The Topeka Daily Capital from Topeka, Kansas • Page 22

22 THE TOP EK-A "A I A IT A Sunday, September 25, 1910. A Stockinga FarmFish Pond Varieties Best Suited to The Purpose BY PROF. L. L. DYCHE State Fish and Game Warden of Kansas fishes In Kansas streams and ponds.

Though comparatively small, the largest not weighing much over a half pound, yet they are' good table fish and when properly dressed the bones are not troublesome and their flesh has an excellent flavor. They are rather omnivorous In their food habits, eating a very considerable amount of vegetable matter, various kinds of bisects, worms and many minnows and even young fish of their own kind. -1 Very much doubt the value of their presence in a pond that has Pew 1 Milt emt mi n9i Wear a Tirass Any have had from a fraction of an ounce to as much as 6 ounces of fish food in their stomachs. One black bass weighing 5 pounds 12 onces, taken at Lake View, Lawrence, had a German carp In its stomach that weighed over 6 ounces. The-tail fin of the carp was still in the bass's mouth, the carp being so long that the bass could not get it alt down at once.

If there were 100 bass in a pond and each one took 4 ounces of fopd in one day it would ampunt to 25 pounds of fisn for one day's food. If they took 1 ounce a day each for 30 days it would amount to 1,875 pounds of fish. It is not possible for ponds to produce fish food unless an extra supply is furnished to support very many black bass per acr- of After Thirty Years' Experience I Have Produced An Appliance for Men, Vomen and Chi.dren That Actually Cures Rupture This article is in part an abstract from material that is being prepared for a bulletin on the subjects of ponds, pond fish and pond-fish culture. These subjects will be discussed more at length In the forthcoming bulletin which it is hoped will be of use f) farmers, fruit growers and stock raisers. It is further hoped this bulletin can be published within a few months.

A copy of it may be had by making application on a postal card to the Department of Game and Fish, Pratt, Kan. L. I D. After the dam or dike has been finished the owners are anxious to turn the water In and see the new pond fill up. It would really be better to allow the new dam to stand and settle a few months of even a year.

The ground that is to form the bottom of the new pond should be carefully examined. It is frequently advisable to plow, harrow or in some way cultivate this ground and then tramp it with a bunch of stock, such a sheep, cattle, horses or hogs. If the soil is sandy it should be puddled and if the ground could be used for a feed yard for a few weeks or months it would be greatly Improved to serve as the bottom of the pond. When clay or good soil free from sand can be bad, it is frequently advisable to haul more or less of it and spread it over the bottom of the would-be pond. A few loads along the edge of the new dam, welt tramped, might prevent a seep or leak in a dam that had been constructed with soil that had much sand or loam in It.

It Is always better when possible to allow water to fill a new pond by slow degrees rather than to fill it all at once from a great flow of flood waters. pond there Is always another anxious time about getting it stocked with fish. The first question that comes up is, what kind of fish should it be stocked with? this may depend upon a number of things, which will be discussed more at length In the bulletin, to be published later. The size and depth of the pond, its source of water supply and its food supply will In a large measure determine the kinds of fish best adapted to it. Perhaps no fish will ever be found that is more satisfactory and better adapted to Kansas waters than some ol our native species.

OBJECTIONS TO BLACK BASS. The black bass ia a great favorite. Sportsmen everywhere want the streams and ponds stocked with black bass. This Is a native fish. Bass were common in the clearer streams of the state more I I II I I III Mill I I I 11 life 'i, V' i I XL 1 C03IMON BULLHEAD (Ameiurus vulgaris), THE SMALL BOY'S FRIEND fcbeen stocked with crappie.

They eat about the same kinds of food that the crfippie eats. This same food would raise an equal number of crappie, a fish that grows much larger and is not such a destroyer of other fish, especially of Its own kind, as is the sunfish. If you have a pond the chances are that you will have some variety of sunfish in It. They seem to be everywhere In every stream, and in every pond. Water birds are said to carry the sunfish, catfish and other fish eggs of the adhesive variety from one body of water to another.

