The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-15
Game Warden Dyche Tells About
Fish and Things.
Lawrence Man Is Asked to Prove
Fish Stories.
RESULTS PLEASING.
Official Says Ponds at State
Hatchery Are Paying.
Habits of Kansas Fish Discussed
by Naturalist.

Professor L. L. Dyche. state hsh and
game warden, has written a reply to
some OF his critics that is worthy OF
q better cause. The professor is
man who becomes very much IN ear
nest in his work. He is naturalist
with q country wide reputation When
he works on a proposition he goes into
It body and soul The only fault 10
md with the professor is that he some
times takes the criticism seriously
But after all it is we'll that the pro
lessor did reply to these latest yeIps
about his work of propagaIng nsh 1or
Kansas, for he has written a most in
teresting and valuable article on the
FISH in Kansas streams which is re-
produced here in part as follows;
1.-THE department of fish and game
not only welcomes, but solicits the
opinions and criticisms of those VINO
differ from it. especially when sucn
opinions and criticisms are based on
facts and are sincerely and honestly
given he says. However, it is not
fair to this department or to the pub
lie in general to have special articles
and interviews given out, based on
unverified statements, repeated hear
says and misinterpreted observations
Defense of the Walzarusa.
THE statement of William Miller
of Lawrence, Kan, that the Waka-
rusa is not a fit place for breeding
and rearing of fish is not only very
misleading but is not at all in harmony
with the facts of the case. He says,
also, that there are hundreds of
creeks in Kansas just like the Waka-
rusa.'
'"The Wakarusa Indian word for
hip deepD has its head waters IN
eastern Wabaunsee, northwest OF
Usage and in western Shawnee coun-
ties. Near Auburn, Kan, its north,
south and central branches unite and
form the main stream of that river;
it flows for so miles in an easterly
direction through Shawnee and Doug
las counties and entities into the
Kansas river near Eudora-
Mr.. Miller makes the surprising
and remarkable statement that fish
Will not breed in the Wakarusa. The
eggs will not hatch he says and the
fish that are in the creeks came up
from the Kansas river He further
says that after these fish have been
in the creek a few months they absorb
so much vegetable poison that they
arc net fit to eat
what facts have you, Mr. Miller,
that would justify you in publishing
your statement that the eggs viii not
hatch D For what reason do they not
hatch What facts have you to iuSti-
fy your further statement that the
fish that are in the creek came up
from the Kansas river2' Where are
the spawning grounds Of these fish
statement that after the fish have
been in the creek a few months they
absorb so much vegetable poison that
they are not fit to eat?'
He's a Wakarusa Veteran.
"The writer has lived on or near
the Wakarusa for more than forty
years and has caught not only hun
dreds but thousands OF good fish out
of that Strean-on many occasions (as
those who have f1shed with him Will
bear witness) taking from 5 to IS
pounds of fine fish with hooks and
lines IN a single day
Il have fished in a good many streams
and lakes on the North American CONT
nent, and sunfish crappfe, channel cat
fish and wall eyed pike taken from the
Wakarusa are as good fish as
the writer has ever eaten. There are no
better fish in any state or county than
the above mentioned species, and those
taken from the Wakarusa are as fine, as
free from parasites and diseases and from
any faint or vegetable poison and have
as delicate a flavor as those we have
taken from any lake or stream in the
country There are many people who.
during past years have taken and eaten
fish from the Wakarusa and other Kan
eas streams who, am sure would be
willing to bear me out in the above state
ments.
hatch in the Wakarusa and hundreds of
other Kansas streams like the Wakarusa
viii surely be a surprise to many natural
lists and honest Kansas fishermen.
First Learns of Fish There.
I'VE got our first knowledge of the
spawning habits Of fish by watching GER
tain species such as the sunfish and bass
make their nests and hatch their young in
certain quiet places along the banks Of
the WalzaTusa; as many dozen
spawning beds could sometimes be seen
within a few feet of each other; and
after the spawning season had closed
many thousands of young fish Especially
young CATFISH could be seen swimming
and milling around near the surface Of
the water in schools and punches from
one TO two feet in diameter.
Fish culturists tell us. and experience
proves to US that many species of fish
go up stream in the spring of the year
into the smaller streams and creeks to
secure suitable spawning grounds. The
Wakarusa has in the past been one of
the Kansas streams that has furnished
spawning grounds for old fish and good
feeding grounds for millions of young
fish.
severe dry spells that stop the flow
of the water for months in small streams