USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 66
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It is related that Dr. Peter Wilson, an educated Seneca Chief, communicated to O. H. Marshall, Esq., the following Seneca tradition :
A party of Senecas returning from the Ohio in the spring of the year, ascended the outlet of Chautauqua
lake, passed into the lake, and while paddling through it caught a fish, of a kind with which they were not familiar, and they threw it in the bottom of their canoe. Reaching the head of the lake, they made a portage across to the Chautauqua Creek, then swollen with the spring freshets. Descending the creek to Lake Erie, they found, to their astonishment, the fish still alive. They threw it into the lake and it disap- peared. In process of time the same fish appeared abundantly in the lake, having never been caught in it before. They concluded they all sprang from the Chau- tauqua progenitor, and hence they named the lake "Ga- ja-dah-gwah," compounded of two Seneca words, "Ga- jah." 'fish,' and "Ga-dah-wah," 'taken out.' In pro- cess of time the word became contracted into "Jad- dah-gwah;' the prefix Ga being dropped as is often the case.
Other authorities give other versions; however, many of the older authorities hold to the fish legend and there is reason to believe that the fish referred to was the mascollonge or muskallonge, on account of its lively habits, large size and general game qualities that ap- pealed to the early sportsmen and continues to draw the Isaac Waltons to the lakes of our county. These war- riors of the water began to diminish in number, due largely to the many improper methods employed to take them, and the anglers began to fear that the species would soon be exterminated. It is most fortunate that the efforts of Mr. Seth Green and Mr. Eleazer Green of Jamestown, N. Y., were attracted at this time to the artificial propagation of the muskallonge, and it is a pleasure to submit the series of correspondence, furnish- ed through the efforts and courtesy of Mr. Grant E. Winchester. that passed on the subject and finally re- sulted in the erection and maintenance of the present hatchery at Bemus Point.
Bemus Point, N. Y., June 22, 1920.
Mr. R. H. Heppell, Dunkirk. N. Y.
Dear Mr. Heppell: At last I have succeeded in get- ting nearly a full record of muskallonge work done at Chautauqua Lake of which I am inclosing on separate sheet.
As you will note I am asking that Mr. Green's let- ters be returned to me. Frank Cheney took charge of the work after 1888 for two or three years and he has lost his records, but tells me that he planted from 1 to 2,000.000 each year. Frank Redband of Caledonia, N. Y., was here one or two years, of which I have no record. Randall R. Brown took charge about 1894. He had no record until 1896. Brown was foreman from 1895 to 1910. The first hatching, or nearly all in fact, until the hatchery was built. was done in boxes in the lake. In 1898 the first eggs were hatched in the hatch- ing jars, with the sky for a roof, where the hatchery now stands, and this was continued for about five years, when the present hatchery was erected in 1903.
In 1895 I did my first work for the Fish Commission at Chautauqua Lake. In 1899 I went to the Adiron- dacks as foreman of the Saranac Inn Hatchery. I re- mained there until 1907. when I was transferred to the Hudson River at Linlithgo, N. Y., where a new hatchery and ponds were erected for the shad and bass propagating. I remained there until July 11. 1910. when I was again transferred to Chautauqua Hatchery, Bemus Point. N Y., to the place of beginning.
I trust this report will cover what you want. If anything is lacking. let me know and I will furnish such as I am able to.
Very truly vours. GRANT E. WINCHESTER, Foreman.
Chautauqua Fish Hatchery, Bemus Point, N. Y .. . June 22. 1920. Report of Muskallonge Fry planted in Chautauqua Lake.
I can only give estimate of number hatched and planted from 1887 or 1888, when the first fry were hatched, to 1896, as. I am unable to get any record.
Date.
No. Frv. 5.000,000
1888 to 1896 (estimate)
1896
1,000.000
1897
1,815,000
1898
900.000
1899
3,055.000
1900
3.290,000
1901
2,370,000
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296
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
Jamestown, December 2, 1887,
Seth Green, Esq., Superintendent, etc .:
Dear Sir: Yours of the thirtieth ult. received yes- terday. I am highly pleased at your interest in our muskallonge. They are a noble fish, and I trust that you will make the artificial propagation of them a success.
The fisherman from whom I obtained the fish from which I took the spawn sent you, would not be able to furnish reliable information as to the habits of the fish. I can get it, however, from others and will do so. Had the lake not already frozen over I could get, I think, fifteen or twenty by engaging a number of fish- ermen and then building a large crate and anchoring it in the lake over winter. Would they live in this way, think you, until spring? If you advise it I will try and do this if the ice goes out soon, so as to allow more fishing this fall. I think there would be no trou- ble in the spring getting all needed by drawing a seine.
