Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-31
Outside Point of Wen

It is strange that with the possibil1-
ties that come to many engaged in the
artificial propagation of fish. this in the
way OF almost daily observation OF fish
and their habits, so many ERRONEOUS
theories are brought out, and an en-
deavor made to establish such theories
as facts. No, long ago the Hutchinson
| News, Kansas, printed what follows:
Kansas is prepared TO spend good
many thousands of dollars at Pratt at
the state FISH hatchery raising one kind
Of fish for another kind to eat.
Prof. L. L. Dyche, state fish and
game warden. says this is absolutely
necessary if any bass are to be raised
and distributed over the state. He de-
clares it is impossible to raise bass
successfully in ponds unless other fish
are raised for them to eat. II only bass
are raised in pond they will rapidly
externinate themselves by cannibalism.
consequently members Of the suck
er family viii! supply food for bass at
the hatchery. Millions Of sunfsh. carp.
cats end other such fish will be raised
each year They will be allowed TO
spawn without disturbance and to grow
to the size of a minnow, then a pond
filed with bass will be connected with
the pond filled with suckers and the
carnage will begin.
"One big bass will slaughter and eat
good many small suckers in a day,
and the best part Of it is that the bass
thrives on fish meat. He likes it better
than frogs, crawfish or any other water
life. He scorns vegetation and will
starve to death in a pond where there
is no animal life.
ut Is because OF these habits of the
bass that Warden Dyche is refusing to
distribute bass to farmers Whwo own
ponds and want to put fish in them.
He is reserving the bass for the
streams. and only some OF the better
streams will be supplied.
There is absolutely no use to fill
a pond with bass unless it has a creek
| flowing into it, said Warden Dyciae
| The bass will starve to death unless a
great quantity of animal life is being
brought in daily. Catfish, sunfish, carp
and such fish as that are best for the
ponds. They are just about as good
eating as the bass, too, altho there Is
ponds all over the state. People don't
seem to know that bass must have AMI
nal life for food
Because in the near future Iowa will
undoubtedly take mold Of this artificial
props CATION OF bass and feed fresh
water fish. Furthermore. because Of
the possibilities on many Iowa farms.
the writer will give to those interested
some personal experience. In a general
way Professor Dycke is correct In
claiming what he does concerning the
bass family, but he Is mistaken that
bass wilt not do we'll in ponds or small
lakes unless such ponds are fed by
running water. Minnesota and Wis
consin have today thousands Of small
lakes whose source OF supply of water
comes only from rain, melted snow and
springs near the waters edge or In
the bottom Of the lakes. The writer has
caught many black bass in such lakes.
and while in quality and flesh does not
equal the black bass Of the Mississippi
wing dams. they are good eating for
any table. farmer or city dweller.
4 80
Here IL another erroneous statement
Of Professor Dycke. Black bass do not
"scorn vegetation" On the contrary,
some Of us along in August in Mime
sofa 90 directly to certain places In
some lakes, where 1t is reported "bass
grass" grows In deep water and take
out four or five FOUNDERS, using frogs
for bait. This at a time when min
jnows Will not bring a strike. And here
Is proof positive these bass do not
"scorn vegetation" for in these fish we
hnd frogs, crawfish, butterflies, grass
hoppers. and some kind, Of weed OF
grass ynese nrn iH,ve eateTi.E AS I'sisssi
los hal q teacupful Of this grass Y