Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-07-13
FISH GUARDIANS
ON ANNUAL TOUR
STATE COMMISSION VISITS MAD
SON HATCHERY AND START
ROUNDS OF STATE.
GOVERNOR DAVIDSON, Ex-oFFt
Clio MEMBER MAIN RELIANCE
FOR SUPPLIES.
Madison, july &

Madison, July D.
The state commission of fisheries
met in Madison yesterday The mem
bers present we're Governor Davidson,
ex-oflcio, Jabe Afford, president; Dr..
E. A. Birge of Madison, James ]. Ho-
gan of La Crosse, William ]. Starr od
Eau Claire, DR.. A. A Dye of Madl-
son, Senator George B. HudnalI of SUI
perior, A. L. Osborn of Oshkosh and
James Neyin, superintendent. The
party also includes Calvert SpensIey
of Mineral Point, now resigned, who
was active on the commission for
twenty-seven years and is now consid-
cred an honorary member.
They visited the Madison hatchery
yesterday where extensive improve
ments are being made and this morn
ing they LETT for Delafeld for the in
spection at that station. From Della
field the commissioners will proceed
to Watertown and board the state fish
car Badger on its way north in which
all travel when on the annual inspec-
ton of the fish hatcheries of the state.
After visiting the Delafield station the
members will go to Wild Rose, Minoc-
qua and Bayfield,
On the car when on trips of this
kind, meat is tabooed and the menu
includes fish three times day. Most
pleasant are the memories of the for
tunate ones who enjoyed trip with
the late General Bryant, president OF
the commission, and his jolly com
pan:ons. The general was royal
entertainer in every sense of the
word. Years ago, James o. Davidson,
now governor, was one of the gener-
ais guests for the trip. There were
times when the supply of fish ran
short and when the commissioners
stopped at various places where an
expert angler could catch fish. Mr.
David on made such a success of the
work in keeping the board well sup
piled that the general appointed MIN
official fish catcher for the commits
sioners when on their inspection OF
the hatcheries. The governor has
never failed to make good There
were times, however, when fish were
not biting and those caught by MIN
were, accoring to law, under weight
1t made him wince-when compelled
to throw them back but we all know
his reputation as a fisherman and at
times, were it not for him, some one
might have gone to bed hungry. He
has never failed and the commission
ers have come to know that when the
governor is armed with rod and reel
and there is anything like a trout
stream near the rule of fish at every
meal" will not fail He has never
missed trip from the time of his
appointment as "of1c!al fish catcher
to the present.
The commission, this summer, IS
making extensive betterments at the
Madison, Minocqua, Bayfield, and Wild
Rose hatcheries. Oficial records
show distribution of LOG 4S7 600
little fishes from March 1st to April
20;h. 1t required S,201 ten gallon
cans to convey this immense number
of fish to the various lakes and
streams of the state.
BY the first OF August the depart
ment will commence the collection
and distribution of bass fry from the
sleughs and bayous of the Mis- issippi
river. During the summer months
the slouehs and bayou dry up and the
fish perish unless rescued. BY these
means many thousands of black bass
are procured for the community at
large and planted where the greatest
benefit may be derived.