The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-10
| kANSAS PLANI
State Fish Expert of Nebraska
Criticises Hatchery.
Asserts Bass Cannot Live in
9O-Degree Water.
fool OR KNAVE," He SAYS
w. j. O'Brien Takes Professor
Dyche to Task.
Doubts if There Are Any Live
Fish in Ponds.
B AGK EYE To STATE WORK
Nebraskan Fears Result of
Kansas Situation.
Twenty-FOur Ponds Now Out
of Commission.
Doubts il There Are Any Live
Fish in Ponds.
B ACK EYE TO STATE WORK
Nebraskan Fears Result of
Kansas Situation.
Twenty-FOur Ponds Now Out
of Commission.

Water in the ponds at the Kansas
fish hatchery is in improper condition
for the successful raising of fish. ac-
cording to a letter written to a Kansas
friend by W. J. O'Brien, superintend-
ent of the state. fish hatcheries at
Gretna, Neb. Fish of the bass family
cannot live in water which shows d
temperature of 80 degrees, according
to O'Brien, who is rated as one of the
best fish culturists in the country. The
water in the ponds of the kansas
hatchery at Pratt registered 80 de-
grees three weeks ago. At that time
Warden L. L. Dyche stated that fish
thrived in water with a temperature
of from 90 to 90 degrees.
Three weeks ago when a State Jour
nal representative visited the state
hatchery, there were but Is of the 80
ponds in first class condition: Eight
ponds were entirely dry, eight more
were nearly dry and Sc of the 80 ponds
were receiving no fresh water and reg
istered two to five feet below normal
water supply. Since that time about
dozen more ponds have gone entirely
out of commission and scores of Kan
sas sportsmen are watching develop
ments at the hatchery with keen
alarm.
Found No Live Fish.
During the entire day which was
spent at the ponds of the Kansas
hatchery, not one live fish was seen in
any of the 80 ponds; although every
pond was visited and careful observa-
ton made of it's exact condition aud
water supply as compared with normal
conditions. OF course, 1T is not as
serted that there are no live fish at
the hatchery. But fish culturists
and men familiar with the raising OF
fish in ponds, declare that where the
water and vegetable growth of pond
is healthy, that live fish can be seen IN
abundance.
According to repeated statements
made by Warden Dyche. there are
hundreds of thousands of healthy, i've
fish in his ponds. Only few weeks
ago, the fish and game warden gave
out a prepared interview to the news
papers in which he stated that he ex-
pected to deliver 80 cars of fish to
Kansas streams and private ponds this
fall.
O'Brien's Emphatic Statement.
At the hatchery temperature of the
water was taken. This water was
found to register 80 degrees and Prof.
Dyche stated that the temperature was
not too high for the successful raising
of fish. In fact, he stated that fish
thrived in water which showed tenn
perature of from 80 to SO degrees.
A Kansas sportsman wrote to w. j.
O'Brien, superintendent of the Ne
DraSka haIcnerleS, ABOUT the OyCnc
statement. OBrien said:
1T seems to me your query as to
whether fish will do fine in water at
temperature of from 80 to SO de-
grees is superfluous. 1 presume you
mean fish of the bass fanily-black
bass, crappie and sunfish-such an
they claim to be raising by the mil
lions at your 5000, 900 hatchery. They
certainly will not thrive in this kind
of water and / doubt very much If
there are any live bass in ponds with
the temperature as stated.
"Bullheads, carp and goldfish Will
stand such temperature If the water
is three feet deep in the ponds, and
/ think that only a fool or knave
would make the assertion that bass
would do fine in those temperatures.
Such a statement is not borne out by
nv 80 years continuous fish cultural
experience or cannot be justified by
any writer on bass culture, that
know Of except someone who has
raised bass, crappie and sunfish on
paper only.
Condition Is Alarming.
Il have a letter on my desk just
received from one of your citizens say
ing your hatchery plant is in deplor-
a bile condition and L regret to hear it.
If the expenditure of this vast sum
of money by the sportsmen of your
state on their fish hatchery proves
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