The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-27
STOCKING THE STREAMS
Circular Letter from State Fish and
Game Commissioner


be raised by the state this season:
Brook trout; steelhead trout, (com-
monty called rainbow; lake trout;
landlocked salmon; chinook salmon
OF these species the brook trout
is adapted TO brooks and similar
small streams. The steelhead OF
rainbow destroys the native brook
trout in small streams. This species
and the salmon are adapted to lakes
and large bodies of water.
Fish may be obtained for stocking
public waters by applying to the com
missioner, John W. TitcOmb, Lyndon
vile, for one blank for each stream
or water it is desired to stock, filling
in the blank when received and then
mailing promptly to the commissions
err All applications for fish to be
planted in 1912 must be in the com
missioners Office not later than
March 30, 1912 The number OF fish
assigned will depend upon the size
of the stream and the number Of fish
available for distribution
The state will deliver free Of
charge at the applicants nearest rail
road station, fish to be planted In pub
lie waters. Fish may also be obtain
ed by writing the United States bur
eau of fisheries, Washington, ID. c.,
asking for one application blank for
each body of water to be stocked, fill
ing in the blank as indicated and
mailing it to your congressman with
request that he give it his endorse
ment and forward to the bureau OF
fisheries. If you prefer you may send
the application to the state commits
sioner who will take care of it and
see that 1t reaches proper destina-
ton. Application may be made to
both the u. S. Bureau Of fisheries
and the state for fish to stock the
same waters.
The federal government delivers
fish free Of charge at the applicants
nearest railroad station. Both feder-
al government and state give proper
notice before fish are forwarded to
an applicant, with instructions how
| to plant.
Trout for posted waters and pri-
vate preserves may be purchased
from the state provided any trout are
available after the applications for
| public waters have been filed 1t
will also be possible to arrange for
the purchase of trout from the state
hatchery If ordered in the fall before
it is too late to procure eggs. Eggs
of the brook trout are only obtain
able in the fall of the year, and il is
in this season that we must make ar
rangements for the entire stock
which is to be Matched for next sea.
sons distribution. The price will be
practically the same as that charged
by commercial dealers. A list of
commercial dealers in fish will be
mailed to any person asking for It,
The question of whether streams
must be stocked before April 10 in
order to make posting lawful and OF
full effect is constantly arising. The
attorney general was Intercepted
and advised me as follows:
Il am directed by the attorney gen
eral to write you in reply to your
letter Of August 23. concerning the
time when streams should be stock
ed in order TO enable the owners Of
lands, through which such streams
: flow, to take advantage of the post
ing law, Secs. 1856.
! "He has considered the same ant
advises you that in his judgment tn,
4 stocking OF any stream after April II
in any year and before April 10 O
the succeeding year answers the re
quirements OF the statute, so far al
emitting the owner 0 fthe land an,
stream of the protection of the stat
ute during the open season following
the second April Is"
. From this Interpretation OF the Law
, any person who has stocked a stream
J this present season may consider tina
his posting holds good on it uatil on,
year from the date the FISH wer,
planted.
commercial dealers.
Fry are to be obtained in the sprinl
Fingerlings are hot available unit
late in June and the size and pric,
both Increase for deliveries up 4
October. Trout hatch in the sprinI
and winter only.
The closing OF streams by the stat
for a period OF years is practicl
which has not worked TO perfection
l even though II looks good In theory
The principal objections to the praC
tice are these. Such streams usual,
receive no more attention than publ
waters. a few poachers get III
cream Of the fishing while the hor
/ est man gets nothing At the end o
I the closed period there is a rush Il
4 the stream with the result that it
4 soon stripped OF such fish as are j
II and conditions are no better a
Z least than before It was closed.
, The best results follow annua
: stocking OF the waters. leaving IN
fishing open TO the public and seem
l 10 IL that the laws are enforced. Hell
the wardens, II in no other way tina
your influence In favor OF law.
| A simple problem: You came
take more FISH out of stream tina
are placed in that stream by natur,
reproduction or artificial stockn,
From many streams more fish an
taken annually than are Matched m
raised by the adult fish. The ne,
essity for supplying the deficiency
apparent Annual stocking gives be
ter results than occasional stockln,
| IL is useless to plant more fish tina
| can get a living I'm stream. Their