean markets. So far as known,
this record, made at the Hay Spur
hatchery, has never been equaled. In
the distribution Of the young fish, the
Idaho department has made world IS
record. BY the use of the compressed
air aerating device, originated by B.
Livingston of the department, and the
general good care given the flesh in
transit by Wardens Whitehead,
French, Dunniway and others, as well
as the particularly hardy fish supplied
from the hatchery by Director Isaac,
many of their largest shipments have
gone through to the north part of
the state with loss of not more than
one-tenth of one per cent. Some of
the shipments showed smaller loss
even than that. The three hatcheries
at Hay Spur, in Blaine county, Warm
river in Fremont county, and Sand
Point in Kootenai county, will have a
capacity of 100000 trout fry a |
year. The magnificent Bear Lake