Casting Digital Nets

11/28, 1930.

Mr. Bob Ripple

Watertown S. Dak.

Dear Bob.—

Just got home from Andes and wanted to stop over and see you but it was to too late. pulled Pulled several hauls but dident didn't get much. the The bigest biggest haul got 1400#, had twice as big a seine as last year too, but couldn't find any carp. Caught lots of crappies and believe me there they're nice this year they grew twice the size they were last, the carp are pretty scarce down there I think. I am going back there after Christmas if its it's O. K. with you. I can get all the fish around the wells at that time when they come up for fresh water. Andes is a peculiar lake to fish as you know.

I am disgusted the way election went in our state Bob, but dont don't forget when the opportunity comes I will always remember you, every thing everything would of been O. K. if things hadn't taken a flop here. but But we're setting pretty any way, altho although it perhaps will take some time to get lined up.

We were lucky enough to get Big Stone from north of the Islands to Browns Valley about 14 miles of the north end of the lake. Were just alowed allowed one big seine in that portion of the lake.

Now Bob if its it's in your power to give Jerry the S. Dak. side wish you would.

The people here are all satisfied to have one big crew on each side of the lake as it would furnish work for so many people here, I surely would like to see you here on this job this winter. dont Don't mention this to any fisherman. if If you happen this way call me up.

Yours Truly

Moose

Brookings, Dec. 7, 1930.

Mr. Everett Randall,

Browns Valley, Minnesota.

Dear Mr. Randall:

Have not been at Watertown until the other day since my headquarters are at Dudley Hotel, Brookings for the time being so am tardy in answering yours of Nov. 28th.

The Lake Andes work turned out about as I had expected during open water fishing and I agree with you in that when the ice forms of about a certain thickness the remaining carp will be found bunched up around the wells, especially the north well. Hope you do go back down there and that you get enough fish to warrant the expense. Dont Don't think but what you will encounter a fine bunch of stuff at this north well and no one in South Dakota wants to see that lake cleaned of carp more than I do.

Nothing much was done at our last commission meeting relative to either Big Stone or Traverse and so far as I can see our commission had no idea of going into Big Stone at least. Traverse will have to be watched during this low water etc. If Minnesota is really going into Big Stone it is a surprise to me and I do not know just what our commission will do in this latter event.

Was glad to learn from a late copy of the People's Press of Sisseton that they had corrected an article they ran in a former issue in reference to myself and seining operations. I dont don't like to be misquoted and have nothing to take back that I have ever said relative to seining or rough fish work while in South Dakota.

Notice your comment Everett and thank you for same, Minnesota is a wonderful state of waters and fish and I sure would relish the opportunity to be in that work at Big Stone or any where else that the damnable carp are coming out to make way for better fishing. Expect to be over in that locality soon looking up shallow waters etc. at a number of our lakes and sloughs.

Very truly yours,

R. L. Ripple.

Jan. 7, 1931.

Mr. R. L. Ripple,

C/o Dudly Hotel,

Brookings, S. D.

Dear Bob:

I have yours with remittance of $507.09, which same has been credited to Madison operation.

Just received a telephone communication from McBride at Lake Andes this morning and he states that arrangements have been made, through Hank Schemmer, with the owners of a shallow lake in Bennett County, for large quantity of bullheads. This lake is reported to be teeming with under-size bullheads and Mac would like to have several truck loads of them transferred to Lake Andes. He states that arrange- ments will be made to have "Moose" Randall do the seining for them when he returns to Lake Andes for the purpose of completing his opera- tions on that lake.

In this bullhead work, they would like to have our 500' bullhead net which was sent into Huron during the Fair. Do not know just where this net is but if you will kindly advise me where it can be picked up, I will arrange to have it taken to Lake Andes at an early date. They have gotten in touch with Randall and he advises them that he has a bag which he can attach to this net, which equipment would make it possible for them to take out great quantities of bullheads which infest the lake in Bennett County.

Kindly advise me at once where this net can be secured, so that I may arrange to have it sent to Andes.

Very truly yours,

O. H. Johnson, Director

Department of Game and Fish.

OHJ: AW

Brookings, January 16, 1931.

Mr. O. H. Johnson, Director,

Department of Game & Fish,

Pierre, South Dakota.

