Author: Pennsylvania Board of Fish Commissioners Title: Biennial report for the period ending... Place of Publication: Harrisburg, Pa. Copyright Date: 1922/1924 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg240.3 <2231111>*Form:serial lnput:HHS Edit:FMD 008 ENT: 981102 TYP: d DTI: 1924 DT2: 194u FRE: g LAN: eng 037 PSt SNPaAg240.3-240.9 $bPreservation Office, The Pennsylvania State University, Pattee Library, University Park, PA 16802-1805 090 09 SH1 1 $b.P4 $l+(date) $cax $s+U1922_24-U1938_40 090 20 Microfilm D344 reel 240.3-240.9 $l+(date) $cmc+(service copy, print master, archival master) $s+U1922/24-U 1938/40 110 1 Pennsylvania. $bBoard of Fish Commissioners. 245 00 Biennial report for the period ending ... $cCommonwelath of Pennsylvania, Board of Fish Commissioners of Fish Commissioners. 246 1 $iVol. for 1938 has title: $aCombined biennial reports for the period ending ... 246 30 Biennial report 260 Harrisburg, Pa. $bThe Board. $c1924- 300 V. $bill. $c23-25 cm. 362 0 1924- 515 Suspended Nov. 30, 1917-May 31, 1922. 51 5 Report year ends 31 May. 533 Microfilm $m1 922/24-1 938/40 $bUniversity Park, Pa. : $cPennsylvania State University $d1998 $e1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. $f(USAIN state and local literature preservation project. Pennsylvania) $f(Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm) 590 Archival master stored at National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD : print master stored at remote facility 590 This item is temporarily out of the library during the filming process. If you wish to be notified when it returns, please fill out a Personal Reserve slip. The slips are available in the Rare Books Room, in the Microforms Room, and at the Circulation Desk 610 10 Pennsylvania. $bBoard of Fish Commissioners. 650 0 Fisheries $zPennsylvania. 650 0 Fish-culture $zPennsylvania. 780 00 Pennsylvania. Department of Fisheries. $tReport of the Department of Fisheries of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 785 00 Pennsylvania. Fish Commission. $tCombined biennial report for the period ending ... 830 0 USAIN state and local literature preservation project $pPennsylvania 830 0 Pennsylvania agricultural literature on microfilm 1 922/1 924 |HE PEMMCYf VAKJIA c^TATf COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS / BIENNIAL REPORT For the Period Ending MAY 31, 1924 THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES HARRISBURG. PENNSYLVANIA 1925 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Hts Excetj.ency Governor GiFimRD PmewWiH IIarrisbiirc, Pennsylvania. . Sin ' ' '^ '^^^^^ Conforming to the provisions of Article V, Section 504 of the Ad- ministrative Code, we have the lionor to present herewith the biennial report of the operations of the Board of Fish Commissioners. This report covers the period from June 1, 1922 to May 31, 1924. -^ Respectfully, BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS N. R. BuLLER, Commissioner of Fisheries, John IIamberger, M. A. Riley, C II arises Reitell, T. II. Harter, Dan R. Schnabel, Leslie W. Seylar, Dr. William Mann Irvine. REPORT OF THE BOARD QF FISH COMMISSIONERS FOR BIENNIUM ENDING MAY 31, 1924 The two major functions of the Board of Fish Commissioners are : 1. The hatching?, propagation and distribution of fish. 2. Protection of the streams and waters in which the public are allowed to fish. If adeciuate funds are to be supplied to carry on this most important work, it will be necessary for the fishermen to bend evei^ effort at the next session of the Legislature towards reducing the age limit under the Resident Fisherman's License Law to sixteen years. By reducing the age limit the following will result : 1. Completion of hatcheries now in operation. 2. Additional protection for the fish in our streams and waters. 3. The construction of at least two new hatcheries so that the Board will be better able to meet the needs of the fishermen. The chart in this report shows the Administrative Organization as of June 1, 1924. Some branches of service are undermanned. Any increases in the personnel will have to be deferred until additional funds are available for this purpose. A monthly report will be issued in the near future giving the fiscal analysis of operations at each hatchery, summary of the productive operations and details of income and expense of the Board. A brief outline of present activities and what has been done during the last biennium follows : STATISTICS With the exception of a few tables as contained in this report, the statistical data compiled by the Board will be contained in the