Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-10-06
Need for Conservation
To Insure MuSkeIIunge
WRITER I'M MILWAUKEE JOUR
NAL VOICES FEAR OF Los
ING BIG GAME FISH

An expert who mas devoted years TO
the propagation of muskellunge states
that this mighty game fish, once so
numerous in Wisconsin waters, is very
near the point of extermination-is
doomed unless something radical is
done soon to prevent the calamity
The system of treating muskellunge
eggs through artificial aid in propaga-
ton, he states, has been perfected to
such an extent that at least Is per
cent of them can be Matched. Thus a
problem which for many years prov
ed very difficult has been solved
rather satisfactorily, but possibly too
late, for new and serious problem
has arisen difficulty in getting eggs
to hatch, inasmuch as muskellunge
have become very scarce.
Those who understand what this
means do not need to think twice to
reach the conclusion that effective
measures should be taken at once to
save the muskellunge. One thing Of
prime Importance is to make sure that
muskellunge that will supply eggs for
Matching fry with which to restock
Wisconsin waters are permitted to
grow. There is one way open to this
and that is to close a number of
muskellunge lakes for a period of from
three, to five years.
In this way the muskellunge that re-
main in these lakes would gain a
chance to multiply and grow. A lar
ger supply of muskellunge eggs for
Matching fry that could be planted in
other lakes would be provided.
In a direct way, too, the plan would
improve fishing in lakes not close for,
in many cases, the muskellunge would
naturally migrate to other lakes
through connecting creeks and would
ascend to still other lakes through
rivers as well as creeks.
This plan of closing number of
muskellunge lakes could be carried
out in an endless circle. With the re
opening of the first lakes closed, a
similar number of lakes that mean
time had remained open could be
closed for from three to five years,
and so on until lakes that had been
closed and then reopened could be
closed again.
Doubtless it would be a good plan
to arrange to keep closed, in turn, at
least one muskellunge lake which
drains directly into one of the dozen
or more lerge streams which muskel-
'lunge inhabit.
To raise muskellunge fry on a
scale at all adequate would be an ex-
pensive process even if eggs in suffi-
cient number were made available.
Sufficient funds for propagating
muskellunge and the other most de-
sirable kinds of game fish are not
provided now and cannot be provid-
ed except by providing that adult male
residents shall pay license fees for
game fishing. This is the anglers
one opportunity to perpetuate this
sport. The maintenance of fishing
has become chiefly a question of fl
nancing the work that is necessary.
The situation is critical. There is
urgent need for conservative measures
and for constructive action. Unless
something worth while is done in
time, which means very soon, the
muskellunge will be no more and the
bass and pike will begin to pass. Let
those who doubt this statement, if any
do, stop and count the lakes and
streams that to his knowledge are al
ready fished out Forward LOCKER