I have another idea: There are large springs at one point near the lake shore; why not buy the property on which they are and start a hatchery? I believe that there is sufficient water and that the muskallonge would thrive there; as they frequent the lake at the point where these springs empty it is a favorable point for fishing them. The lay of the land about the springs is such that ponds could be made at small expense. If any of my suggestions meet your favor, let me hear from you. I wish you could come here and go with me to see the springs.
Very truly yours, ELEAZER GREEN.
Rochester, N. Y., December 8, 1887.
Eleazer Green, Esq .:
Dear Sir: Yours received. I shall be pleased to have you collect such information as you can from the fish- ermen on Chautauqua lake, and forward it to me. We shall undoubtedly be able to get some points of value from them.
The muskallonge would not live in crates all win- ter without feeding. I think we shall be able to man- age some way to get them in the early spring. I do not think it would be advisable to make any purchase of property until we learn how to hatch them. After this is done we will know what we require to go on with the work.
Yours,
SETH GREEN.
Jamestown, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1888.
Seth Green, Superintendent, etc .:
Dear Sir: Since writing you some time ago I have heen talking with some of the Chautauqua lake fish- ermen about the time when muskallonge spawn, and from information and opinions received I am inclined to the belief that muskallonge spawn earlier than we had thought; that they spawn before the ice goes out, in fact.
I believe that it would be a good idea for you to come on here and catch a fish and examine the spawn, and to do so soon. If you should come on I will sup- ply the necessary appliances, some that I had on hand when the law prohibiting spearing through the ice went in effect. Should you find it impossible to come, I will catch one and send you if desired, and permis- sion is given me to do so.
Very truly yours. ELEAZER GREEN.
Eleazer Green, Esq., Jamestown, N. Y .:
Dear Sir: Yours of the tenth inst. is received and in reply will say that if you can do so I would like to have you catch a muskallonge and forward it to me. It may be possible, as you say, that they cast their spawn hefore the ice goes out. I hope you will not give others permission to catch any, as it might con- vey a wrong impression among the people and lead to trouble. Yours,
SETH GREEN.
Jamestown, N. Y., Feb. 16, '88.
Seth Green, Superintendent, etc .:
Dear Sir: Yours of the thirteenth inst. came duly to hand. I will certainly not give any one permission to catch, and will catch only what I send you myself.
I am very desirous that the efforts to propagate muskallonge artificially may succeed. I am much in- terested in their increase and preservation in Chau- tauqua lake, as you will readily see when I state that I own "summer resort" property on the lake shore. I had hoped that you would come and personally sup- erintend the catching, but as you do not, 1 have caused an item to be published in one of our papers to the effect that I am acting under your directions and au-
1902
1,090,000
1903
2,382,600
1904
957,100
1905
1,000,000
1906
2,402,300
1907
2,500,000
1908
1,500,000
1909
3,546,000
1910
2,170,850
1911
5,850,000
1912
5,400,000
1913
1,000,000
1915
3,250,000
1916
4,637,500
1918
1,360,000
1919
3,876,500
1920
4,291,720
69,894,570
GRANT E. WINCHESTER, Foreman.
REPORT ON HATCHING MUSKALLONGE.
To the Commissioners of Fisheries of New York:
Gentlemen: On behalf of my late father, I here- with respectfully submit for your consideration a re- port of the experiment made at Chautauqua Lake, New York, in the artificial propagation of the muskal- longe:
While the attempt made in the spring of 1887 was not a success, in so far as the actual production of the young fry was concerned, our experiment was valua- ble, as we were able to undertake the work this sea- son with a better knowledge of the needs of the case.
In order that we might make no mistake as to the spawning season of the muskallonge. I placed myself in communication with Mr. Eleazer Green, of James- town, New York, a gentlemen who has observed the gradual decrease of this valuable fish in Chautanqua lake, and has manifested much interest in their arti- ficial production, and with whom the following cor- respondence took place:
Jamestown, N. Y., November 28, 1887.
Seth Green:
Dear Sir: Yesterday I drove to Ashville, passing up the west shore of Chautauqua lake. On my return I stopped at the home of a fisherman to get a muskal- longe. I went to the lake with him and he had a box anchored a few rods from shore in which he had five or six alive, which he said he caught the day before (the twenty-sixth). 1 got one weighing about six pounds, and, upon dressing it, found spawn from which I took the inclosed. 1 send it to you, thinking it might give you information as to the time of spawning. It would seem to me to indicate that the spawning season was earlier than your assistant, Mr. Mason, who was here last spring, was informed that it was. I can not tell from the inspection of spawn as to its state of ad- vancement, or when it would mature, though this seems to me to be well developed.
