The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-12-14

ernor, made public today, records encouraging progress in the field of wildlife conservation as a re- suit of national programs and fed eral aid' but warns that failure again of the general assembly to appropriate administrative ex- penses will result in exhaustion of necessary operating surplus after the end of the next fiscal period.
 The board then would be placed on "hand to mouth" financial basis dependent entirely upon a seasonal license fee income, al- though expenses held not properly chargeable to sportsmen in the past and provided from the gen- era1 fund have averaged approxi- mately 23 per cent of the boards revenue.
 The Connecticut river shad has been successfully restored as the result of propagation and release of millions of shad fry annually, the report indicates. 'The shad run of 1884 was so abundant com mercial fishermen had difficulty in disposing of the large numbers caught" it is stated. This the board believes has a direct connec- ton with the planting in 1929 of a record production of shad fry from the Salmon river hatchery. The theory is held that shad re- turn to their spawning grounds af- ter attaining @ four-year maturity.
 Announcing abandonment of the Pennington river shad hatchery because of polluted waters there, the report states: with increased catches each year it now appears certain that the restoration of shad in the Connecticut river had been definitely accomplished. It can be maintained permanently only so long as Salmon river re- mains undisturbed and unpol- luted.
 That is the key to the whole situation since the Salmon river is the last remaining stream of any size in the state which has not been completely ruined for shad and for many other fishes.''
 The CWA and EZRA have proven boons to the board during the past two years. Workers se- cured through these agencies con- stricted without cost, except for materials, six fish propagation ponds at the Kensington state fish natchery and two more at Bur- hngton: The eight ponds have proouction capacity of 100000 pond fishes. CcC workers also constructed two rearing ponds in state forests.
 500 SpOrtsmen Assist
 The board has secured assist ance, without charge of over 500 sportsmen during the period of fi- nancial stringenoy, it is shown. Slxteen of these, representing each county, comprise an advisory council which meets once a. month aI Hartford at its own expense. Three sportsmen, experts in par ticular lines, have been appointed 10 head specialized branches of conservation work at salaries of one dollar per year. They are Philip c. Barney, Pennington. su- pervising waterfowl restoration: Leon F. Whitney, New Haven, in charge of the boards raccoon work, and Robert G. SternIof. Bloomfield, supervising rabbit ex- pertments. The remainder of the volunteer workers comprise game guardian force which assists m law enforcement and fish and game restoration.
 In addition to these, the board has sponsored organization of . state Nature league. Members of this Organization, numbering over 800. aid in conservation of all wildiife, more particularly non- game species, Its governing body | serves in capacity correspondins | 10 the advisory council of sports | men.
 Federal funds supplied munici. palities for construction of sewage disposal plants will aid measure ably in improving future water | conditions in many localities, the | report points out. owing to ex- sessive pollution and high temper atures caused by dams and denud- ed watersheds, there are few streams in this state which offer | ideal year around conditions for the survival of trout, and practical | ly none which offer opportunities | for natural reproduction and in- | crease. The trout restoration pro- gram, therefore, must depend first ] of all on artificial propagation and ] liberation of trout intended only to . be caught" According to the re- port. . total of S79,875 adult and | S11,717 fingerling trout were plant | ed during the period covered.
 More large trout and fewer small | trout are to be released in Con- | necticut streams in the future. oped, involving a diet of shrimp, beef meal and salman eggs in place of a larger proportion of liver have been found to speed growth and create better cobra tion. Future brook trout plants are to contain fish up to two pounds each in weight and all brown trout l will be at least two years old, | ranging up to two pounds and more.
 Evidence of the trend toward production of fewer but larger trout is shown in a comparison of | the 1883 plant of 214.637 adult l trout which weighed 46,750 pounds | and the 1884 plant of 165,23S l weighing practically the same.
 Private Interests Hurt
 Public access to the states rec reational lakes is being endan. | gered by gradual closure by pri- vate interests, the report warns. | Although the state has leased | about 200 miles of trout streams | "little attention has been given to | tuC AoSI H~ Ahoiy Ponuo "e.0 co ing closed by the organization of | riparian landowners for the pur- | pose of posting lands. so that the | public could not gain access to them" The board recommends purchase of rights of way to those | areas before the public is barred entirely.
 While the board is devoting its attention to increasing certain Spe- l cies of fish, carp and white perch | are increasing so rapidly Ion their own'' that they >have already be- come pests in some waters, 1t is claimed. Carp are regarded as par ticularly harmful to aquatic vege- | tation necessary to fish and water fowl. They are charged with be- ing partly responsible for the ex- ,aina finu of wild ricA in many