The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-18
KanSan May Head Federal
Government Fish Bureau.
Fish Warden and Architect
Study Aquariums in East.
CHANGE DISTRIBUTION PLAN
Grown Fish to Be Given Away
by Uncle Sam.
Kansas Plan Makes u. s. Off
ciaIs Take Notice.

| Washington, July 1s.-Prof. L. L.
| Dyche, fish and game warden of KAN
sas, accompanied by Charles II. Chand-
Ter, state architect. arrived in Wash
| ington today. Their mission in the east
is for the purpose of studying fish
aquariums in both Washington and
| New York City to obtain such informa-
| ton as will be practicable in the inter-
ests of the Kansas state fish hatchery
at Pratt. now under construction
The Kansas hatchery. when COM
| pleteCi, will be the largest in the whole
/ world. Nothing like 1t has ever been
| projected in this or any other country.
| 1t will have over 100 distinct fish ponds,
each an acre in size, and the plant will
spread over an entire section of land
| It's total cost will be over S150,O00 when
completed.
In connection with this remarkabls
| hatchery will be fish laboratory build
! ing costing at least $4,000 In this
| structure will be contained one of the
| most unique and up-to-date aquariums
| in the world
The aquarium will be largely for ex-
periments and scientific Investigations,
while portion of it will be given over
for exhibition purposes.
Plans for the Building.
The laboratory building win be a
three-story structure. The aquarium
will be located on the first floor. Tho
second floor will be given over to ofi-
ces for the warden, lecture rooms,
private laboratory, mailing room,
| offices for the state regents. and a big
/ fireproof vault. The third floor is to be
occupied by a large educational mu-
scum for fish and game. It will also
contain an exhibit room for scientific
literature dealing with every phase OF
the culture and care of the finny tribe
and various game habitant of Kansas.
When farmer or any other citizen
oS Kansas visits the state fish hatchery
short time as to all practical knowledge
of building fish ponds. the care and
| habits of fish. In other words, when he
| visits this great institution. is shown
every detail of pond construction with
/ the aid of models as well as seeing the
| big project in operation, he will easily
be enabled to enter the fish culture on
| whatever scale he may desire on his
own farm or suburban place. Then also
| he will receive Instructions through lee
lures given periodically in the Iabora-
tory building. All of this information
and instruction is impaired free of
charge.
U. S. officials Gasp at Plan.
officials of the government bureau of
fisheries are simply awed at the i'm
mensity of the Kansas hatchery They
are keeping in close touch with every
detail of it's construction.
Kansas is always kept on the man
for either raising bumper crops or do
INK SOiueLlllIlR SUCCESSFULLY that is In
structfve and beneficial to the country
at large. One of the most important
features in connection with the Kansas
fish hatchery is that Prof Dyche has
introduced plan of fish distribution
which is entirely novel He is the fret
man in this country to inaugtIra re- fhe
distribution of "grown-up'' fish fish
from two to three years old
The government which has aIvvavs in
the past distributed fish of only from
three inches in
tended IT was impractica Bile tn ban5fo
fish of any older age.
Prof. Dyche has proven the practica-
bility of his ideas on this question bv
the big distribution he made i'm kansas
this spring. During three monfbs hc
distributed among the farmers of varf-
GUS sections of the state over ~ 00c
fish which were from two to three years
oiu' anu olo not lose a single one
through his system of handling and
shipping. This is the biggest distri
button of fish i'm the history of E<an
sas from the point of numbers and tIe
first successful distribution of rnaturo1
fish ever made i'm this country. In
this matter Kansas can teach the ma
ton lesson by which it viii hereafie.
profit
To Follow Kansas Plan.
There is no doubt the government
will the near future follow the Kan
sas plan of fish distribution T. ba.
that the small fish distributed in nonds
and streams throughout the coiIntrv
has not met with any material success
This is explained by the fact that the
larger fish feed upon the smaller ones
and therefore, the governments free
contribution in many localities is moth
ing more than food for what fish AL
ready exists in in a given stretch Of
water in which the young fish are
placed
Boom Dyche for Place.
There are not a few public men in
Washington who are familiar with
Prof. DYche's knowledge Of fish and
the wonderful project he is building
of the state of Kansas, who think he
is the proper man to head the United
states bureau of fisheries.
A prospective fight in the senate
against the confirmation of the an
pointment of Brig. Gen. w. w. Woth-
erspoon to be major general and de-
lay in acting on other high army nomi-
nations is holding up the announce
ment of the assignment OF officers di-
rectly affected as well as others vino
will be affected by the promotions.
Opposition to Wotherspoon is expect
ed to come from Senator Joe Bristow
of Kansas, who has urged the promo
ton of General Fred Funston of his
state Senator Curtis has also urged
Funston's promotion to this rank
If the senate confirms the promo
tions, it is expected General Tasker Fl.
Bliss will be placed in command at
West Point and General Barry, now
in command at West Point will be
given command of the department Of