Should you wish any further information which I can obtain, write me and I will get it for you, as I am anxious that the propagation of muskallonge arti- ficially be inade successful.
Very truly yours, ELEAZER GREEN.
To which the following reply was made :
Rochester, November 30, 1887.
Eleazer Green, Esq., Jamestown. N. Y .: Dear Sir: Yours received with spawn inclosed. which I was very glad to see. From its appearance I should judge that it would mature early in the spring -about the latter part of March-but in regard to this it would be difficult to say with certainty.
I would like to have you ascertain from this fisher- man what he knows about the habits of the muskal- longe, and also if he thinks there could be arrange- ments made whereby he could keep a number of the fish over until next spring. The money at our disposal will not admit of any very great outlay until we find out just how the work should be done, after which we could undoubtedly obtain the means to make a regular thing of it each season. I am much interested in the matter and would like to see it made a success. I think there will he no difficulty in hatching them, pro- vided we can manage to procure the ripe spawning fish alive.
Yours. SETH GREEN.
2,500,000
1914
2,750,000
1917
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297
CONSERVATION OF FISH AND GAME
thority, and I shall act openly and publicly, so that my acts can not be misconstrued. I had a talk with one of our most intelligent fishermen yesterday, and he stated that he had caught muskallonge through the ice in March that would be discharging spawn when he took them from the water; that though the dis- charge was, of course, caused by the shock and the wound from the spear, yet he did not believe it would have occurred if the spawn had not been substantially ripe; he is quite positive that they spawn in March. I will go up the first day that seems favorable and see what I can get for you: I shall send it by express to the address printed on your letter-heads. Very truly yours,
ELEAZER GREEN.
Jamestown, N. Y., March 1, 1888.
Seth Green, Superintendent, etc .:
Dear Sir: I send you today by American Express a muskallonge caught this day. I strongly suspect that it is a male, but as I did not feel at liberty to catch another I send it along. Please let me hear from you upon its receipt, and if you desire another, inform me at once, as the water is getting so roily that it is al- most impossible to see them now. Very truly yours,
ELEAZER GREEN.
Rochester, N. Y., March 3, 1888.
Eleazer Green, Esq., Jamestown, N. Y .:
Dear Sir: Yours received, and also muskallonge. I
have made an examination of it. I found it to be a female which certainly would not have cast her spawn in less than a month from the time she was caught. Yours, SETH GREEN.
Rochester, N. Y., March 24, '88.
Eleazer Green, Esq., Jamestown, N. Y .:
My Dear Sir: If we make another attempt at mus- kallonge catching it will not be a great while before we will have to be at it, and I write to inquire what assistance, if any, my man can depend upon from your people. The expense attending the experiment this season I expect will be somewhat greater than last, and there is no funds set apart by the commission for this purpose except what may be used from the amount allotted to the Caledonia hatchery, and I would therefore like to know if we can depend upon any financial aid from your people; and if so, how much.
I would also like to know if you have learned any- thing more concerning the spawning of the muskal- longe since you wrote me last. Mr. Mason is of the opinion that they had not spawned when he was there last summer, which was from April twenty-seventh to May sixth, but in regard to this I think he must be mistaken. At any rate, we have yet to find out be- fore we know for certain.
Yours, SETH GREEN.
Jamestown, N. Y., March 26, 1888.
Seth Green:
Dear Sir: Yours of the twenty-fourth inst. just at hand. I have learned nothing new about the spawn- ing of the muskallonge, but if you desire it, will catch and send you another, if can do it at once, before ice and water get any worse than now. Please state amount of financial aid you desire, and I think I can raise it if not too much. I will let you know at once whether I can raise the amount you state. E. GREEN.
Rochester, N. Y., March 27. 1888.
Eleazer Green, Esq .: Dear Sir: Yours received, if you can do so, I would like to have you catch me another muskallonge as soon as possible. If you could raise from twenty-five to fifty dollars it would help matters very much. Very truly,
SETH GREEN.
Jamestown, N. Y., April 2d, 1888.
Seth Green:
Dear Sir: 1 have not been able to get you another muskallonge, and the ice is now unsafe. Will try again as soon as the ice goes out. I can assure you of at least twenty-five dollars towards expenses. Winter ice will be out within five or six days.
