The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-12-29
THINKS DEVILS LAKE
WATERS should Be
KEPT AT HIGH LEVEL
Federal Fisheries Man Believes
Advantage Would Offset
Diversion Costs

OWL SVSkS
Restoration of the waters of Devils
Lake is regarded by c. F. Cutler of
the United States department of fish
cries as being of more Importance to
the people of North Dakota than any
other project that has been or could
be completed.
Cutler. in a report following a sur
vey throughout the state with Burnie
Maurek, state game and fish commits
sioner, said that restoration Of the
waters of Devils Lake can only be ac-
complished by the diversion of the
flood waters of the Missouri river.
While the cost of this diversion means
the expenditure of a large sum of
money, Cutler believes the benefits
that would accrue would more than
justify the expense.
THE establishment of the water
levels would create n of the finest
recreational and fishing areas in the
northwest, and would doubtless mean
the raising of water levels throughout
a large section of the state" he said.
Such a body of water would have
a direct influence on the annual pre-
c%ipitation of the state, while it would
also furnish an unexcelled duck
breeding area"
Lacks Proper Vegetation
At Spiritwood lake, Cutler found
there was a lack of that form of veg
citation which furnishes breeding
places for larval life upon which
young fish feed and which also serves
as a protection and hiding place for
fish from their natural enemies. The
decrease Of the muskrat population
In the lake was believed due to the
lack of vegetation, while the presence
of a large number of understood perch
was taken as indicative of a lack of
food.
Cutler recommended that carp be
removed from these waters as far as
possible, that aquatic plants be intro
duced, and the lake stocked with for
age fish.
At Red Willow Lake conditions were
found to be excellent for the perpetual
ton of the several members OF the
warm-water species of fish, such as
pike, pickerel, yellow perch, crappies
and sunfish.
Other findings by Cutler included:
Water conditions and temperatures
at Warwick are adapted to trout
Matching, but as no streams in this
state are suitable for the stocking of
these fish, it is not deemed advisable
to recommend any development of this
project at the present time.
In a general way. the diversion of
the waters from streams flowing into
Canada into the several lakes visited
in the Turtle mountains was approx
ed.
Fish Lost at Epsilon
At Lake Epsilon the combination of
unusual vegetation and low water
levels with a heavy coating of ice and
10Y prevails, with a consequent loss
Of fish, there is apparently an ex-
cellent supply of fresh-water shrimp
and larval life for fish food. Recon-
mendations for this lake were that
black bass. sunfish, and crappies be
introduced; and that a forage fish,
preferably the black-headed minnow
or golden sinner, also be planted in
these waters.
Similar PHYSICAL conditions and evil
dence of fish food were observed at
Carpenter Lake. This lake should be
stocked with pike, bass, crappies, sun
fish. and suckers. and black-headed
minnows for forage.
Dion lake has the best shore line
of any Of the lakes of this area for
the production Of food for small fish
and also for their protection. Here,
as well as at Gravel Lake and Bel
court Lake, a stocking program SINH
lar to that outlined above was recon-
mended.
Crystal Springs lake provides an ex-
cellent supply of vegetation and lar
val life for small fish. but forage fish
should be introduced. Raising the
waters in this lake four or five feet
would prevent freezing out during the
winter months.
Sheyenne Is Polluted
Nowhere during the trip were any
possibilities noted of obtaining a
suitable water supply for a bass
hatchery. The Sheyenne river offers
some possibilities in this respect, but
with the increasing pollution of this
stream, it would only be a question of
time until the problem of supporting
fish life In its waters would be SER
iouS.
Before many years it is certain the
problem Of sewage dispostal will be a
prominent n in many of the cities
of this state, and unless some steps
r taken to remedy the situation
which now exists, some of the streams
will be absolutely devoid of fish life
Cutler stated that one of the first
detectives in a conservation program
for this state should be the restoration
Of water levels and the conservation
OF flood waters, coupled with an in
tensive stocking effort which can only
be brought about by the construction
of hatcheries to furnish the prope,
supply Of fish.
Maurek called attention that NORTH
Dakota offers many opportunities TO-
he development of its lakes ane