Bunfish do well in small streams and ponds, even those too warm and shallow for most other kinds of fish. They "bite hard" for fish of their size and "pull the cork clear out of sight." They are every Inch real game fishes, and have, -since hook and line fishing began in this country, furnished sport and pleasure and strings of fish, looked upon in many instances as real trophies, for millions of young hopeful fishermen, as well as for some older and less enthusiastic anglers. VARIETIES OF NATIVE CATFISH. There are several i-pecies and vaiiec of catfishes native to the streams of Kansas. The fact that the great majority of these streams ars more or less turbid and even muddy at times does not Interfere with these fish, but seems rather to produce conditions favorable to their propagation and development.

Catfish have small eyes and they undoubtedly see poorly. They are bottom feeders and omnivorous in their habits, faking more or less vegetable and a great variety of animal foods. They have large heads, large mouths, large stomachs, "large" appetites and are able to adapt themselves to a wider range of conditions than any other native Kansas fish. They are rated in various ways by sportsmen, anglers and fish-loving people as regards their value and quality as food fishes. There Is always a ready demand for them In the market as food fish at good prices, equaling or even exceeding that of beef, pork and mutton.

From a government report we learn that in one year twenty-three states reported a catch of 14,726,000 pounds, the state of Illinois alone reporting nearly 2 million pounds. From the United Slates fisheries report we learn further that "both commercial fishermen and anglers throughout the country are showing Increased interest in catfishes, and requests for stocking public and private waters have recently been numerous." There are several varieties of horned pout or bullheads In the ponds and streams of Kansas and they are found In almost every body of water, be it ever so small, where it is possible for fish to live. As a rule these fish prefer the more quiet bodies of water, as the slow flowing creeks and rivers, and are frequently doing well In ponds and in the rather shallow, warm and muddy over flow bodies of water where other varieties of fish could scarcely live. They do not move about much during the daytime when the sun is shining. They are active and do most of their feeding during the morning and evening, and especially during the night.

They will take and bite vigorously and persistently almost any kind of bait, but are especially partial to large angleworms and pieces of small CHANNEL CAT (Ictalurus punctatus), A FOOD FISH NOT ADAPTED TO POND CULTURE If yoo have tried most everything else, come to me. Where others fail Is where I have my greatest success. Send attached coupon today and I will send you free my Illustrated book on Rupture and Its cure, showing my Appliance and giving you' prices and names of many people who have tried it and were cured It la instant relief when ail others fail. Remember, I use no salvea. no harness, no lies.

I send on trial to prove what 1 say is true. Tou are the judge, and once having seen my illustrated book and read It you will be as enthusiastic as my hundreds of patients whose letters you can ala read. Fill out free coypon below and mall today. It's well worth your time, whether you try my appliance or not. Pennsylvania Man Thankful Mr.

E. Brooks. Marshall. MU-h. Dear Sir Perhaps It will interest you to know that I have been ruptured six years and have always had trouble with it till I got your Appliance It Is very easy to wear, fits neat and snug, and Is not in the way at any time, day or night.

In fact, at times I did not know I had It on; It Just adapted Itself to the shape of the body and seemed to be a part of the body, as It clung to the spot, no matter what position I was In. It would be a veritable God-send to the unfortunate who suffer from rupture If all could procure the Brooks Rupture Appliance and wear It-- They would certainly never regret It. My rupture Is now all healed np and nothing ever did It but your Appliance. Whenever the opportunity presents itself I will say a good word for your Appliance, and also the honorable way in which you deal with ruptured people. It Is a pleasure to recommend a good thing among your friends or strangers.

I am Tours very sincerely. JAMES A. BRITTON. 89 Spring Bethlehem. Pa, Recommend From Texas Farmer Brooks Rupture Appliance Marshall.

Mich. Gentlemen: I feel It my duty to let you. and also all people afflicted as I was. know what your Appliance has done for me. I have been ruptured for many years and have worn many different trusses, but never got any relief until I got your Appliance.

I put it on last November, but had very little faith In It, but must say I am now cured. I have laid It away have had It off for two weeks and doing all kinds of farm work with ease. While I was wearing it, I had Catfish should be skinned and dressed soon after being killed. After washing the fish In cool salt water allow them to drip a few minutes. Then roll each piece in very fine cornmeal, flour or cracker crumb dust and fry or bake to a good rich doughnut brown in a mixture of hot bacon fat and good buttei.