Dear Mr. Johnson:

So that you may know what move I have made toward the bullhead work contemplated for Lake Andes through the getting of these fish from Scotchmans lake down in Bennet County, will say as follows. I would greatly prefer doing this work with me own me men so far as possible and our own equipment, like nets, trucks, etc.

Had Lester meet me here at Brookings last night also got Schemmer on the phone to settle some things regarding lake, depth of lake, how far from habitation, etc. Telephone call was $1.25 and worth it before going down there as I intend sending a full line of equiptment equipment, tanks, seines, hoopnets, air compressor, ropes, chisels, running boards etc. This will all go on our big new body Ford truck and I will await word from Lester about conditions for getting the bullheads etc.

With your permission I have gotten hold of Fred Curtis our warden at Huron, he will go through with Lester and if things pan out after a severe trial, Lester may have Dutch shoot across with another man from Rapid City hatchery for man power. Understand the nearest farm house is about two miles distant from the lake they will work. Depth of lake is about six feet in the deeper parts so I am not sending our big twelve foot seine, but am sending about 600 ft. of eight ft. leaders that will serve better. There is little about nets and netting that Lester does not know and if a center bag is necessary, Lester will make one up from one of the leaders.

If we can make use of our new one inch mesh hoopnets, that will be fine and I think we can. Bullheads supposed to run in size from 6 inches to 14 inches, Schemmer says. Will keep you posted in this work. Lester and equiptment equipment etc. will no doubt be at Winner on Sunday night to connect with Schemmer if he wants to go out to lake with them.

Very truly yours,

R. L. Ripple

Mr. Johnson:

If the Bullhead work at Scotchmans lake pans out as we hope it will, I will arrange to have Dutch bring our International truck accross across from Rapid City to this lake so we can keep two trucks running while the work is on.

I am keeping our SECOND POND TRUCK with Lawrence Sorenson in case I have to have that truck for work in these parts for lake areation etc.

R. L. Ripple

Brookings, January 19, 1931.

Mr. O. H. Johnson, Director,

Department of Game & Fish,

Pierre, South Dakota.

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Carp Seining At Lake Mitchell

Last fall during open water it was the desire of some people at Mitchell to have the Russian Colonists seine their lake to remove the carp and I told Mr. Peterson also Mr. Noble that I would endeavor to let them know when I could get away from from other work in order to make an experimental seine haul. Although admitting that I have failed to connect with the Russians to make such haul owing to stress of other work, I admit that I had little faith in anything worth while worthwhile, the Russians would be able to accomplish with such small equiptment equipment as they have.

It seems to me, knowing the depths etc. of Lake Mitchell, that any seining operations attempted there other than to attempt to shut off the carp in the bays during spawning season of such fish, would meet with failure by any crew unless equipped with very deep seines for the purpose or as we used out at Orman Dam. In other words special equiptment equipment would have to made use of to accomplish much. Then to, there is the matter of green stumps and other matter at the bottom of that artificial lake, the old creek bed at the upper end where it could be expected carp would hold out.

Further, it is my opinion that the carp in a general way, speaking of numbers, consist of small stuff that has naturally propagated during the couple years the lake has been raised. It appears to me that here is one lake where if anything worth while worthwhile is attempted in removing carp, the work should be started among the bays and upper end of lake during the carp spawning time and even then it is a guess of any man what could be done.

Any netting operation down there would please those people in showing up how numerous the game fishes may be and this information is desired by them as much as to get out the carp. I for one am not anxious to get into any additional rough fishing operations the balance of this winter since we have enough grief along the line on the hand at present time.

Mr. O. H. Johnson, . . 2.

If, as you say, Mr. Jerry Wilson of the Lake Andes seining operations wishes to make an experimental seine haul at Lake Mitchell just after finishing at Andes for the purpose of determining what is there and what can be expected in being able to seine the lake at all, then that will be fine with me. Will be more than glad to be on hand to supervise such haul and will hope for its success. No one can be more interested in getting carp out of Lake Mitchell than myself but I know its a hard nut to crack in such work.

I am convinced that game fishes are in Lake Mitchell in great numbers, however, this should be determined previous to any hook and line fishing there to the public. I am not making any guess when I say that the Black Bass, Bullheads, and Wall Eyed Pikes we have stocked the lake with, have all done fine. Also there have been some fine natural hatches of game fishes there. An experimental seine haul during this winter and if they can come in clean, might determine something about the numbers of game fishes.

