above named, but care should be taken to secure an abundance for all time and for all purposes of such an institution. A large discretion should be given to the commissioners in the selection of a site, assuming that the best interests of the state would be kept in view. For the purposes above indicated and to carry on the operations of hatching spawn and distributing the fry, for 1875, we ask for an appropriation of eight or ten thousand dollars. With this sum we feel confident that in a few months we could perfect the work necessary for all hatching purposes. It might be necessary to erect a cheap tenement, at or near the hatching-house. in which the superintendent could reside, as some one must have charge of the property and superintend the hatching of spawn. In this connection, we desire to state, that, as soon as arrangements for hatching are perfected, responsible parties can be had who will take charge of the property and hatch all the spawn which the state is likely to want, free of cost for the labor of hatching and delivering the fry at the hatching house. The consideration for these services will consist in allowing the party to use the water which would otherwise run to waste, in the artificial propagation of trout. This matter, however, will form the subject for future consideration. At present, it looks to us feasible, as it is not contemplated that the state will engage in brook-trout culture. Trout streams are too local in their character to warrant the labor and expense of stocking them. But we should expect that the example of the state in stocking public waters with other varieties, would encourage private parties to cultivate the speckled trout. Farmers who have springs or cold streams on their farms can best do this. With a little capital, and the time which they can well spare and which will be mostly in winter, they can grow trout food cheaper than they can grow beef or pork. The amusement too in angling is of great moment, and employs many spare hours of both boys and girls. We have before us the codified game laws of the state of New York, prepared under the direction of the Secretary of State. In looking over our own laws on this subject and comparing them with those of New York, we are of the opinion that they ought to be arranged and printed in convenient form for distribution, and in some respects altered and enlarged. We have a state association for the preservation of game, and which is doing much good in that direction. R. H. Strong, Esq., of Baraboo, is president, and Messrs. M. T. Bailey, of Madison, and A. J. Turner, of Portage, are secretaries. There are also local clubs organized in many of our cities, having in view the same purpose. In 1870 the American Fish-Culturist's Association was formed, and now numbers in its organization, many of the most scientific gentlemen in the country. Hon. Wm. Clift, of Connecticut, is president, and among the honorary members are Prof. Baird, and also Hon. Samuel Wilmot, commissioner of fisheries for the Dominion of Canada. Great interest is manifested by these bodies in the matter of preserving and propagating fish, and in enforcing the laws for their preservation. We have not been able to gather much specific information in respect to the fisheries of the state. By another year, in case the commission is continued, we shall be able to collect much useful information. We may assume as a safe proposition, that no state in the Union, disconnected from the sea-board, is better suited for fish culture than Wisconsin. There are two hundred and twenty-five lakes in the following sixteen counties: Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, Jefferson, Dane, Washington, Dodge, Columbia, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara, Waupaca, and Winnebago. These lakes cover 388 square miles, or 248,320 acres of water, which large surface is now comparatively unproductive. These beautiful lakes that adorn our state, could, and ought to produce as much food for man as an equal amount of rich land. In most of these lakes, valuable fish would thrive. Not until the inhabitants of these counties can catch trout, carp, grayling, &c., will they fully appreciate the importance of fish culture. Thus they will be more sensible of the great good that will surely flow from the judicious use of a few thousand dollars annually. These benefits should not be confined to the lesser lakes, for it is in the larger ones-Michigan and Superior-where the greatest interest should concentrate. The white fish and trout, are, by the use of improved (?) modes of taking fish, becoming rapidly diminished in number. We have taken pains to ascertain how fast the supply of fish is becoming exhausted by the use of pound and gill nets as now extensively used. At Racine alone there are four boats in constant use putting out and taking up not less than twenty-five miles of gill nets. During the summer their nets are set from eighteen to twenty miles from shore, where the water is from sixty-five to seventy fathoms deep. We are told by Jacob Schenkenbarger, one of our oldest and most intelligent fishermen, that "with an equal number of nets only onefourth as many fish are caught now as were taken four years ago." He further says: "We always have the best success late in the fall, by placing our nets over the spawning grounds of the white fish and trout. Late in October in 1870, I took with a set of thirty nets, at one time, 1980 pounds of dressed trout by putting the gang over the spawning beds. Four years ago, it was common to take from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds of fish at each trip. Now we never go over 500, and not unfrequently go less than 200 pounds. The lake is filled with nets and the fish can hardly escape." The fishermen all admit that it is wrong to take fish when they are engaged in spawning, and if there was a law prohibiting the setting up nets from the 15th of October to the 1st of April, they would be glad, and would most cheerfully obey it, so that the fish could repair to their breeding-grounds unmolested by the destructive gill nets. Such a law would do much good, if rigidly enforced. With a hatching-house close by the lake, millions of young white fish and salmon trout, could be put in Lake Michigan at a trifling expense to the state. It is time that this work should be jointly undertaken by those states bordering on the great lakes; that is, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin, should unite to stock Lake Michigan and Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin for Lake Superior. However, it is now fully proven that fish do not ordinarily go many miles from the spot where they are hatched, so that if Wisconsin were to put 5,000,000 of young fry into Lake Michigan, within the limits of the state, it is quite certain that she would reap the greater part of the harvest. This is a matter of the greatest importance, for the lake fisheries involve a considerable amount of capital, which is employed in furnishing a large stock of a healthful and nutritious article of diet, easily digested and rich in phosphates. We have great hopes of success in introducing some of the varieties of salmon into the larger inland lakes. H. F. Dousman has just communicated to us the interesting fact that two years ago he hatched for the state a lot of salmon eggs furnished by the United States fish commissioner, Prof. Baird. A few of the young salmon escaped being captured, and have since remained with their little cousins the speckled trout. The last of the past November, on examination, he found a female salmon that gave ripe spawn, these eggs were fecundated by the melt of a male. So we shall have the remarkable instance of salmon being hatched from spawn taken from fish that were hatched and grown in Wisconsin. However unfavorable this experiment may possibly prove, we still have enough of good fish that we know will thrive and abundantly repay a hundred fold, the expense of a state hatching-house, which would be conducted to the best interests of the state. The salmon trout, carps, white and black bass, whitefish and grayling counld be turned into the lakes in great numbers. If members of the legislature were to visit the establishment of A. Palmer, of Boscobel, and H. F. Dousman, of North Prairie they would be delighted to witness the successful artificial propagation of fish. Mr Dousman has now nearly 250,000 young trout that will be ready for market when they are two years old. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Dousman hatch about 80 per cent of all eggs put into their hatching troughs-a success never surpassed. On account of a considerable mortality among a part of his fish, Mr. Dousman lately applied to a member of the state fish commission, Mr. Hoy, who visited his fish ponds. Science was sufficient for the occasion, and the cause and remedy found. If a private party raising fish for market can make money by paying liberally for such advice, how much more should the state secure the time and services of its fish commissioners, to superintend the fish interests of the state. We submit this hasty and ill-digested report for consideration. We ask that it be referred to the proper committee, and we hold ourselves in readiness to give all the information and aid in our power in furtherance of the objects embraced therein. Respectfully submitted. MADISON, December, 1874. WILLIAM WELCH, A. PALMER, Fish Commissioners. |