volume known as Pennsylvania Departmental Statistics, published by the State through the Department of State and Finance. PROPAGATION At the present time the Board has six hatcheries propagating the different species of fish. The locations and types of these hatcheries are as follows: No. 1 Pleasant Mount, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Warm Water Fish and Trout. No. 2 Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Lake and Warm Water Fish. No. 3 Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Trout. No. 4 Bellefonte, Center County, Pennsylvania. Trout. No. 5 Torresdale, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Warm Water Fish. No. 6 Union City, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Warm Water Fish. The superintendents are all experienced fish culturists and are turn- ing out each year the maximum number of fish with the facilities at their command. The grounds and buildings are kept in the best condi- tion. The buildings, excepting Union City, are modern in every re- spect and equipped with the latest appliances for the hatching of fish. Construction at the Union City Hatchery has been deferred until a better water supply is available. The major hatchery is located at Pleasant Mount, Wayne County, and at present has a water surface area of approximately 350 acres. It has all the natural facilities and a large construction program is* being carried on. When completed practically every specie of fish dis- tributed win be propagated and it will be possible to hold all species, except pike perch, until they are what is termed as * * yearlings. ' ' The construction work at this hatchery is being done by the employes at a considerable saving and is in charge of the Superintendent. A construction program is also being carried out at the Corry Hatchery, which is located at Corry, Erie County, Pennsylvania. This work should be completed during the current year and will greatly in- crease the output. This work is also being done by the employes at a considerable saving. DISTRIBUTION OF FISH During the year 1923 the Board distributed 168,955,912 fish to the streams and waters throughout the Commonwealth in which the public are allowed to fish. The f ollowingf table shows the species, age and number of fish distributed : Specie ^oe Number Trout (All species) One year old and over 1,582,015 BUiegill Sunfish One year old 271,090 Catfish . One year old and over 145,568 Yellow Perch Fry and adult 49,238,225 Pike Perch Fry 9.460,151 Frogs and Tadpoles • 344,013 Minnows ^^^'^^^^ Bass Adult and Fingerling 64.6nd and brought to the hatchery ami held in hitorage until the new gateway was constructed. After the completion of the gateway and the pond filled with water, the bass were returned. In the fall about 300 adult bass were shipped from the Erie Hatchery and placed in this pond to replenish the brood stock. All of the catfish fry caught during the season were taken from Hankins Pond, We were unable to locate a single nest of eggs or school of fish on Beaver Meadow. This was somewhat of a disappointment as the Beaver Mearood fish were Infected with a cankerous grow^th in the mouth of the fish. This spring the fish are in a much better condition finding only about one out of every hundred affected with the disease. During the fall and early spring we transferred adult yellow perch from Beaver :Meadow to Ilankins Pond in order to restock as all the perch were removed the year before when we built the new gateway. With our work In collecting yellow perch eggs- we had one of the most successful years. When we were fishing for yellow perch in the early spring, we saved the female pike and took several million eggs, but the ice did not leave the pond in time to get the first run of females. In May we sent tw(> men to Swanton. Vermont, to assist with the pike perch work on Lake Champlain. These men were taken from the hatchery forces as there were no field men available at this time. The eggsi taken and shipped to us from Swanton. Vermont, were an exceptionally nice lot of eggs. The hatchery superintendent told me they succeeded in hatching seventy-five percent of the eggs taken. During the year we took a number of adult sunfish from Beaver Meadow and brought them to the hatchery for distribution and to replenish the brood stock. During the spawning season we sent a man to the commercial hatcheries where brook trout eggs were purchastnl. This man was furnished from the hatchery fences. These eggs were turned over to the Corry, Bellefonte and Wayne hatcheries. We purchased 500.000 eyed rainbow ttmtt i^m fr^^ni