Never place fish in anything but smoking hot fat to cook them, and never use what some people call "cooking butter" to fry fish or anything else. Thus han- died and Cooked they will be found tasty, nutritious, if not delicious food fish. The other species of channel-cat, sometimes called the fiddler (Ictalurus punc tatus), is the one that is more or less common in nearly all the streams of Kansas. This fish usually attains a weight of from five to ten pounds when well grown. However, larger specimens, weighing as much as IS pounds, have been reported to me by fishermen as taken from Kansas streams.

The channel-cats are the most satisfactory combination of a good food and game fish In the state of Kansas. Speak' I ing of this fish. Dr. Jordan of Stanford university says: "It is a very delicate is a very food fish, with tender white flesh of excellent quality." There are many good fishermen who give the channel-cats a high rating as game fishes. When once hooked they are good fighters and produce a pull on tbe line that sends a thrill through the angler that almost equals that produced by the hooking of a black bass of equal size and weight.

FOOD HABITS OF CHANNE1CAT. The channel-cats eat a great varletj of foodstuffs. Including, especially among the younger and smaller fishes, a considerable amount of vegetable matter Fish, both minnows and young fish of other species, as well as crayfish, frog and Insects enter -largely Into their bill A Tea Reasons Why You Should Send for Brooks Rupture Appliance 1. It Is absolutely the saly AppTlanc et the kind on the market today, and ta It are embodied the principles that Inventors aav sought after for years. a.

The Appliance for retatntag ths Vvp-tnre cannot be thrown oat mt position. t. Being an air cushion of soft ratter It clings closely to the body, yst never blisters or causes Irritation. 4. Unlike ths ordinary so-called pods, used In other trusses.

It Is not cumbersome or ungainly. 6. It Is small, soft and pliable, and post tlvely cannot bo detected through the lota lng. C. The soft, pliable bands holding the Appliance do not give ono ths unpleasant sensation of wearing' a harness.

T. There Is nothing about It to got foul, and when It becomes soiled It can be washed without Injuring It In the least. t. There are no metal springs In the Appliance to torture one by cutting and bruising the flesh. All of the materials of which the Appliances are made are of the very best that money can buy.

making It a durable and safe Appliance to wear. 10. My reputation for honesty and fair dealings Is so thoroughly established by an experience of over thirty years of Sealing with the public, and my prices are so reasonable, my terms so fair, that there certainly sou Id be no hesitancy In placing your order with me. Remember I send my Appliance on trial to prove what I say is true. Tou are to be the Judge.

Fill out free Coupon below and mail today. iWORMATIQN COUPON E. Brooks. 110 Brooks Bldg, Marshall. Mich.

Please send me by man In plate wrapper your Illustrated bookr and full Information about your Appliance for the cure of rupture. Name. aty. Routt. ReliableDentistry 15 Years of Success.

Our access Is doe to hlgb-srsss and best materials at res seas ble prices. Best Set of Teeth $7 Gold Crowns, Bridges, $3 to $5. TEETH Wltbewt Plates. -Vitalised air for Painless Extraction ef of Teeth If desired. BIlTsr ruling gas Painless Extraction Teeth.

Cleaned 7Se Gold Filling Me to 9 Misfit, loose er broken plates saade to fit at small cost. An Week Gearmat Years LADY ATTENDANT New York Dental Co. CIS KANSAS AYENUB Indfssadeat TslepheM IMS. We Have No Axe to Grind Our business Is cut out for us. It Is to do the best cleaning and pressing for the people of Topeka.

That we are succeeding Is evident by our Increasing business. We are confident you will be pleased with the grade of work we do, also with our prices. Give us a trial and ue will convince you. Bundles called for and delivered. A.

W. VOGEL CLEANINO WORKS S3 Kiwst Ave. Toska Kas led- Paosio u7 If yon want to send a Kan paper to your friends, subscribe for the Kansas Weekly Capital a whole year for only 25 cents. All the Kansas and Topeka news of the 'Daily Capital boiled down. If water.