Yours truly, E. GREEN.
Jamestown, N. Y., April 10, 1888. Seth Green, Superintendent, etc .:
Dear Sir: I have been unahle since writing you last to procure a muskallonge. The water has not been still when clear since ice went out. I do not believe I shall be able to get one before you should come on, but will try for a day or two longer. I think it unsafe to wait much longer before coming. When will you be here?
Yours truly, E. GREEN. Rochester, N. Y., April 19, 1888.
E. Green, Esq .:
Dear Sir: Yours of the eighteenth inst. is received. I expect to send my man, Mr. Mason, to Jamestown
ahout next week Tuesday, April twenty-fourth. I will have him call upon you or I will notify you in time so you can meet him at the train. I think I shall have him bring a seine and catch some of the muskallonge, if possible, and put them in cars an- chored in the lake. I think this is the only way we can get ripe fish to take the spawn from. I hope we may be successful this season. Was glad to get your letter. Yours, SETH GREEN.
Rochester, N. Y., April 21, 1888.
E. Green. Esq., Jamestown, N. Y .:
My Dear Sir: Yours received and also muskallonge, which I have examined and am of the opinion that it would have spawned in about a week's time. I will have Mr. Mason start as soon as possible, and if he can do so he will reach Jamestown next Monday night; if not, then Tuesday sure.
I have talked with Mr. Mason and given him my ideas in regard to the matter, and you will find him a thoroughly honest and conscientious man, who will do all in his power to make a success. I regret ex- ceedingly that I am not able to come myself, but my health is very poor and I have been confined to the house for about two months. I sincerely hope a suc- cess will be made, and from the appearance of the fe- male you sent me I have strong faith that we will succeed.
Yours, SETH GREEN.
The time having arrived for operations, Mr. Jonathan Mason, an assistant to the Caledonia hatchery and fish culturist of many years experience, was dispatched by Mr. Seth Green to Jamestown, on Chautauqua Lake. The following is Mr. Mason's report, which will be found of interest :
April 23-Left Mumford at 6.04 P. M .; arrived at Jamestown at 11.30 P. M.
April 24-Met Mr. Eleazer Green and went up the lake with him four miles to Jones' Hotel, and con- cluded to try and secure some muskallonge there. April 25-Made fish-cars in the forenoon, in which to deposit the muskallonge, and fished with seine in the afternoon, but did not succeed in catching any muskallonge.
April 26-Hired four men to assist in hauling seine; fished in forenoon; caught two muskallonge, both males; fished again at night; caught two males.
April 27-Went to Long Point; caught one nine- pound female, not ripe, and one six-pound male; put them in fish car and towed them down to Jones' Hotel.
April 28-Fished all day; caught seven muskallonge, two small ones, put them back: one of them was a six-pound female, nearly spawned out; got about two thousand eggs, looking very nice and measuring ten to the inch.
April 29-Did not fish, it being Sunday; looked the fish over confined in cars, but did not find any ripe. April 30-Fished all day; caught ten muskallonge; one large female weighing sixteen pounds, but could not get any milt, only by opening one of the males and pressing it out, seeured about 60,000 eggs from the large one; at night the two females, weighing re- spectively nine and six pounds, were ripe, but the milt was again scarce, so opened two more males and took about 40,000 eggs from the two; put them in five shad-hatching boxes and kept them in still water over night.
May 1-Stormy day: took spawn across the lake to Southlands creek, where there was a little current; temperature of water, fifty-one degrees Fahrenheit. May 2-Cold west wind; spawn looking good; tem- perature of water forty-five degrees A. M., fifty-two degrees P. M.
298
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
May 3-The unimpregnated eggs commencing to have white spots in them; water fifty degrees A. M., fifty-two degrees P. M.
May 4-Wind south and warm in forenoon; thunder- storm in the afternoon; water fifty degrees A. M., fifty-two degrees P. M.
May 5-Cold north wind: spawn forming in clusters some; can see formation of fish in the eggs; water fifty degrees and fifty-two degrees.
May 6-Water warming considerably; can see the formation of fish plainly; water fifty degrees and fif- ty-six degrees.
May 7-Eggs doing well; the had eggs are cluster- Ing, and can be taken out easily with small scoop net; temperature of water, fifty-two degrees A. M., fifty- eight degrees P. M.
May 8th-Eggs looking good; bad eggs most all taken out; the eggs are heavier than those of the shad; temperature of water fifty-four degrees A. M., fifty-eight degrees P. M.