the Plytnontft Rock Trout Company. Plymouth, Massachusetts. They were turned over to the Wayne hatchery. In the month of September the work of building the new gateway In Hankins Pond was undertaken. The work was , completed I>efore freezing weather. This structure was made of reinforced concrete. By placing the new gateway in this. p••>••• ^Oj I "1*1, UUU 15 SHAD SEINE LICENSES Under the provisions of the Act of July 28, 1917, P. L. 1215, which became effective January 1, 1918, the Board of Fish Commis- sioners is authorized to issue a seine license upon written application signed by the applicant and upon the payment of the sum of two ($2.00) dollars. The seine license issued authorizes the licensee to fish with licensed seine or net for shad, herring or alewife, catfish, suckers, eels and carp from the first day of ]March to the twentieth day of June of the same year, in the waters of the Susquehanna River from McCalUs Ferry dam to the :\Iaryland State line, or within the limits of the tide-water of any tidal streams of this Commonwealth. During the last biennium 315 licenses were issued. The intent of these licenses is for the taking of shad in the Susquehanna River from McCall's Ferry dam to the :Maryland State line and it has always been the custom to draw up a statement showing the value and number of pounds of shad taken in Bucks, Chester, Lancaster and York Counties; however, the returns this year showed a ver\- small number of shad laken. This is also true of the Delaware River, in this River insofar 1^ Pennsylvania is concerned, no license is necessary to fish for shad except the regular resident or non-resident license, of course, the fisher- man must comply with the provisions of the law governing fishing in the Delaware River. , It is interesting to look over the reports covering the iake of shad and see the vast difference between the number of shad now taken and the catch of 1910. During that year the catch in the Delaware River was enormous. In the Sus(iuehanna River from :McCairs Ferry dam to the :^Iaryland State line, the same portion of river which is under the present license, the reported catch was 24,343 shad. Of course, there were many returns which were never received. The reports and observations made along both the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers show that the shad is fast disappearing from Pennsylvania waters. There is only one cause for this and that is pollution. The greatest source of pollution is oil in the lower Delaware coming from the numerous refineries which line its banks, and the tankers which enter the port of Philadelphia. This is also true on Chesapeake Bay where it has become such a menace that the city of Baltimore is putting forth every effort to devise some means whereby the fire hazard can be lessened. These conditions not only exist in the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers but also in the rivers of New York, Connecticut, and other states bordering on the Atlantic Coast. There are one or two states where shad still enter the rivers in great numbers but these are states where stream pollution does not exist to any extent. 16 The question of oil pollution has become so serious during the last few years that a league has been formed, known as **The National Coast Anti-pollution League" and at the last session of Congress strenuous efforts were made to have a law enacted prohibiting oil pollution on navigable streams. It is a question of national importance and the League expects to formulate plans for an international con- ference. PERMITS Under the Act of July 28, 1917, P. L. 1215, the Board is authorized to issue permits for the use of explosives, transferring fish, drawing dams, scientific purposes, etc. During the biennium ending May 31, 1924, 326 permits were issued. This included the permits for the As- sistant State Fish Culturist and for the Superintendents of the hatch- eries for the taking of fish at any time of the year. During the last biennium many fish were transferred which had been stranded during high and low water. It will be noted there were many permits issued for the drawing of dams ; these were mainly for cleaning and repairing. These permits provide that the permittee will be held responsible for any violation of the fish law, and in order to avoid any complications, the permits now provide that in drawing off waters, it should be done in such manner that the fish will follow out into the stream with the flow of water. Unfortunately, there are many people who are not aware of the fact that a permit must be secured for this