If I can spare Lester and if you think it advisable, I might send him to Lake Mitchell with a few of our big hoop-nets in the near future and if he could find the proper depth of water to keep the nets from freezing to the ice, he might catch game fish in numbers enough to determine some thing something. Open water would be far better for this, after our Pike work would be out of the way.

Very truly yours,

R. L. Ripple

January 27, 1931.

Mr. R. L. Ripple,

Brookings, S. D.

Dear Bob:

Have yours of the 25th, also remittance covering rough fish work at Oakwood. Glad to learn that operations are about com- pleted on Fish Lake and that Smith will get started on Hendricks. Getting some work down on will also help matters consider- able considerably.

Just had a telephone call from Duffy and he states that Randall is back at Lake Andes. Am afraid if this weather continues the operations of Andes are not going to be very extensive.

Very truly yours,

O. H. Johnson, Director,

OHJ:AW

Department of Game and Fish.

Watertown, Nov. 9, 1930.

Mr. O. H. Johnson, Director,

Department of Game & Fish,

Pierre, South Dakota.

Dear Mr. Johnson:

Enclosed please find report of the rough fishing operations at the various lakes covering everything of interest to this date Sunday, Nov. 9th.

Might say here that I made that trip to Cottonwood lake out of Redfield and the reason I did not get over there earlier was because I hated to take that big jump knowing that they would not be ready to go ahead as they should and because I have been so busy with the bigger work at other lakes. Well I notified Mr. Klebsch through our Game Farm what day I would be there and to get ready to make a seine haul upon that date, Found the day a fine one upon arrival and finally located Mr. Klebsch in Redfield. Said he had been beside him-self himself in trying to get together an equiptment equipment and thought he would now be able to do so and would let me know through our Mr. Hodginsa few days ahead of when he would start. I gave him to understand that nothing short of proper equiptment equipment would fill the bill Cottonwood because we did not wish to go in there and make any fizzle of the work.

Mr. Klebsch is going to work out O. K. with a little coaching and I am confident that our work at Cottonwood will turn out O. K. Told Klebsch it was his own and work out the thing himself alone it would be better and that the people over there would feel better.

Very truly yours,

R. L. Ripple

Watertown, Nov. 9, 1930.

Mr. O. H. Johnson, Director,

Department of Game & Fish,

Pierre, South Dakota.

Dear Mr. Johnson:

POINSETT LAKE

The big haul of carp and buffalo brought in on Saturday, Nov. 1st, will run to possibly about 50 tons of one half each, carp and buffalo, it may turn out more. Several hauls had been made previous to this date at Poinsett of a number of tons each so they have had plenty of rough fish on hand in the face of what is generally known as a poor market during this warm weather and all the rough fish going to the big eastern cities from Virginia etc.

The two rough fish crews have had enough to do during this past week in shipping what fish they could, making additional holding crates etc. without further seining and I have this day told them not toget any more LARGE hauls in until this mess of stuff on hand is seen to be cleaned up. We cannot just for the sake of seining, bring in great amounts of rough fish to be sold for a song when such fish can be had later when conditions all around will be different. Some loss will have to be taken in prices on this stuff and on some that died from heavy seas in cribs etc. However I am on top of this work and will determine conditions as they arrive, in the best manner possible.

One carload has been shipped east, price uncertain as yet, 57 boxes iced to Chicago, price uncertain, 140 boxes iced to New York, price 4 cents on no. 2, 7 cents on no. 1. About 150 boxes to the east, price uncertain at present. Thousands of pounds sold on the ground, locally. Carp brining some better price than buffalo at present time, mostly buffalo being shipped from Virginia. My information from CARP BUYERS on the ground, and from $35.00 worth of messages sent out by Carl Kelsen is that the market is really poor at present. Also gain this information from Mr. Joe Kiner who shipped a carload from Madison yesterday. The whole thing is rather a stall to govern prices perhaps but you know Mr. Johnson, that prices will be normal when cold weather sets in. Walter Bushaver whom you I presume know about as an agent for large eastern concern, was on the ground at Lake Poinsett last Wednesday. His information is the same as from others but during last winter I came to have a lot of respect for this man's say-so and his seeming honesty. He purchased all fish from the Hendricks work. He is confident that prices will be up soon and got to Carl Kelsen about some contract on prices for Poinsett. Carl took it all in and came to me and my advise advice to Kelsen was that it would be time to talk about contract prices after our contracts were out to the different fishermen in the field at that the matter would have to be taken up with our office at any rate.

