Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-02-04
WISCONSIN CONSERVATION COM.
MISSION
Division of Fisheries
MARKETING OF LAKE TROUT TO
THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE
By James Nevin


It would be we'll worth while to ed
ucate the people of Wisconsin to eat
fish at a time when they they can be
bought from the state at reasonable
prices.
In the outlying waters our laws
provide a closed season for lake trout
and whitefish during the spawning
period. During that time this COM
mission is authorized to catch such
fish to obtain spawn for the fish hatch
cries. The fish are caught under spec
ial permits granted to commercial fish
ermen who strip the fish of their eggs
and milt, after which they become
property of the fishermen. Most of
such catches are sold in Chicago and
a large part of the fish that are
caught at this season of the year, after
being shipped to Chicago, go into cold
storage and are held for an advance
in the market to be disposed of dur
ing the winter months when fish are
scarce and are then sent back to cities
and villages in Wisconsin and sold in
local markets. The price of fish varies
with supply and demand but this year
the fishermen realized about fourteen
cents per pound for lake trout. The
fish companies in Chicago reshipped to
Wisconsin markets these same fish and
charge approximately twenty cents.
The transportation of the fish plus the
profit of the local dealer added more
to the cost of fish, and it is safe to
say the ultimate consumer paid not
less than twenty-five cents per pound.
1t is respectfully suggested that this
f1rr mic no wit MT "
to fix the price and control the sale
of such fish caught during the closed
season, and as far as possible dis
pose of them to the people of Wiscon-
sin direct. Announcements could be
made in newspapers and circulars
sent to meat markets explaining that
the state would furnish them with
fish at a fixed price for delivery a
week later. The price of fish once
established could be maintained
throughout the month and thereby
,, make it possible for the dealers to
advertise several days in advance
what the fish will sell for. D., In es-
tablishing the price of fish cognizance
would be taken of the ruling prices for
the previous eleven months and an
average taken. This manner of fix
| ing the price would be fair to both
| the fishermen and the consumer.
The state of Wisconsin each year
spends thousands of dollars to main
tain the supply Of trout and whitefish
| in the outlying waters and the Com
mission believes especially during the
closed season, the people should have
the benefit of the catch. We estimate
that about 100000 pounds of lake
trout from Lake Michigan and about
| $4,000 pounds from Lake Superior
were caught during the last closed sea-
son. The people of Wisconsin should
have the benefit of these fine food fish
and if more were caught than could
| be disposed of in home markets, the
surplus could be shipped to outside
points. The consumer should buy the
fish at a price allowing just enough
profit to pay the necessary expense
that the state has been to in furnishing
the fish.
All the fish are caught in gill nets
and cannot be returned to the water
alive after having the eggs taken from
them. There is every sreason to be-
lieve that the city of Milwaukee could
make use of from 5000 to 10000
pounds a day; Madison could easily
dispose of 1000 pounds daily. Al
Racine, Kenosha, Beloit, GAINESVILLE
Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton and
Lacrosse there ought to be demand
enough to dispose of 1000 pounds
daily. These smaller cities should
| be able to get their share of what fish
were caught and what they could
make use of.
The Conservation Commission would
! have men, who would make it their
/ business to direct shipping of the fish
and make the allotment of fish week
in advance, as we know very near the
average number of pounds of fish that
have been caught by the fishermen
each week for the past several years
during the season.
There is no reason why the plan of
operation will not work out to the
/ satisfaction of the majority of the peo-