Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-09
FISH GIVEN away
TO ALL WHO ASK
Suckers and Mullets by the Ton
Taken Out of the Lamoille
River Near Milton by Officials
Who are Looking for Pike to
Furnish Spawn

More than a ton OF perfectly good FISH
was given away yesterday in West Milton
on the Lamoile river, and about the same
amount was distributed free of charge the
day before. More than that, Ash will he
free In that vicinity for several days to
come. in all probability. The fish. which
are being given away to those who call
for them, are mullets and suckers, and al
though they do not occupy a place on
many restaurant menus under that name,
the fish are proclaimed to be excellent
food and most palatable when baked.
The people who are helping out the
food supply in this manner are the State
officials who are drawing nets in the river
for pike. The pike are taken out and
stripped Of the spawn and then returned
to the river but the mullets and suckers
are not returned to the water for the
reason that they eat the spawn and young
Of the other fish and thus do more harm
than good. Some of the fish which were
given away yesterday weighed as much
as six pounds each. They are a much
desired dish in many localities, and FARM
ers from near and far drove in to get
their supply. Some Of them got enough
to last several days and the trip paid.
Yesterday number in automobiles went
out from Burlington to get q sample. The
State takes no money for the fish and the
only desire of the officials Is to so dis
tribute the fish so that they will not be
sold but will be used in different house,
holds. The larger fish are baked with a
dressing along the same lines as a turkey.
Edward 1sham is in charge of giving
away the fish and 1t is put in the hands
Of one man to prevent any one person
from getting an over-supply. There is
little doubt but that there will be at least
ton of fish given away to-day. The fish
are in god condition and IL properly cared
for will remain fresh for several days.
AS result of the stripping. the pike
will furnish about 5O,00O,OO0 eggs which
will be Matched at the hatchery to be in
stalled on the Champlain Transportation
company's wharf next week. They will
also furnish the spawn for the hatchery at
West Swanton.
The method of artiicalIy Matching the
eggs Is found to be much more efficient
, than that of nature. 1t is estimated that
of the 5O0OO.000 eggs, between 20 and SO
per cent. will go into the lake as little
pike. OF course after that there is a loss
3ut the fish instinctively take pretty good
care of themselves. They travel in schools
and generally get into shallow water so
the big fish cannot get to them. 1t takes
between three and four years for them
10 get up to a good size
On account of the high cost of food.
many applications for FISH fry have been
received from different parts of the State.
These the State furnishes free Of charge,
the only conditions being that some one
go to the railroad station after the fry
and plant them under favorable circum-
stances. 1t is not allowable to sell any of
the fry. In addition to the pike. the spawn
Of many other fishes is given away where
another kind Of fish would thrive better
under the circumstances.
Besides the big Improvement in pike
fishing. the trout are biting better than
sver. Some good catches are now being
! made in Chittenden county which has
not been known as much of a trout region
! in many years. One brook trout weighing
more than a pound was taken out of
Huntington river this week and there is
good trout fishing in Huntington. Bolton
underhill. Richmond and the other towns
which run up into the mountains districts
The reason for the improvement in the
| trout fishing is that more fry have been
| planted of late and this year there will
| be planted about twice the amount of las,
| year.
| The pike fishing is now good and the
boats are getting from eight to 80 each
Yesterday one fisherman brought in q
pike weighing six and a quarter pounds.