Minnow Propagation
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117 (4/.4 /4v,474-4-.4 / Minnow Propagation By JOHN DOBIE Aquatic Biologist Division of Game and Fish CONSERVATION BULLETIN NUMBER 13 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION CONSERVATION BULLETIN NO. 13 Published by the Minnesota Department of Conservation, Bureau of Information, 1948. Permission to reprint is granted if proper credit is given. Send marked copy. STATE OF MINNESOTA Luther W. Youngdahl, Governor Chester S. Wilson, Commissioner E. V. Willard, Deputy Commissioner Minnesota Department of Conservation FRANK D. BLAIR, Director H. G. WEBER, Director DIVISION OF GAME AND FISH DIVISION OF FORESTRY C. T. EKMAN, Director L. E. FIERO, Director WATER RESOURCES AND ENGINEERING DIVISION OF STATE PARKS RAY D. NOLAN, Director CARL W. MOEN, Director DIVISION OF LANDS AND MINERALS BUREAU OF INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS Brendan J. Connelly, Editor 633 State Office Bldg., Saint Paul 1 Thirteenth of a series . Minnow Propagation is the thirteenth of a series of conservation bulletins published by the Minnesota Department of Conservation. The aim of each publication is to present a comprehensive treatment of a single natural his- tory or conservation subject. Such coverage, which is more detailed than is possible in a single issue of THE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER, our official maga- zine, constitutes a progressive addition to the informational services offered by the Department of Conservation. Requests constantly come to our department for authentic information about the propagation and management of minnows. In order that the pub- lic may have a better understanding of the subject, John Dobie, one of our aquatic biologists, has prepared this series of informative articles. Chester S. Wilson Commissioner of Conservation CONSERVATION BULLETIN NUMBER THIRTEEN Minnow Propagation PREFACE Postwar fishing pressures in Minnesota have resulted in heavy de- mands for more bait minnows. Minnow dealers have been forced to obtain bait fishes from already heavily fished streams, and have found it necessary to search for new waters. The Minnesota Department of Conservation feels that the present bulletin will help bait dealers to make better use of the minnows they now obtain from native streams and to rear their own in artificial ponds when necessary. It is hoped that this bulletin will contribute towards easing the bait minnow shortage. Frank D. Blair Director Division of Game and Fish Minnesota Department of Conservation Saint Paul, Minnesota 1948 FATHEAD MINNOW 0,410010, w BRASSY MINNOW BLUNTNOSE MINNOW About 2,890,000 minnows are sold to fishermen each week. Artificial Propagation Needed To Relieve Minnow Shortage John Dobie A large percentage of tourists fish that are killed during seining come to Minnesota in order to operations or those that are lost in to enjoy the good fishing of transportation and holding of the fish. Eour 10,000 lakes. They arrive in such This heavy drain on the natural sup- numbers that the tourist business is ply of bait fishes has resulted in the third largest in the state. many periods of acute min- The sale of minnows and Minnow now shortage. suckers for bait is an impor- The natural habits of the Propagation tant part of this business. minnows have contributed to There are about 1,700 retail ' • ' this shortage. When spawn- and 150 wholesale dealers Number One ing, these little fish congre- in operation each year. gate along the lake shores The 1,700 retail bait dealers have and in streams where they are easy to an average sale of about one gallon seine. The bait dealer can then ob- of minnows a week. The number of tain all that he wants but there is minnows in a gallon varies according very little demand for minnows early to the size of the fish but 1,700 is in the spring. By midsummer, when an average number. Therefore, about the demand is large, the fish have 2,890,000 minnows are sold to the spread over the lake and are difficult fishermen each week of the 17 or 18 to catch in large quantities. Some week season. While this is a tremen- dealers have solved the problem dous figure, it does not include the by building or leasing ponds large enough to hold a supply from spring JOHN DOBIE is an aquatic biologist with to midsummer. the Bureau of Fisheries Research of the Divi- sion of Game and Fish, with which he has The geographical distribution of been associated since 1940. He previously was fishes has further complicated the employed by the U.S. Forest Service, the Wis- shortage of bait. The demand for consin Conservation Department, and as a bait fishes is heaviest in the northern wildlife technician with the Minnesota ECW resort area where the deep lakes and program. He is one of the authors of Propa- gation of Minnows and