Evening star., 1929-10-06

is exported beyond the borders Of the
United States. California has the
largest fishery production Of any state
in the Union. The catche includes, oes
salmon, barraduca, mackerel, anads
halibut.
Dixie do not shed their teeth, say&A
r. Langlois. pathologist Of the oh
division of the Michigan department OF
conservation, notwithstanding genexaI
belief to the contrary. He says a. Se.
pored by the American Game Protective
News Service:
"The mouth Of our common pike Il
armed with two types of teeth, tho up-
per Jaw lacking the sharp cantne-like
marginal rows that characterize the
lower jaw, but bearing instead the
hinged teeth on the vomer and palstine
bones at the roof of the mouth. These
hinged teeth may be bent inward ana
Shroatward but not outward and their
function is to allow any fish or other
object that may be caught to move
along only in the desired direction
stomachward. Though functionally
important. these teeth are relatively in
conspicuous, and it is the battery OF
long, sharp, firmly fixed marginal teeth
on the lower jaw that have the reputa-
ton in fishermen's lore of being an
nually or seasonally shed.
Some specimens collected in late
July, 1927, had their teeth nearly COW
cred by their gums. The casual OBJ
server might easily have failed to see
teeth at all, and II he had seen the
projecting tips of the full sized teeth
he probably would have called them
new teeth, not recognizing the swollen
condition Of the gums. No specimens
have been found to be notably lacking
io fnofh and nOoo have hepN
found possessing two sets, one displac-
ing the other.
BASED on these and other observa-
tionS, the conclusion seems to be that
the firmly set or ankylosed marginal
teeth of the pike are not periodically
shed and renewed but remain with the
fish throughout life unless broken off
by an overactive n1outhful, in which
case they are gone forever. The re-
ports to the contrary are probably
based upon uncritical examinations OF
the pike mouth when the teeth are in
conspicuous because of swollen gums.
FOLLOWING enactment of legislation
by the State Legislature of West
Virginia. q complete reorganization of
the conservation activities of the State
has been started. In a recent address
Vernon Z. johnson, chairman of the
ACWiy CACuOCu 1911
Commission. indicated what the policy
Of the department will be- Mr.. john
son declared that 1t was the purpose
OF the commission to continue its sup
port of the magazine published by the
West Virginia Wild Life League
Educational work will be inaugurated
by the use of moving pictures, to be
displayed throughout the State in con-
nection with lectures to be given by
experienced foresters. The education
al material will have particular bearing
on the prevention Of forest fires.
Restocking with game is to be active
~ promoted by the purchase Of deer,
wild turkeys, quail and other game and
planting them in suitable localities.
It Is intended to increase the output
OF fish hatcheries as rapidly as equip
mant can be provided
Mr.. johnson stated that the work of
the commission would be divided under
three heads. each to be in charge of a
member Of the commission. having
charge Of forestry. another of game and
a third Of fisheries.