Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1941-04-10
"FISHY" SESSION OF THE
BUSINESS MEMS CLUB


BUSINESS MEMS CLUB
At the regular monthly meeting
of the M. & M. Business Mems club,
held Monday night, most of the time
was given over to Mark White Of
Cambridge, who is the head of the
Fish and Game club of this district
He had been invited to address the
club, and tell how more fish can pe
obtained for the Muskingum river
and streams Of the county. He does
not believe that merely the plac-
ing of stock fish in the river and
other streams will solve the prob
lem, as has been proven by the fact
that millions of stock fish have al
ready been put in the river from
time to time. He stated that the
dumping of fish and more fish into
our streams and expect to improve
fishing, is compared to the farmer
who would keep putting stock and
more stock onto his farm, when the
conditions on the farm were not
favorable to stock. 1t would seem
that fishing is not so good now as
in years past. He gave as the rea-
son that We dig out the streams to
let the water out quickly, and cut
down the trees from the bank, and
permit silt to wash into the streams.
He believes that in order to improve
fishing conditions it will be neces-
sary to rebuild our streams and
make them more primitive like. He
stated that fish cannot adapt them
selves to all conditions, that condi-
tiOns favorable to one kind are not
favorable to others, and said that
in our lakes we do not find all
kinds of fish, since the water and
conditions do not meet the habits
and requirements of only few
kinds
Mr.. White does not believe that
trapping is causing a depletion of
fish-since the number caught in
that manner is very small compar-
ed with the millions of stock fish
put into the river. The speaker
thinks that dams in streams keep
those streams from becoming stock
ed with fish, since fish go up stream
to shallow water to spawn. In
stead of building dams to check the
water he suggested that logs be
placed in the streams, which would
stream. He believes that the best
plan would be to create lake or
pond near the headwaters and stock
it with fish, and in so doing the
fish from the artificial lake would
replenish the stream further down
He hopes to soon conduct such an
experiment in this county and men
toned that Wolf creek would per-
haps be the best suited of any
creek in the county for the expert
ment.
Mr.. White answered number of
questions in the minds of fisher
men One was concerning the effect
the Philo plant has on fish. He
stated that if any difference the
plant would improve, rather than
hinder better fishing Neither does
he believe that the taking of gravel
from the river has any effect; or the
calcium chloride used on roads.
However he gave as his opinion
that farm land pollution-the silt,
has had its effect on the Matching.
The speaker said water conserva-
tion is very necessary, and cOnserva
tion should be taught in all the
grades of our schools. He made the
statement that the present European
war is being fought over the posses
sion of natural resources. He stat
ed that the Mukingum river has !
more and better fish than any other |
river in the state; and that more |
people fish than formerly, and he |
feels that in time this will be pret- !
ty much of forested area, such as |
will 9nDaal TO SiphtSpprS
Fish were recently planted at |
Lock, with tags on them,
and Mr. White requested that when |
one of the fish is caught with it's
tag, to report it to him.
But little business was transacted |
at the meeting. A resolution was
passed to be sent to the state de-
partment of agriculture and conser
vation department urging that they
do something to eradicate the grey
fox, which is great menace TO
poultry raisers.
TIE matter of rededication of the
court house; also the question of
closing of places of business during
the summer, were discussed, but no
action was taken.
Vic Jaynes, as chairman of the
recent American Legion minstrel
was present and personally thanked
the merchants for their cooperation,
which did so much to make the
Legion minstrel the success that it
was