Other Bait Species. cold streams do not produce large 3 4 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION quantities of minnows. Consequently, tinues, the dealers may find them- large numbers must be hauled hun- selves in the same situation that ex- dreds of miles from the warm south- ists in Missouri where all the game ern lakes where the production is fish waters of the state are closed. high and the demand is low. Most In the northern part of the state of the long hauls are during hot where there are very few lakes that weather and the losses are high. can be managed entirely for min- A supply of minnows is necessary nows, the bait dealer will find it nec- to provide forage for the large game essary to raise his own supply in fish populations of our lakes and is ponds. For many years dealers have so important to the sport fishing in- been raising bait fishes in both natu- dustry that the Game and Fish Di- ral and artificial ponds and some have vision has developed a program of produced over 200,000 minnows per regulations to safeguard this resource. acre. In lakes and streams where the tak- There are many advantages in ing of minnows has endangered the minnow propagation. game fish populations, the seining of (1) The dealer can raise the spe- minnows has been prohibited. Exact cies of fish most suited to his trade. specifications on net mesh size, type (2) The dealer can be more sure of transportation equipment that can of a regular supply of minnows of be used, minimum aeration require- suitable size. ments for transportation and holding (3) Since the minnows are always tanks, and maximum load capacity available, they do not have to be for these tanks have been formulated seined up in large quantities with in order to eliminate much of the loss the resulting loss from handling and that occurs when minnows are han- holding of large numbers. dled. Some shallow lakes have been (4) The fisherman will be able to set aside as minnow lakes to be man- obtain a better conditioned bait and aged entirely for bait fishes. A few one that is more suited to his needs. have required stocking and others (5) The cost of raising minnows needed to be closed for one or more will often be less than seining and seasons but all are opened to com- transporting them from distant wa- mercial fishing whenever the fish ters. population is large enough to justify In Minnesota, an increasing num- that action. The operation of these ber of dealers have become interested lakes is an important step in improv- in raising minnows, so the Game and ing the bait situation. Fish Division has cooperated with If the present trend of closing wa- the Wisconsin and Michigan Depart- ters to the taking of minnows con- ments and the U. S. Fish and Wild- ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION NEEDED 5 life Service in putting out a bulletin difficulties. There are many questions on the propagation of bait fishes. It that cannot be answered at the pres- is written to present all of the avail- ent time, but when the answers are able information on the subject and available, the bulletin will be revised to help the beginner over his first to include them. One of Minnesota's many natural minnow ponds. Fertilizing a minnow pond. Seining operations in an artificial minnow pond. Many factors determine ideal pond site. Artificial vs Natural Minnow Ponds Minnows can be raised in vari- sirable. ous types of ponds, either 4. At least one sloping, solid bot- natural or artificial. Natural tom shore is needed for seine land- ponds have no inlet or outlet and are ings. dependent on surface runoff for a 5. A pond with a high natural fer- supply of water while artificial ponds tility is more economical to operate are formed by a dam or dyke along because less fertilization is required. a water course. 6. Game fish in the pond will often Types of Ponds reduce the minnow popula- The natural pond is very Mi n now tion to nothing. desirable because it can be Propa gation Natural ponds cannot be put into operation without expected to produce as many the expense of a dam or fill. minnows per acre as artificial All natural ponds, however, Num be r Two ponds, but when the cost of are not suitable for minnow purchase or rental is not too propagation. The shallow ones are high, they can be very practical. subject to oxygen depletion during These ponds cannot be harvested hot weather; those with a heavy completely because after the second growth of aquatic plants waste valu- seine haul, the catch of minnows is able fertility, and a pond full of too low to justify the cost of con- weeds and brush is difficult to seine. tinued seining. A natural pond should fill the fol- While the artificial pond is more lowing requirements if it is to be easy to operate and is more produc- used in minnow propagation: tive of minnows than the natural 1.