As soon as food becomes scarce the old bass will eat up their own young. In some instances where ponds have been stocked with German carp whose young served as a food fish for the bass, a considerable number of bass have been raised and kept in ponds of only a few acres of water. This latter subject will be discussed more at length at some future time. CRAPPIE A GOOD POND FISH. There are two varieties of this fish They have a great variety of common names given to them in the various l--calities where found in the United States.

They are commonly known as the white crappie and the black crappie, or cahco or strawberry bass. The two kinds look very much alike and are about the same size, full grown specimens ranging In size from 12 to 16 inches In length In Kansas and weighing from 1 to 2 pounds. The white crappie is longer in proportion to its depth and has six (rarely five or seven) dorsal spines. The black crap- pie has seven or eight (very rarely six) sharp spines in its dorsal fin. The crappie Is Indigenous to the state of Kansas and was more or less common in the Wakarusa, Neosho, Cottonwood, Mill creek.

Mission creek, Marais des Cygnes and other streams that the writer visited while a boy with fishing parties forty years or ago. This is one of the fish that does well in Kansas streams and ponds and is not averse to waters that are turbid. In fact, it seems to prefer roily waters for its spawning and feeding grounds. It takes a hook freely, whether baited with small minnows, grasshoppers or" artificial flies that are brown, black or yellowish in color. It is not considered much of a game fish by real sportsmen as it gives up after being hooked without making much of a fight.

However, with light rod and line properly handled, its capture affords a great deal of pleasure to real anglers who understand the art of fly and bait casting. The crappie Is pne of the very best pan fishes, its meat being white and flaky and of fine flavor. This fish does well in ponds and thrives in three or four feet of water, but should have deeper water for winter quarters. There should be plenty of vegetation in the ponds where It lives, as It not only, eats some vegetable matter, but thrives on the insects that are attracted to and that breed on aquatic plants. While crappie are fond of small minnows yet I have never found any specimens of their own kind in the food masses taken from their stomachs out of over 500 specimens that have been examined.

Their food depends largely upon environment and ranges from five to wenty-f ive per cent of minnows. Insects form. a large percentage. They are very prolific and I consider them one of the very best fishes for stocking ponds. THE SUNFISHES ARE HARDT.

There are a number of varieties of sun- excellent results. and $1.00 sizes, and sold bv drufreut, I The above is E. Brooks, the who has been cut ins rupture (or write him today. lagrlppe and coughed a great deal, but It held all right: Words cannot express my gratitude towards you and your Appliance. Will recommend It to aJJ ruptured people.

Tours sincerely. J. B. LONG. Bald Pratrle, Texas.

Others Failed But Appliance Cured K. Brooks, Marshall. Mich. Dear Birr Tour Appliance did all you claim for the little boy and for It cured him sound and welL We let him wear It for about a year In all. although tt cured him months after he had begun to wear It.

We" had tried several other remedies and got no relief, and I shall certainly recommend It to friends, for we surely owe It to you. Tours respectfullx, WM. PATTERSON. No, 717 Main St. Akron, O.

of fare. The writer has taken such food material as birds, snakes, half-grown muskrats and young turtles from their stomachs. They eat seeds of various plants In season and are apparently fond of corn -and wheat, as these grains have many times been taken from the stom achs of specimens that have been dis sected. They are called channel-cats apparently owing to the fact that they are usually found In and undoubtedly prefer streams where the water is moving in currents and channels. The channel-cats can usually be recognized from their longer and narrower heads and from their forked tails.

Two species of these fish have been recognized In Kansas streams. The big blue, or chuckle-headed cat (Ictalurus furcatus) Is confined to the larger streams. It sometimes grows to very large size. The. writer has seen specimens taken at Lawrence.

that weighed over 100 pounds Several years ago Mr. J. Saunders caught three of these Blue river cats In one hoopnet at one CRAPPIE (Pomoxls sparoides). A FISH time, that weighed over 130 pounds each-It Is very unfortunate that such a popular and valuable native fish will not breed In ponds. The writer has not performed any definite experiments In trying to breed channel-cats in ponds, but has made observations on their behavior in ponds where they have been kept and has collected Information upon the subject from various sources.

