Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-14

were made uninhabitable for the fish by the
tuse from sawmills and factories, while the cut
'ihs away OF forests spoiled the flow of some
streams About a decade ago. the red spotted
Drook trout OF New England seemed to be doomed.
men the bureau of fisheries took up the problem.
II began restocking from its hatcheries the depict
ed streams, sending fry eggs and fngerflings to all
parts OF the United States in specially constructed
cars. State governments co-operated by enacting
stricter laws regulating the size of catches pro-
tectlng the fish during their spawning season, and
preventing the pollution of streams. AS a result,
Che red-spotted brook trout is found again today
IN almost all of its native streams and its range
mas even been considerably extended Further
more the rainbow trout of the Pacific coast has
o1en uanSplanted to the east, and is taking the
place of the BROOK trout in MANY streams which
are no longer suited to that fish, and furnishing
sport In streams where the brook trout could
have lived
The introduction of the rainbow trout into east
ern streams is still going forward at great rate,
u 10 one Vi tne most notable achievements OF ths
bureau or nsheries. Hundreds of streams and
ponds have been stocked with rainbow trout by the
government during the past year.
The great value of the rainbow trout for this
purpose lies in the fact that it will live
water than will the brook trout and also in water
which is muddied by floods too much for brook
trout.
During the past year rainbow trout have been
successfully planted in streams in Arkansas, Ala
bama, Georgia. Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska
and other southern and middle western states
where there was formally little trout fishing.
Twelve miles from Washington, D. c., there is
stream, rising in the Blue Ridge mountains and
known as Difficult Run, which favorite
with Daniel Webster. Too much fishing and the
cutting of timber long ago destroyed the fishing in
Difficult Run. This year the bureau of fisheries
has planted in it large number of rainbow trout
fry, and in a few years it may again become good
trout stream.
Thus the government bureau has kept Ameri-
anglers supplied with game fish by TRANSPLANT
ing species across the continent TRANSFORMATIONS in
the opposite direction have been equally success
full For example, the Rock fish, striped bass,
which runs up the streams of the Atlantic sea
board to spawn every spring, has long been fav-
orite game fish of that region All sportsmen of
ton know it well. Excessive commercial fishing has
caused a steady diminution in its numbers despite
efforts of the bureau at restocking tn waters But
this fish has been introduced into the Pacific
coastal waters and is reported there to be the
increase, that it may survive in the west even
though it is exterminated in the east. Many other
examples might be given of successful transpanta-
tions of game fishes. Both the large mouth and
the small mouth bass found in the Potomac
river although neither of them is indigenous to
it. and the range of the small mouth bass espec-
tally, has been greatly extended by the paintings
of the federal bureau.
ANY applicant may obtain fish for stocking pur-
noses from the bureau of fisheries provided he
show that the waters in which he wishes to place
them are suited to them. The bureau has for the
mast two years conducted a campaign for the
tabIishment of fish ponds farms and other coun-
trv places and this has resulted in the successful
stocking of many small ponds some of which were
made for the purpose.
Every American angler should realize that his
favorite sport is maintained only by constant scen-
fife care and that his sportsmanlike cooperation
is necessary to that maintenance.