The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-20
FOOD SUPPLY HANDY
IN FRESH WATER FISH
Yellow Perch, Horned Pouts and Pick.
erel Are Edible and Easy to
Propagate.

BOSTON, March 20.-Now that the
high cost of necessities has become so
burdensome an investigation of food re-
sources claims the attention of both
the federal and state authorities, il
may not seem out of place TO advance
the suggestion that perhaps the state
OF Massachusetts, among other states,
has an undeveloped source of one great
food supply in its ponds and lakes
There are certain edible and finely
Favored species of fresh water fishes
that are native to the waters of the
state, says Charles Zibeon Southland in
the Boston Advertiser.
These can be increased materially
in number by artificial propagating
and planting, 50 much so that within
a comparatively short period they will
be Of considerable value, at least
locally, as a food product in replacing
some Of the more costly ones. The
pellow perch, the catfish or horned pout,
and the eastern or green pickerel are
the fishes being worthy of consideration
at this time.
The yellow perch and catfish or
horned pout are excellent pan fish; they
are universally finely favored, have
but few bones and the flesh is white and
firm when cooked and they are more
over very wholesome. Both Of these
fish are easily taken with almost any
kind of bait, such as angleworms, grubs,
grasshoppers, pieces of fish, meat and
liver.
The yellow perch can also, at times,
be captured with the artificial H. and
some of the larger ones by "skitter-
ing and by trolling with the bait very
near the surface. In the winter it is
caught through the ice, when the best
success IS TO be had with a small
live minnow. This fish is a ready
taker of bait at all times and unlike
many other fishes it can be success
fully fished for by women and chill
dren.
The yellow perch reaches length of
one foot and occasionally weighs as
much as two pounds. The average
length, however, is from six to nine
inches, and 81 OF these fishes makes a
mess which is ample for a family of
five of SIX persons. 1t is a scale fish
and is generally prepared for cooking
by skinning, not scaling, because most
fishermen consider it the quicker and
better way 10 dress them.
The catfish or horned pout, unlike
the yellow perch, is a bottom fish and
does not move about so extensively
except when caring for their young.
As one writer said: "Thev spawn in
spring, and the old fishes lead the
young in great schools near the shore.
seemingly caring for them as the hen
for her chickens.
IL Is more often found on muddy
bottoms, where, rs a rule, they move
about slowly IN great numbers. The
main thing when fishing for these fish
IS 70 locate their chosen home or habitat
IN the different ponds and lakes where
they abound. They can be caught
equally We'll with hand line i, or with
rod or pole and line, and generally
they swallow the bait. which enables the
fisherman to land them with a great
degree Of certainty.
The catfish is a skin fish with three
horns, one on the pectoral fin each side
OF the head and another at the for
ward part of he dorsal or back fin.
The universal method Of dressing these
fish is to skin them, and with very
little practice IL can be quickly and
neatly accomplished. Catfish are not
infrequently caught, in many Massa-
chusetts ponds and lakes, that are
foot long and weigh a pound or more,
but the average run is from seven to
10 inches in length. Twenty five of
them will provide, in abundance, for
six or seven good healthy persons.
When fishcd for, the bait with sinker
IS allowed to rest upon the bottom or
is kept about six to eight inches above
the bottom, and the very best bait,
everything considered, is the angle
worm, and they should be used liberal
~ when batting the hook.
The eastern or green pickerel is not
as easily taken as the other two fishes