The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-03-21
FARMERS MAY
RAISE TROUT
FINLEY'S ADVICE WELL RECEIVED
Every 0rehardist With Spring Branch on
Ills Place Should Have a Fish
Pond, Says Biologist


enced meatless days. Already we
have heard the advice and warning of
the food administration, Eat more
fish.
And it is through the proposed prop
agation of trout that these spring
branches of Oregon farms. and there
are hundreds on hundreds of them on
both sides of the Cascades, may assist
in solving the food problems At
least State Biologist Finley's serious
suggestions for home fish ponds in lee-
lures given in rural communities here
last week will resultsin trout propaga-
tion by score of Hood River orchard.
lists the coming year.
1--WE are urged by the government to
raise some chickens. Why not also, if
we have places that are adapted to
such purposes, raise more fish," is the
way Mr.. Finley puts it. And ! as
sure you that it is Just AS easy, and
the cost. after you have prepared your
pond, is less than that of producing
poultry. | think ever 0regonian with
a spring branch on his place should
have trout pond. And he will, when
he sees how profitable and successful
are those that have been established.
The time should come. and | believe it
will, when the ranch trout pond will
be as ordinary, in those well watered
districts, as the chlckenyard, and of
the two, the trout pond may become
the more profitable. "
The purchase of stock tn start a
poultry farm presents a problem to
many, for the outlay is heavy. When
one has prepared his trout pond he
may secure the fry for stocking it for
nothing. The Oregon Fish and Game
Commission. which operates hatchery
at Bonneville, will furnish free Of
charge, to any county in the state pen.
etrated by railway, a supply of
young trout, not only for restocking
streams, but for raising in private
ponds. Throughout the summer season
the car, "The Rainbow especially
equipped for the transportation of lit
tie fishes, is moving like shuttle,
backward and forward, up and down,
through the state of Oregon. The
fishes will be delivered to convenient
railway stations of the state, and all
the farmer, wishing to develop trout
pond, has to do is to provide himself
with buckets or milk cans, aboard his
wagon or automobile, and meet the
car. The Rainbow has brought as
many as dozen carloads of trout fry
to Hood River for the restocking of
streams, and fair proportion of the
little fishes have been delivered here
to orchardists and ranchers who have
established successful ponds on their
places.
J. c. Porter, owner of one of the
largest East Side orchard places, is an
exponent of the home trout pond. Mr.
Porter utilized bog on his ranch
Now he has fresh trout for breakfast
whenever he desires them. Some of
the residents of the city, across whose
home lots flow spring branches, have
provided themselves with fish ponds,
and despite their limited confines they
report their efforts successful.
And there is another side to trout
raising, the commercial aspect Fresh
mountain trout are always in demand
by city restaurateurs. H. c. Elliott,
of Wyeth, derives fair S lied income
from private trout pond. If you
happen to be in Portland, dining at a
restaurant or cafe and notice on the
menu, mountain trout, think of Mr..
Elliott. He probably raised the fish.
And, if you order trout you will pay a
handsome price for them Mr.. Elliott
gets from rs cents to 81 per pound for
his fish, live weight
Mr.. Finley says that any orchardist
can do Just what the Weyth man is do
ing. The supply will have to be in.
creased by great leaps and bounds be.
fore the price is reduced, and even
though it should be cut in half the i'll
dustry will continue profitable one.
The propagation of trout is said tC
be without great difficulties. If any.
one fear to undertake pond because
of his limited experience or because OF
his lack of knowledge Of fishes the
United States government will be glad
to assist him. The Bureau of Fisher.
les has published numerous pamphlets
on home fish propagation, and these
books will be supplied to all who write
to that department at Washington ask
ing for them.
ut is to the interest of the State
Game and Fish Commission to stimu
late home trout propagation from 1
selfish motive, if for no other, say
Mr.. Finley, ''for we find ourselves un
able to secure enough eggs Tor ou
hatchery each year. 1t takes million
of eggs for restocking our streams
one ofCour great assets from the stand
point of drawing tourists. Our avail
able supply of eggs becomes create
as the home fish ponds increase. w
are willing to give the rancher hi
trout fry and then we are further will
! ing to pay him good price for all tn
eggs he has to spare. IL MT anytim
he wishes to give up his pond we vii
buy back his adult fish, for breeding
purposes, at good figure. .
Mr.. Finley furthermore advances tn
argument that private trout raisin
should be developed to the extent tha
any tourist visiting Oregon would D
able to order fresh trout ..at any res
taurant in the state,
II read just the other day., he sale
where visitors to Hood River call fo
fresh apples and baked apples an
are unable to get them. Perhaps the
have come to your town for just ths
purpose. And wonder just what the
think when the restaurant man denie
them and when they visit the grocer
store and are offered Gull apple stock.
''But do you know that many tou
lists come to the Northwest becauS
/ they have heard Of the wonderful fisl
ing? Perhaps they come to catch the
own fish. Others, not having the tin
for the sport, would like taste {
/ Oregon mountain trout. He is unab
to get them. As fishing country Il