purpose and go ahead without making inquiry, therefore, subjecting themselves to a penalty of $100. Wlien permits of this character are issued, the Board notifies its officer in the locality in which the dam is located so he can get in touch with the owner, making arrangements to be present when the dam m drawn. For the information of those owning dams, we quote herewith section 91 of the above-mentioned Act : No person o^^Tiing, leasing, or maintaining a dam, holding back water inhabited by fish, shall draw off such waters with- out first applying for written permission from the Board of Fish Commissioners; nor shall any such person obstruct the flow of water through any such dam, without allowing suffi- cient water, at all times, to flow in the natural stream on which such dam is located, to enable the fish to live. Any per- . son violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a mis- demeanor, and, on conviction as provided in Article 13 of this Act, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred dollars for each offense. 17 PERMITS ISSUED JUNE 1, 1922 TO MAT .31, 1924 I'se of Explosives 39 Transfer of Fish to otlier suitable waters 45 Taking: fish for scientific purposes 43 Closing fishway on account of low water 2 Taking fish for propagating purposes 16 Drawing off dams or other waters 160 Taking bait fish from private waters 21 Total 326 COMMERCIAL FISH HATCHERIES As provided by Article VIII of the Act of July 28, 1917, P. L. 1215, several commercial hatchery licenses were issued to persons in various parts of the Commonwealth. The license fee is ten ($10) dollars which holds good for the year in which it is issued, and entitles the com- mercial fish grower to ship fish artificially reared to purchasers at all seasons of the year ; provided that each shipment is accompanied by an invoice showing the number of the hatchery and the number and weight of the fish. This invoice holds good for six (6) days. The business of artificially propagating fish for the market is meet- ing with approval and the Board of Fish Commissioners cannot urge too strongly the importance of establishing additional commercial hatcheries. It is a prosperous enterprise as will be seen by the report for the year 1923 which is given herewith. There has been little change in the number of these hatcheries for several years. The majority of the fish raised by the commercial hatcheries are for market, although many thousands are distributed to private clubs and individuals for stocking private waters. They are practically all trout hatcheries as no one seems willing to undertake the propagation of the spinv fishes for commercial purposes. As it is a much more difficult and Expensive proposition, it is doubtful if any commercial hatch- eries will ever be established in Pennsylvania for this purpose. Ap- plications for commercial hatcheries are made on blanks which are furnished upon request. Before any license is issued an inspection is made of the property to see that it comes within the intent of the law. The following is a list of the Commercial Hatcheries together with the species of fish propagated. Prices will be gladly f urakhed M the owners upon inquiry. COMMERCIAL FISH HATCHERIES IN PEXN6YLVANTA Paradise Brook Trout (%mipaii.v. Henry vi lie. Monroe County, Pa. L. F. Grammes & Sons, Lehitrh County, Allentown, Pa. Trout Trout 18 Crystal Sprhig Brook Trout Co.. Port Allejrany. MeKean Comity. Pa. Aiide W. Peoples, New Providence. Lancaster County, l*a. Brook Trout Company of Penn Forest, Maueli Chunk, Carbon County, Pa. General Henry C. Trexler, Allentown, I.ehisli County. Pa. William Kaul. St. Marys. Elk Co., Pa. Robert R. Welsh. Keating Sununit, Potter County, Pa. Geortre G. Hoh. Johnsonburg, Elk County. Pa. Red Water Fish Assofiati I 55.(HK» 25J20D 1.0S5 2,7sn 4.tM)0 60.000 10.102.000 2(;.717.151 $29,257.54 27,307.07 275.00 7.502.00 83.5(58.05 05.03 155.50 422.50 3,000.0a Total ................ I 374,040 I 25,2m» 1 36,000,151 j $101.705. (» PURITY OF WATERS The pollution of streams is one of the greatest problems confronting the people of the Commonwealth today, not only from the standpoint of the conservation of fish but also the health of its citizens. Under the laws prior to June, 1923, the pollution of streams came under the Board of Fish Commissioners, the Department of Health, and in the matter of culm, the Department of Forests and Waters. One of the greatest steps toward the purification of the waters within the ( Vimmonwealth was the provision in the Administrative Code for a Sanitary Water Board. Under the reorganization of the State Government, the powers heretofore vested in the three administrative oronps cited above, now rest with the Sanitary Water Board. This 19 Board is composed of the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Forests and Waters, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Fisheries and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission. The Department of Health is the enforcing agent. The Sanitary Water Board has inaugurated a comprehensive sys- tem for the prevention and control of stream pollution, embodj'ing field study and classification of the w^aters of the Commonwealth. That classification takes into consideration those streams not now con- taminated, and for their continued freedom from pollution definite and positive steps have been taken. For another class of streams in which some pollution has occurred the program will be strictly fol- lowed to compel cessation. There are other waters which have been given over to mine and other wastes which will be the subject of a careful investigation with a view to applying such preventive methods as will at the same time not seriously handicap the industrial life of the State upon which the prosperity of the citizens so largely depends. CLOSED STREAMS At one of the first meetings of the present Board of Fish Commis- sioners the question of the closing of streams was taken up and it was decided that it should be the policy of the Board to refuse to close any streams or waters to fishing excepting those wholly within the confines of a game refuge, the limits of a public park or within a borough or city for exhibition purposes. ^lany fishermen have the idea that better fishing would be provided if some of the small tributary streams were closed for a period of several years. This, in the opinion of the Board, is a mistake as it is a w^ell-known fact that little fishing is provided through natural propa- gation and more can be done by stocking the streams each year. For the Board to close additional streams woidd not be good policy as the fisherman is confronted with closed streams owned by private clubs and individuals and also streams and waters on lands which are posted prohibiting trespassing and fishing. The cpiestion must be looked at as a state-wide proposition and not a local one. Each week during the fishing season many letters are received from fishermen making inquiry as to their rights on closed waters. Under the tresjiass law, land owners have the right to post their pro]ierty and there is nothing which this Board can do to assist the fishornien. We have alwavs felt that if the fishermen could get in touch with the land owner he no doubt could work out some way whereby he would be allowed to fish and in return he could protect the latter 's property. As long as this law remains upon the statutes, nothing can be done to prohibit the posting of property. 20 There are thousands of miles of good streams and waters which are now available for fishing but it has been the tendency during the last few years for individuals to buy up especially good territory and if money were available the Board of Fish Commissioners could pur- chase these properties and under the law would have the preference. If the age limit under the resident fisherman's license is reduced to sixteen years we believe sufficient funds '^nll be at hand for this pur- chase. The question is often asked whether prosecution can be brought if the fisherman remains in the stream at all times. To our knowledge, one or two cases have been tried out in court in which the fisherman waded the stream and did not trespass upon the bank at any time. These cases were lost. In almost every instance where streams are posted it will be found upon investigation that the stream is included in the deed to the prop- erty' and the courts have ruled that you cannot take a man's property away without the process of law. It is true that he does not control the water but he has a right to post his property and prohibit any trespassing thereon, and of course where the land under the stream is included in the deed, we have found there is notliing which can be done. RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE WATER AND POWEB EE- SOURCES BOARD WHICH IS OF IMPORTANCE TO THE FISHERMEN At one of the meetings of the Water and Power Resources Board, the Commissioner of Fisheries had a resolution introduced providing that all permits granted in the future for dam construction covering the impounding of waters for water power and manufacturing pur* poses shall contain in addition to other conditions, the following: That