Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-10-10
STOCKED WITH SALMON

Many State Waters Being
Tried Out With Game Fish
Propagation to Preserve
Angling.
Last week an article appeared
In the Milwaukee Journal, stating
that up at the state fish hatchery
at Bayfield,, Wisconsin, conserya-
tlon authorities are trying to solve
the much discussed question as to
how many fish survive when they
are planted from the hatcheries in
lakes and streams.
The experiments have been po-
ing on since the fall of 1921 and
it will be another year before the
work is concluded. So far as the
experiments have gone they have
proven successful, due largely to
the natural condition of the small
lake in which the experiment is
being made.
Brook trout are being used in
the experiments. The lake covers
an area of from six to eight acres
and adjoins the hatchery. It's
natural formation is such that it
can be drained dry, which was
done In the fall of 1921 and all
fish taken from it after, which it
was reflled with water, which had
a depth of ID inches to 8 feet.
Then 1000 lingering brook trout
were released In the lake and af-
ter that Supt. Robert L. Ripple
saw to it that the young fish were
properly fed. At the other end of
the lake is a stream, half a mile
long. Bulkheads control the wa
ter so that fish in the stream can
not enter the lake, except in the
case of overflow, which happens
now and then. In this stream g.
0OO more trout of the same finger
ling size were planted.
Count Fish After a Year.
At the end of a year the lake
was drained, all fish taken out and
of those planted 1921 remained.
From an inch or two they had
grown to seven to nine inches in
length. 1t Is fair to assume that
some of the trout in the stream
got into the lake during the sea-
sonal overhows, but even figuring
those remaining on the basis of
5000 planted, the showing of sur
vivors was good, because the trout
are great cannibals and no doubt
many were devoured by the eft
test" of the lot. Then there are
many kingfshers, herons and 9TH
er birds that undoubtedly enjoy
ed many early brook trout break
fasts.
The experiment now going on
is to determine the best size of
trout to- plant. Once more the
lake has been drained and 10000
brook trout planted. This time
fingerlings were not used, but the
fish in fry size were turned into
the lake. Next fall when the
fish will be taken from the lake, it
will be learned how many survive.
When the count is made two ques-
tions will have been answered.
FIRST how many fish survive when
planted and, second, which size is
the better to plant?
Good Year for Bass.
This year has been an especially
good one for the natural propaga-
ton of black bass in Wisconsin,
announces Supt. of Fisheries
Brayton O. Webster.
"The weather conditions were
just right" he said, land many
bass were Matched in the lakes.
With those we are planting this
year from the state hatcheries,
the number of bass ought to in
crease considerably. / am sure our
fishermen will be glad to get the
news"
The authorities hope to plant
enough salmon in Lake Superior
so that fish can be taken on a
commercial basis. The Wisconsin
state hatcheries have an exchange
arrangement by which annually
the state of Washington ships for
Lake Superior planting 100000 sal
mon eggs, while this state sends
west 100000 rainbow trout eggs,
which are planted in Washington
streams. 1t will probably be years
before salmon are caught in large
numbers in Lake Superior, but the
authorities are hopeful of results,
and year after year the salmon