The Washington herald., 1912-10-27


GEORGE y
and LEO small sail. power. and rowboats
are part Of the equipment Of the bureau
There are fifty-fve hatcheries and sub
hatcheries scattered throughout the
country. Twenty-seven States have
hatcheries of their own. and the bureau
supplies them with eggs and fry on de-
mand. and helps them in other ways.
Eggs also have been given to foreign
countries. American brook trout are to
be found in the streams Of Argentina
Brook trout. rainbow trout, and black
bass can be caught with a hook and line
In many parts Of Europe. Salmon have
been sent to Mes Zealand. japanese
fishermen are findiag American trout in
some Of their own lakes.
The United States. It should be known.
il doing more with fish than are all the
rest of the countries In the world COM
bined. An abundant supply OF fish has
some controlling effect on the price Of
dearer still but for their competition
with fish. So the people are benefited.
and men who live by fishing cast their
nets in full waters and are glad. Nor
has the government lost money with its
Investments in fisheries. Alaska cost
s.. 10000. SO far. its salmon and its seals
have put the sum Of $50. 100000 into the
Treasury at Washington. The salmon
packers pay q license tax Of about $4,000
a year.
How to Beat the Meat Trust.
I'VE planted 3ss7 millions Of eggs and
fry during the fiscal year ending June
30. 1872" Commissioner Bowers told me
THE work. set forth in cold ngureI, is
rather imposing but It should be in
creased. would have a marine hat
cherry every one hundred miles from
New England to Texas for the propa-
cation Of all kinds Of food fish that live
in the Atlantic Ocean. The American
people need more meat-prices all over
the country are proof. that the state
ment Is true-and would I'LL their rivers
and lakes and the two oceans with COM
mercial fishes, such as shad. whitehsh.
trout, Pacific salmons. perch. cod. fiat
fish and Holsters Then ] would increase
the distribution OF game fish to inland
waters-such fish as landlocked salmon.
grayling. BASES. crappies. sunfish. cat
fish and the different species OF trout
As it is. We had s.2s4 applications for
fish during the past twelve months to
be placed in rivers and lakes and in
private ponds and preserves.
Years ago there were free grazing
lands in the West for cattle and sheep.
and beef and mutton were cheap. We do
not realize that the oceans. the lakes.
and the rivers are free feeding places for.
fish. The eggs and fry. which We can
now produce for $l22 a 100000 as against
In the water. The crop thus sown, II I
may state It that way, requires nc fur
Their attention. 1t grows without expense
and In due time is harvested. We have
not only reduced the cost Of getting eggs
and fry, but We are planting seven
fish where We formerly planted one, but
even SO. We should plant a great many
more. 80 that wherever there is water
the people nesrby shall have a sure and
cheap supply Of food"
SAVING Fish in the Ocean.
But can't the ocean fish," I said.
propagate themselves without the help
of man.
Yes. II man didn't catch them and II
enemies Of their own kind were to let
them alone. We planted 100000 had
dock, 257,0o0.0o0 cod! 5000 900 pollock, and
a65. 1900 fatfish last year in the Atlantic
Ocean. Men who, make a business of
fishing for cod win say that II we have
rot saved the Industry from destruction.
VIC have at least kept it up to a profit
able point. I am sure, too, that IL the
salmon in the Pacific are saved from ex-
tinction We should have the credit. The
national government has taken measures
10 conserve this immensely valuable fish,
planting i5. 900 last year. and has. in
Guenced the Pacific States to enact nee
essary protective legislation. Some Of the
streams in Alaska have been closed to
fishermen and salmon go unhindered in
such places to their spawning grounds.
THE salmon is an interesting fish. 1t
Is born in fresh or tidal water and then
fiIds Its way into the ocean. In four
years 1t returns to spawn. Having
spawned. 1t dies. and the male fish dies
at the same time. Now, It. Is easy to
place traps. seines. and nets at the mouth
Of q river and catch almost every fish
that tries to get past. 1t is SO easy that
II has been done. There are great can
neries along the upper Pacific. and their
catch some seasons has been simply enor-
nous. All records were broken this year.
1t il believed, except one. About 10000
90 worth Of salmon are packed annually
In Alaska. We control matters there
and three government agents are on the
ground from June until September to
learn how the fish are caught, canned,
and sold. /
The shaA Situation Ii BAD.
Moreover. we have attempted to pro-
tect the fast-vanishing shad. Three thou
sand millions Of young shad have been
planted in costal streams: III. 900, 900 were
planted last year. Shad, like salmon.
leave the oceans and swim up the rivers
to spawn. When they enter the streams
they arc not ripe and our spawntakers
must walt certain length Of time. After
u e. r