Mr. Johnson . . 2.

POINSETT LAKE CONTINUED

It is my opinion that we cannot make contracts with the two crews at Lake Poinsett and set a price per pound to our department to govern during this coming winter, until we know more about the prices that will govern later when market is right. However I wish we had some dicker for the stuff at this time but since Lake Poinsett is a living mass of rough fish, we should not cry over a little spilt milk so speaking. I will see that we take no loss over and above what is necessary to properly govern Poinsett work to the time things will be on the feet. Checking up all shipping bills and local sales very closely. Our work at Lake Poinsett this winter will be a lesson to everyone concerned in the well-fare welfare of game fish, what the dirty water hogs are capable of doing when left alone. It will prove such a lesson as I have wished to prove for the good of game fishes in the years to come. Lamentable beyond all description are the conditions at Lake Poinsett, but it is well that in the face of all the damnable carp etc. there are a remnant of the old folks left of the game fish ranks. Our stockings of Wall-Eyed-Pike fry are showing up in the seine hauls by the hundreds and that fact is very pleasing to the public interested in Poinsett.

OAKWOOD LAKES

At this date Sunday, Nov. 9th, they must have on hand at Oakwood lakes about 45 tons of rough fish, moslt most all carp of large size, just about like the Hendricks stuff last winter, fat and fit as a fiddle. This stuff is good for sore eyes to CARP BUYERS and so Oakwood lakes have been good producers of carp. A single haul at Oakwood lakes the other day, brought in about 25 tons of these carp and somebody at Brookings said, Ripple you are going to too far, there arent aren't many carp in Oakwood lakes. Well history will be made for game fish in these wonderful lakes this winter, I figure it will take quite a long train all told, to haul the carp from there. Please remember this is wonderul stuff. Have made arrangements with this crew to seine the game fish from Turtle lake and Round lake that conncet connect with Oakwood lakes during high water, they are now dis-connected and must be rescued. A count will be made of all game fish we take from those two lakes, over into Oakwood lakes proper. If this market dont don't change, we may fool the wise acres for a time by placing a heap of carp in this Turtle lake to get out later when market is right. Would like to sound out rough fish market for some time yet previous to making our price to the state, what wonderful stuff this is.

Mr. Johnson . . 4.

RESCUE OPERATIONS

I have not had the help of any of my crew except a day or two at Lake Alice in rescue work or anything else, being content to confine Lester, Dutch, Atchison, Kiner, and Sorenson to the very necessary work of putting in the new well, pipe-line and other work at our Kampeska hatchery. They will finish there in a couple days and most of them with trucks will shoot west to get those trout out of our Rapid hatchery. Might possibly have done something about rescue work with these men in a small way but I cannot leave anything un-done undone at the Kampeksa hatchery that would spell bad luck for our Pike hatching next spring. Next spring's hatching must be bigger and better than ever to stock these carp wallows when the carp are removed and they will get plenty of Pike next season. Will look into that matter of Black Bass stranded down at Flandreau etc. With all this work at hand the carp lakes and my crews going west soon, I feel that after I make a check-up of places like Lake John etc. I can send report to the department for their next meeting when a program can be mapped out.

I would like to call your attention Mr. Johnson, to what is getting to be common talk by people around these lakes being seined, I have heard so much of it lately. They want to know if the state is getting what is coming to it in the matter of money derived from the rough fish. It just seems that people want to see our department get all they can from this work. I can see among those crowds of people, so many hundreds of friends of the Department of Game & Fish and darn few people hollering about getting out the rough fish. It is true that Poinsett is going to rough up rough fish this winter, it is true to too that there will be many grades and small stuff as well as no. 1 ones by the hundreds of thousands of lbs. Oakwood lakes will turn out wonderful market stuff with small percentage of small stuff and presume thinking will have to be done when contracts are let along the line of prices, it will be no fun to do it.

When my crew and trucks go west, I will keep one man and truck with me for possible use transferring game fish.

Very truly yours,

R. L. Ripple