The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-01

will be given to any problems con-
nected with the fish culture business
For instance, it is very desirable to
know just what a fish eats from the
grown.
Must Know the Food.
This question is usually answered
by saying that the fish eats worms,
insects and such other stuff as may
be found in the water. To a scientific
fish culturists this is no answer at
all. What he wants to know is ex-
actly what the fish eats during its life
history and particularly the first year
of its existence. 1t is necessary
therefore, for the fish culturist to
know all the plants that grow in the
water where fish are raised, and also
to know all the animal life in the
same water and especially the lower
forms of animal life, such as the in
sects, crustaceans and mollusks- There
are many insects in ordinary bodies
of water that are of no value as fish
food; they are rather a detriment, as
they not only eat and destroy insects
that are valuable for fish food. but
in many instances the young fish
themselves.
1t is necessary, therefore, for the
fish culturist to know the animal and
plant life of the water in which he
proposes to raise fish and in the wa
ter which he proposes to stock with
fish. When farmers pond Is stock
should also be stocked with the proper
plants and with forms of animal life
that are suitable for the fish.
Teach Fish Culture.
Institutes for those who desire
short courses in fish culture will be
held at the hatchery laboratory. A
two weeks course of lectures and the
examination of a hatchery in pract1-
cal operation would equip almost any
sensible man for the practlcal man
Of foxx iSh
After looking over Professor Dyche'S
plans and specifications and his bull
letins on ponds. Pond Fish and
Pond Fish Culture we are con-
not only the largest fish hatchery in
the world but a practical fish hatch-
cry grounded on scientific principles
that are in harmony with what is
known about the fish culture business.
He further proposes to carry on sc1en-
tiflc experiments and Investigations
that will help solve any problem that
may arise in connection with the
work In other words, the hatchery
is being built with the idea of meet
ing the conditions and of supplying
the needs of the people of his state
with both game and food fish.
Most people look upon fish not only
as a valuable food but as luxury. The !
state of Kansas is so far away from
large bodies of water and from natur- |
al fish markets that it is with diff |
Guilty that its people can get freSh |
fish. Such fish as are shipped into the
state from far away places have been
dead so long that they neither
have flavor nor taste, and in many
instances are not fit for food. 1t is
apparent then that the great mass of
the people of the state will have to |
depend on home products for fresh
fish. This is especially true of the
farmers who have little or no oppor-
tunity to get fish except from the
streams and ponds of their own i'm
mediate localities.
The Kansas legislature, after listen
ing to Professor Dyche and eXamin-
ing his plans, placed at his disposal
an appropriation of about $150,000
FOR developing the department of
fish and game, and authorized the
building of the new, improved and en-
arged fish hatchery.