The concensus of opinion seems to be that channel-cat fish do not propagate In quiet bodies of water. When young channel-cats are than forty years ago when, as a boy, 1 caught many fine strings of them. They are still found in many of the streams where the water Is comparatively clear. They do not like muddy or even roily water. I do not consider the bass a good pond fish, even though the water in the pond or small lake may be clear.

The back bass is perhaps the most voracious and pugnacious fish that swims in the streams. The writer has records or more than 800 stomachs that have been examined to determine the food habits of the black bass. The stomachs were taken from fish 10 Inches or more In length. The contents of these stomachs go 4o show that the food of the bass is maae up very largely of fish. They not only eat minnows and feed largely upon the young of other kinds of fish, but not unfrequently take the young, smaller and weaker specimens of their own kind.

Frogs and crayfish are freely eaten when they can be had. and such objects as snake3, birds and even young turtles have been found in their stomachs. Very few insects are eaten by large bass, though the young IJsh feed quite extensively upon insects. About 90 per cent of the food of the bass taken from ponds and lakes In Kansas consists of fish in one form or another. Specimens taken from creeks and streams show a less percentage of fish food.

My notes show about 75 pet cent of fish food for such specimens, crayfish and frogs entering as an element of about 20 per cent. above brief notes on the food habits of the back bass will partly whir the fish ia not adcmted for pond culture. Under ordinary circumstances ponds could not be made to pro duce food enough for such voracious feeders. A few dozen old bass in a few acres of water would soon eat up all the fish. Including their own kind, that they could swallow.

My notes show that black bass weighing from 1 to 6 pounds in entor. of Marshall, Mich-, over 30 years. If raptured, Cured at the Age of fceventy-six Mr. XL Brook. Marshall.

Mich. Dear Sir: I began using your Appliance for the cure of ruplure (I had a pretty bad case) think In May. 1905. On November zt. 1I0S.

I quit using It. Since that time have not needed or. used It. am well of rupture and rank myself among those cured by the Brooks Discovery! which, considering my age. 76 years, regard as remarkable.

Very sincerely yours. SAM COVER. Jamestown, N. placed In good ponds they do well an; grow to large size. However, they do not spawn or If they do spawn the eggs do not hatch, for young channel-cats do not appear in ponds that do not have streams flowing Into or through them.

While the spawning habits of these channel-cats are not well understood. It Is generally believed among, fish culturists that the eggs will npt batch except In currents and channels of moving water. The channel-cats are one of our very best fishes and an unusual effort should be made to propagate and protect them in Kansas streams. This would mean, among other things, that the young fish should not be removed from the streams until after they attain a weight of about three pounds. This would give them a chance to spawn at least once before being caught, which would be a safeguard against their rapid diminution.

The present fish and game warden believes that it would be an advantage to the streams, possessing thousands of young fish, to have the larger fish of all THAT DOES WELL- IN KANSAS PONDS kinds removed and used for food purposes and will In the future favor methods and laws best suited to all the people of Kansas that will tend to carry out the above Ideas. A NOURISHING DIET. "Pop, what do the bulls and bears In Wall street live onT" "Mostly lamb chops, my boy American. Diarrhoea WAKEFIELD'S BLACKBERRY BALSAM, has been need In minions of eases of Diarrhoea, Dysentery. Cholera Morbus and Cholera Infantum In the past 14 years without a single failure to cure where the simple directions were followed.

2. WAKEFIELD'S BLACKBERRY BALSAM ls the one well-known diarrhoea mixture that does not depend upon dangerous and habit forming drugs. X. WAKEFIELD'S BLACKBERRY BALSAM Is the one diarrhoea mixture that does not constipate the It leaves them In their regular state. 4.

WAKEFIELD'S BLACKBERRY BALSAM is delicious to the taste, and can be us4 with safety for people of all ageu. Children love It. 5. WAKEFIELD'S BLACKBERRY BALSAM is recommended by Doctors and Nurses. Every careful mother keeps a torp'y In the noose for "rod den calls." 35c or bottles for fl everywhere.

BLACK BASS (Micropterus salmoldes), NOT A GOOD POXD FISH A Wreck in 1892 Well and Strong Kow Owing to the Wonderful Curative Value of For the Kidneys, Liver, Bladder and Blood So writes Mr. J. B. Adams, 81 N. 57th St-, Philadelphia, 'In the early fart of 1892 I was a wreck, and I found I was running into Brlght's Disease, began to take Warner's Safe Cure.