the permittee further agrees to permit holders of fishing licenses, issued under and by authority of the Board of Fish Commissioners of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to fish in waters impounded by reason of the construction of the dam herein authorized at all times during the open season in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be promulgated from time to time by the permittee, with the approval of the Board of Fish Commissioners, providing further that such holders of fishing licenses shall comply with all the laws of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania relative to the taking of fish from streams and bodies of water wholly or partly within or forming part of the boundary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 21 This resolution was adopted by the Board at its meeting held August 21, 1923, and from that date all dams constructed for the purposes above stated, will be open to fishing under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the permittee with the approval of the Board of Fish Commissioners. This does not apply to dams constructed for impounding waters for domestic purposes. The adoption of this resolution will open to fishing when completed, the Wilsonville Dam located in Wayne and Pike Counties which covers from seven to eight thousand acres, making it the largest body of water within the Commonwealth. FINANCIAL STATEMENT We submit herewith the financial statement for the biennium from June 1, 1922 to May 31, 1924. This shows a balance of $218,608.07 at the end of the fiscal period. It is not possible to budget this amount to the end of the fiscal period owing to the fact that it would include the receipts under the resident fisherman's license from January to June, the end of the biennium. It is during these months in every year that the largest part of the license money is taken in and pro- vision must be made to operate during the balance of the year when little or no money is received. FINANCIAL STATEMENT June 1, 1922 to May 31, 1924 BMfwes June i, 1922 ^„ General appropriations ( 1921-1923 ) |-gi^\* ; '^^^ Resident Fisli License Fund • \ 000 00 Resident Fisli License Fund, Special Advancement 5 7'>->".30 Fish rropajjation Fund • • • • • : * ' •.;j,r^' " * I Fish Propai-ation Fund. Advancement Account Mechanit^ irust ^ ^^^ ^..^ Comi>any, Harrisburg, Pa - , , ^ .,,.^ $98,915.50 Total Balances June 1, 1922 Collections June 1, W22 to May 31, 192^ Resident Fish License Fund ....,...•♦••..-♦♦••• ^^^f^'^ Fish Propagation Fund » . • • • D4.ib».&o ^^^ ^^^ ^^ I Total $587,402.02 Expenditures June U 1922 to May 31, 1924 General Appropriations (1921-1923) Jur^^^Ji^ Resident Fish License Fund V-- i^V im» Resident Fish License Fund. Sliec. Adv -o,ouii.ou Fish Pro|)agatiou Fund— Advancement Account—- Mechanics Trust Company, Harris4mrg, Pa. l''»*^-^^ $.308,422.72 $219,039.90 Balance 22 Less— $4:n.S3 amount lapsilile— General Appropriations (1!)21- 1923) This amount reverted to tlie Treasury June 1, 1023 $431.83 Actual Balance June 1, 1924 $218,008.07 Balances Itemhed Resident Fish License Fund $ir>8.71(;.!)2 Fish Propagation Fund 59,8! >1 . 15 Total $218,608.07 COLLECTIONS ItESIDENT FISH LICENSE FUND June 1, 1922 to May 31, 1924 Resident Mshm{f Liven ses Issued: Office — Board of Fish Commissioners $lt».39S.36 Fish Wardens 1(>,S57.0() County Treasurers •♦•,*•.,♦»♦,.♦♦ .,,^ 387,729. 5and and Water Supplies' 887.50 Field Work 34,617.49 Buildings, Ponds, Extensions, etc 32,413.87 Printing, Bhiding, etc 15,964.80 Unexpended Balance — Resident Fisli License Fund Special Ad- vancement Account, Mechanics Trust Co., Harrisburg, Pa. Transferred to Resident BMsh License Fund, 8tate Treasury I >epartment 21 . 72 Total ,,,#,,,#»«»«,»•,.«•»»••.••••»••♦••. $o64,.)t».> . 05 PUBLIC INFORIMATION Up to #e present time funds have not been available for an exten- sive educational and publicity campaign; however, the Board has been represented at moetinjrs of the diflferent associations throughout tte Commonwealth so that members could be informed as to just what was being done. Much interesting data dealing with all phases of the work has also been issued through the press. During the next biennium if the funds are available the Board intends to put on an educational campaign concerning the propagation of fishes, its advancement during the last few years, the need for propa- elation of fish, and what the fisherman can do through their cooperation with the Board of Fish Commissioners; also articles showing the value of our aquatic resources and the need for increasing the food supply.