The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-10

mile southeast of Fish lake, is TWEEN
| ty-eight feet higher than it's neighbor.
| He further ascertained that the natural
outlet Of Gravel lake was obstructed
by beavers, and that the water, seek
ing the line of least resistance. found
| its way into Oak lake.
Captain Main has recently discovered
that CARRIER lake just south of Gravel
lake can be connected with it by a
short narrow ditch, and as Oak lake,
off to the east, is already connected the
supply OF water to Gravel lake is prac-
tically inexhaustible. Here, then, is an
ideal place for fish hatchery. With
this typographical knowledge at his
fingers ends Captain Main went before
the legislature Of 1909, and secured an
appropriation for purchasing site and
securing buildings and the necessary
appurtenances for fish hatchery.
With this appropriation eight acres
OF land lying between Gravel lake and
the eastern bay of. Fish lake were pur-
chased last summer, and building 28x
4S feet ana an Office 16x22 were erected.
The buildings are situated about 200
yards from Fish lake, where the fall
Of water is twenty-five feet. This
spring Captain Main has formed an
artificial island with the overflow from
the hatchery. The island is laid out for
flower beds and foliage plants and when
the weather is warm enough these beds
will be filed from the greenhouse, made
this season on the premises.
The present capacity of the hatchery
is 175,000,000 spawn. At the present
time 100000 pike, perch or wall-eyed
pike, and 100000 yellow perch eggs
are in the hatchery. The pike perch
eggs were obtained from the govern
ment hatchery at Duluth, Mimi, but
came originally from Put-in-Bay
Mich. The perch eggs were taken from
Gravel lake. In few days there will
be from 100000 to 100000 rainbow
trout eggs in the hatchery. These eggs
are obtained from the trout placed in
Gravel lake several years ago.
The present trout are caught in a
seine net stretched across the south
end of the lake. The fish are then con-
veyed to small pools just above the
hatchery, where they are stripped"
1t may seem strange, but it is fact,
that perch will multiply in Gravel lake
while rainbow trout will not. The ex-
PLANTATION is that perch are a pond fish.
while rainbow trout require running
water for propagation. Black bass will
match In still water because the males
station themselves over the eggs and
keep the water in motion with their
fms.
The process of Matching is very in
terestlng, but our space will not per-
NIT a full description at this time.
Suffice 1t to say, that the eggs are
placed in glass jars and subjected to
constant movement by water forced
through the jars by the pressure of the
twenty-five feet already mentioned
Pike perch will hatch in from thirteen
to twenty-eight days, yellow perch in
twenty days, while rainbow trout re
quire from stxty-six to eighty DAYS.
The water for Matching must be at
low temperature to insure live and
healthy fsh. For this purpose, ice is
placed around the iron pipes lust orr
side the building. The proper range
or temperature is between forty-eight
to fifty eight degrees Fahrenheit.
FINER rainbow trout were never seen
than are now found in Gravel lake
The average rainbow trout are from
twelve to sixteen inches long and from
one and one-half to three pounds in
weight. The trout at Gravel lake are
from twenty to twenty eight inches in
length and from six and one-half To
eight pounds in weight. Captain Main
urged the writer not to give these facts
on the ground that the ordinary man
would not believe them; bur as there
were four of us from Rolla who saw
over forty living specimens of these
rainbow tinted monsters. the statement
Is made on the credibility of our own
senses. The sight of them made our
mouths water, and we were desperately
tempted to prove them by the sense Of
taste. The fact that we finally bur re-
luctantly decided to forego this Meas
urable test must be set down ro orr
respect for the law or fear Of detection
j. III. Pinkerton, the expert trout man
from the government hatchery at On
luth, Mimi, accounts for the extraord-
mary size of the trout in Gravel lake bv
the constant purity of the water and
the abundance of the food supply.
1t may be disappointment to some
to learn that Gravel lake will NOT be
open to the public for some time to
come. 1t is Captain Mains intention To
retain this lake for propagating pur-
poses. He does not believe in killing
the goose that lays the golden egg. IF
his present plans are successful there
will soon be enough young trout co
stock hundred lakes, and as the Ash
hatchery is state institution its bene-
fits should be disseminated as widely as
possible.
AS state game and fish commissioner
Captain Main has charge of the work
relating to the breeding OF English
pheasants in North Dakota. At the fisb
hatchery there are four pens of these
beautiful birds, two females and one
male in each pen. Several eggs have
been obtained, and they will be placed
under common hens for Matching. The
| outcome OF the experiment in pheasant
raising cannot yet be even predicted:
but the birds are said to be doing well
In northern Minnesota, which fact Jus
titles the experiment in this state.
Captain Main needs more money for
successful prosecution OF his work.
With the limited funds under his con-
troll he has achieved wonders: and the
financial returns to the people of the
state will exceed hundred fold.
The splendid work of gvha r,ra~yos~.s.