May 9-Eggs looking good; warm in the forenoon: had a heavy rain in the afternoon; made the creek very muddy and was obliged to stay with the eggs and tow the boxes so as to give them a circulation of water; temperature of water fifty-six degrees A. M., fifty-eight degrees P. M.
May 10-Water clearing up in creek; in the after- noon the wind came down the lake strong and was obliged to put the boxes again in the creek; 8.30 A. M. saw the first movement of the fish in the eggs; tem- perature of water, fifty-five degrees A. M., sixty-five degrees P. M.
May 11-Some of the eggs commenced hatching; the fry were not as lively as should think they ought to be; temperature of water fifty-six degrees A. M., sixty-six degrees P. M.
May 12-Eggs hatching out fast in the morning; ob- served minnows trying to suck the fry through the wire on bottom of boxes and to overcome this I put on double bottoms; most all the eggs hatched out dur- ing the night, temperature of water fifty-six degrees A. M., sixty-eight degrees P. M.
May 13-Young fry doing well; cold day; tempera- ture of water fifty-six degrees A. M., sixty-five degrees P. M.
May 14th-Put the young fry in the lake, and as close an estimate as I can make there were 60,000 fry; they should have been kept longer, but as the place was not suitable I was obliged to turn them out.
On Mr. Mason's return from Chautauqua Lake he brought with him a jar containing several of the young fry over which I kept a constant watch and ex- amined them with a microscope daily; the young fry when first hatched are certainly the most helpless lit- tle creatures it has ever been my fortune to see; they are just three-eighths of an inch in length and show no movement of the gill covers or signs of breathing until they are nine days old, though with the aid of the microscope the heart action and circulation of the blood are seen to be strong and vigorous. So quiet did they lie for hours at a time that, if I had not been able to see the blood circulate, I should have been tempted to have thrown them away for dead. When the fry are eight days old they commence to show some signs of activity and are found clinging to the blades of grass placed in the vessels and also lying upon the partly submerged blades. At nine days old, with the aid of the microscope, can be discerned the mouth and gill covers in motion; the fry are then a half an inch in length and the yoke sac, which is of good size when first hatched, is two-thirds absorbed in water, the temperature of which average sixty de- grees Fahrenheit.
When the fry are twelve days old the motion of the mouth and gills are plainly visible to the naked eye and the fish commence swimming about and have as- sumed a much darker color than when hatched. At fourteen days old the elongated head, characteristic of this species, is very perceptible, and at fifteen days the yolk sac is entirely absorbed and the fish commences looking for food. The fish are then ready to be turned into the water and seek their subsistence.
From the knowledge thus gained and upon consul- tation with Mr. Jonathan Mason, I should recommend to your honorable body that in order to make the work a succeess and obtain the best results, that a suitable hatchery building should be erected on the shores of Chautauqua lake at some convenient point which may hereafter he selected. The building need not be an elaborate affair; a plain frame structure, thirty-five feet long and thirty feet wide, would be sufficient. This should be equipped with from one to two dozen chase automatic hatching jars in which to place the eggs until they reach the hatching point, and also
twelve troughs about sixteen feet in length and four- teen inches wide; in these the fry should be kept un- til the yolk sac is absorbed and then turned into the open waters.
As there appears to be no suitable place on the lake where the necessary fall of water for the hatchery can be obtained, the water supply must, of necessity, be pumped from the lake into a receiving tank or reser- voir and from thence distributed into the hatching apparatus. The amount of water necessary for the work is estimated at three inches of volume.
On consultation with Commissioner Sherman, I was requested to ascertain the cost of the building, equip- ments, engine, pump, etc., and herewith present the following statement:
Estimated cost of building $500 00
Estimated cost of equipment 150 00
Cost of Shipman engine 200 00
Cost of pump 135 00
Estimated cost of forty rods of seine 75 00
Estimated cost of row boat.
30 00
Total $1,090 00
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The Shipman engine above referred to is described as follows: Stationary engine No. 2, with cast iron boiler, full two-horse power, weight complete, 750 pounds; floor space, 52x32 inches: cylinder, three inches diameter, stroke four inches; pulley fourteen inches diameter, three inch face; 400 revolutions. Price $200.00.
This engine is very simple in construction and a per- son of ordinary intellect can learn to manage it in from one hour to a half day's time. The fuel used is kerosene oil, costing about four and one-quarter cents per gallon and about one and one-half gallons are consumed per hour, making the cost per twenty-four hours not to exceed one dollar and fifty cents. The cost of the engine and pump includes putting them in place, with the exception of the transportation and railroad fare of man.
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