I had a terribly hard fight and was not able to work much of the time for three years. I must have taken over one hundred and fifty bottles by the time I could work at all steadily, but your remedy saved mylife I am positive of that. Since then when I take cold or zeei Daaiy i use warners sale cure witn scale fish such as shiners and chubs when cut into proper sized baits. BULLHEAD A GOOD POND FISH. The bullhead does not take the nook with a quick, active dash like the sun-perch, but is slow and deliberate in movements.

The cork that is being closely watched by the anxious fisherman will move off slowly and frequently stop a number of times before it Is finally under and out of sight. Just as the cork is going out of sight Is the time to Jerk, so my small boy George tells me, who has become quite an expert bullhead fisherman. When the fish is hooked it puts up a stout, persistent bull-like or bull-headed fight for one of Us size. When caught, these fish must be handled with care, as their stout, sharp pectoral and dorsal spines have inflicted many a painful wound In the hands of the inexperienced. The bullheads have not only afforded pleasure and sport for thousands of enthusiastic boy and old-time hickory-pole fisherman, but have also furnished them with millions of messes of good fish.

Dr. G. Brown Good, former secretary of the Smithsonian institution, says, speaking of the bullheads, "If taken from clear cold water it is very palatable. when properly cooked, even delicious. In ja 1 1 a.

i 1 Dr Jordan says' "AU toe BIecles Sooa food fishes." The horned pout or bullheads are espe cially to be recommended as good fish well adapted for pond-cttlture purposes. Their extreme vitality and their ability to adaP themselves to a variety of con dition of environment and their omniver-ous food habits make it possible to successfully raise them in bodies of water 111 adapted to the culture of most other kinds of fish. I have kept bullheads In ponds not more than 2i feet deep. In these limited quarters it was necessary feed them, but they seemed to do well and sometimes spawned and batched bunches of young. PREPARING FISH FOR COOKING.

When taken from warm, muddy, shallow water they can be much Improved and put In good, shape for table use hy putting them In small ponds or pools or even In galvanized iron stock tanks where fresh water can be supplied from a spring or pump. Under such circumstances fish Ehould be red with corn chop, wheat, cornbread or almost any kind of clean vegetable or animal food. For food purposes they should always be killed and allowed to bleed. Fish that are allowed to die, either ra or out of the water, are never, very good. Its credit the cure of thousands of cases of Brighfs Disease.

An army of men I and women, of all ages, are today livlnsr who would be in their rrvM h.H iney nui laiteu arnera eaie cure. When the kidneys are disorganized, and their structure, including the little delicate tubules, are breaking down; when the face is puffed with a pale, marble-like appearance, and the whole body Is dropsical, Warner's Safe Cure tvtll wmt-Av Vi traiiVhlA anA hrtnv Va.HK Hath i Warner's Safe Cure is put up In 50 cent verywhere. I Constipation and Biliousness When the bowels do not move freely. It shows that the liver Is inactive, and the bile, instead of being eliminated by the intestines, is taken up by the blood. In consequence, the internal organs are deranged and you have a bilious attack.

After frequent attacks the skin becomes allow and rough. Tou. are troubled with constipation, coated tongue, bad breath, sour stomach, loss of appetite, pains in the side, and you feel out of sorts, and should take Warner's Safe Pills, purely vegetable, sugar-coated, absolutely free from Injurious substances, a perfect laxative. They do not gripe or leave any bad after effects. 25c a box.

SaiTipIO DottlH -and convince every sufferer from diiIm r-. diseases of the kidneys and liver U0X CI PUIS rrco that warner-s safe cure wm absolutely cure, a sample bottle and a sample box of Warner's Safe Pills will be sent FREE OF CHARGE, postpaid, to anyone who will write WARNER'S SAFE CURE CO, Rochester, N. and mention. haying seen this liberal offer in The Topeka Dally Capital. The genuineness of this offer Is fully guaranteed by the publisher.

SUNFISH (Lepomls GIbbosus), A SMALL GAME FISH COMWON IN KANSAS.