The Colorado statesman., 1917-03-03
GUARDING AGAINST
FISH EXTINCTION
Uncle Sam Tries Artificial Propa-
cation to Make Up for
Heavy Drain.
LOBSTERS GROWING SCARCER
United States Bureau of Fisheries
Considering Measures to Be
Taken to Prevent Their
Disappearance.

The United States fisheries have
been increasing their work materially
from year to year. They have fol-
lowed important lines which have led
20 the most practical ends.
1t is only after consulting reports
relative to salt and fresh water fish
that one appreciates the fact that
complete list of these fish would crowd
number of printed pages. This gives
some slight idea of one portion of the
work over which Uncle Sam has juris-
1iction.
The bureau of fisheries claims that
the seaboard of no foreign land excels
that of the United States in either the
abundance or variety of its migratory
fish. Among the best known of these
are shad, alewives, perch, smelt,
striped bass and the salmon of the Pa
cific The herring, whitefish, basses,
buffalo-fish, catfish, carp, suckers, the
perch of the great lakes and the dain-
ty darting trout, whose capture de-
mands such skillful angler, all be-
long to the strictly fresh water class.
Each species of both classes are re-
ceiving care and attention from the
bureau.
After many observations it was de-
termlned that in the East the men
haden, which belongs to the herring
family, quantitatively far outclassed
all other fish. The menhaden is more
valuable for it's oil and as a fertilizer
than as a food commodity.
In the year 1915 the bureau con-
cluded to make a special investigation
concerning the menhaden alone and
found that the billion-odd fish caught
yielded over 650O,000 gallons of oil
and 10000 tons of fertilizer. The
whole was valued at something like
$3,5OO,O0O.
If the individuals of that menhaden
catch were strung lengthwise so as to
form a straight line they would girdle
the globe six times where its girth is
largest. Furthermore 1T has been esti-
mated that the combined weight of the
men, women and children of Greater
New York would not equal the weight
of these billion fish.
Lobsters Becoming Scarce.
OF the numerous crustacea, crab,
prawn, shrimp and lobster, the lobster
is indisputably the most important and
most valuable. 1t is so brimming with
rourishment that the bureau of fish
cries regrets that it cannot be made
a substantial article of diet rather
than rare luxury. Lobster fishing af-
fords comfortable living among many
New England families. But these fish
ers of lobster from time to time COM
plain that the lobster is not so easily
to be had as formerly.
The bureau corroborates this state
ment and Concludes that the supply of
Holsters is slowly but none the less
steadily diminishing. This decrease is
due largely to the highly indiscrimi-
nate fishing that has been done and,
until recently, no one has pressed the
Importance of the future lobster sup
ply. 1t seems to have been taken for
granted that there would always be
enough Holsters to go round. This
question has the serious consideration
of Uncle Sam.
The fish wealth of Alaska is inesti-
mable. The rapid development of
Alaskan fisheries has been marvellous /;
myriads of salmon We're the original
impetus to these great fisheries. Since
the time that Alaska formally passed
into Uncle Sans hands this country
has realized approximately 100000
600 from Alaska's fish products. Prior
to the Alaska purchase the Atlantic
CT cd hn ri RSh H.
ing ground for halibut. Since that
time the eastern coast as a halibut
fishing ground has been compelled. to
give way to Alaska.
Uncle Sam caught 400,000000
pounds of salmon in 1915. Had he
loaded these salmon into freight cars,
10000 cars would have been required,
and this novel train would have
reached 100 miles.
Try Artificial Propagation.
All sorts and kinds of fish have
been taken from the waters of the
country in such vast quantities that
in order to compensate it has been
necessary for Uncle Sam to experiment
with artificial propagation. Both
states and private concerns have lent
their cooperation, and this work has
seen remarkable growth. Twenty
of the states support their own fish
cries. In Alaska and 80 states egg
gathering and Matching were system
atjcally carried on. Much of their
work eventually reached every state
in the Union.
June 30, 1916, ended the most sue
cessful year in fish culture in the
United States. Under Uncle Sans
able supervision 5,000000,000 fish eggs
were Matched. When they have at
tained a certain state of development
they are distributed in the streams,
lakes, ETC., of the country.
If these waters are public the fed
pral government makes its own de-