Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-03-28
Charges are Made that
Del Norte Hatchery is
Disgrace to the State

The following article published in
last weeks issue OF the Creede
Candle Is an astounding arraign-
ment and II conditions are as stated
a remedy should be applied at once:
Quite recently an observation, un-
officially. was made OF the state fish
hatchery plant at Del Norte by one
of the best posted and most compe-
tent trout experts. Knowing him
TO be deeply Interested In the mat
ter of trout propagation and thor
onghly competent to speak on the
subject we have no hesitancy in ac-
Cepting his statements as authority.
The conditions found to exist at
the Del Norte hatchery were so
sbdominable. aye. disgraceful to
that community as well as the state
that II seems necessary to call the
attention OF sports,nen to such ex-
pensive neglect.
We OF Mineral county are much
interested in maintaining a sustain
ing supply of trout fry for more
than two hundred miles OF fishing
streams As this supply grows less
each year through apparent neglect
of this section by the state game
and fish department some method
mus, be sought TO take care OF our
own requirements. For the past
three or four years available fish
fry for stocking the public streams
has been negligible. Except the lim-
tied quantity sent us by the Fed
eral hatchery at Leadville and
placed in the streams by the Forest
appreciahle placement, that made by
Colonel a. f. Humphreys in 1929
This was 100000 native fry and
their planting took place in the Rio
Grande river above Creede. The
only state fry ever supplied come
from the Del Norte hatchery and In
decidedly small quantities. Just
few thousand. The a1estion will he
naturally asked by our agricultural
friends btlow-why are you so
anxious to nave the fishing waters
of Mineral county stocked
We reply that herein are contain
ed the only successful trout propa-
cation streams In southwestern
Colorado where quantity counts
The reason for this is plainly due
10 the changed conditions in agri-
cultural sections below us which are
not conducive to the maintenance
of fish life. Further II is well
known that trout are wasted by
thousands In the irrigation bitches
which are not screened. as requir-
ed by state law and only ignored.
Therefore we say. let us endeayor
90 the limit OF law. such fishing as
we now have.
How may the supply OF trou, fry
h. increased Not nv the methods
which prevail NJ the Del Norre state
hatchery lie, us tell you about II.
II * admitted hv fish culturisis
tina, the hatchery was misplaced for
several reasons Shortage OF water
Is III. outstanding feature. nor Is
the plant on u trout stream. These
are undeniablc objections How.
over, II Is there and will probably
continue to remain the failure II is.
In any event whv is II In such g
neglected condition and failing In
every way to produce even the small
OUTPUT Of which II might be made
csrablo II properly handled.
What excuse can he made for the
Ice frozen on the hatchery floor
almost To the ton of the troughs>
Why are there so few fish In the
trouHhs and So many outside In the
mud and grass leading 10 the small
stream Why is the place support
ed at all nj an expense exceeding
two hundred dollars per month
when the output. hy honest count.
would cost around fifty cents per
fish Why do tn. fishermen OF that
community permit such conditions
md enter no complaint.