The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-29
One-HaIf of Fin Tribe Died
During DrOuth.
Will Take 3 Years to ReStOck
Streams and Ponds.
HATCHERY At full CAPACITY
Warden Dyche Starts Out With
a New Supply.
Death of One-Third in Streams,
TWO-Thirds in Ponds.

The 1913 drouth killed one-haf of the
fish in Kansas, according to an esti-
mate made today by L. l.. Dyche, state
fish and game warden. Warden Dyche
believes that the hot weather and wa
ter shortage caused the death of one
third of the fish in Kansas streams and
two thirds of the fish in the ponds over
the state. Furthermore, the warden
says that it will take three years of ca
pacity work at the state hatchery to
replenish the streams and ponds with
their fin Inhabitants.
Hundreds of streams in Kansas this
summer ceased their flow. Scores OF
small rivers, favorite places for bass
and crappie, were only series of green
impure puddleS when the fall rains start
ed in. Millions of fish, bass crappie,
channel cats, bullhead cats and blue
gills, turned over on their backs and
resigned as food tof starving turtles,
hungry birds and animals of the woods
and creek banks. Very few ponds in
Kansas this summer were able to sur
viVe the 100-degree heat. The fish eX-
pired long before the water was evapor-
ated.
The state fish and game warden has
started a strenuous fall campaign to re-
stock the streams and ponds. The fish
he delivers this fall will spawn next
spring. In turn a respawning will occur
the following year. With the best OF
luck and most favorable conditions
Professor Dyche cannot see how Kan
sas will be caught up in her fish sup
ply before 1916.
Applications for Fish.
The owners of ponds and the resi-
dents of creek bottoms together with
a few bands of sportsmen here and
there are aware of the conditions,
Warden Dyche says. He has in his
office at Pratt nearly 1000 applica-
tions for fish. They come from all
parts of the state. Kansans are anx-
ious to restock their ponds and
streams, protect the fish for the next
three years and then lay plans for
-drouth of the 1913-Tariety.
Thousands of fish in Kansas
streams and ponds were saved this
summer by transfer from small bodies
to large bodies of water. In many
streams persons took the large fish
and ate them and allowed the young
er varieties to die. Many of the
smaller streams emptying into the
rivers will be stocked to certain ex-
tent next spring when spawning be-
gins and the fish swim up stream and
at the mouth of creeks
The drouth killed the fish but SPAR
ed the turtles, snakes and other creek
inhabitants, says Warden Dyche- A
turtle will wander from one pond to
another for miles up and down a creek
bed. Snakes survive by crawling
through the damp underbrush and
through mud crevices. Frogs hide
themselves in the weeds and live un-
til wet weather.
The ponds in Kansas average frSm
one-fourth acre to three acres, says
Professor Dyche. Some of the larger
ponds are as large as 40 acres. Fully
rs per cent of the applications for
fish come from owners of ponds.
Most of the still bodies of water are
situated in the central and western
parts of the state and here is where a
heavy distribution will be made The
eastern Kansas streams were in better
shape this summer.
The second car of 10000 fish left
Pratt today. Another car will leave
next week. In the spring still more
fish will be sent out of the hatchery
to stock the ponds and streams