FishinTechnician
05-06-2006, 09:24 AM
Just got my copy of Ben Hur Lampan's book "The Coming of the Pond Fishes" cc 1946 where Lampman tries to pinpoint the origin of warmwater gamefish to this region. It's a fascinating read.
For example the introduction of the Carp can be attributed to Captain John Harlow of Troutdale who had ponds along the banks of the Columbia River containing carp which he had shipped up from California. A high water event in the Columbia in May 1881 resulted in their release into the Columbia.
One interesting account, among many in the book, describes that in 1891 Carp became such a problem in Lake Merced, CA that 19 Sea Lions were placed in the lake to thin out their numbers. The resulting carnage was so terrific people had to be hired to pick up fish carcasses along the lake shore to keep the rotting fish from further destroying the lakes water quality.
Shad were introduced into the Willamette and Columbia Rivers as early as 1886. Some Shad had already migrated up to the Columbia from California plantings as early as 1876.
Bullhead catfish were introduced into Silver Lake, WA near Castle Rock in 1882, or 1883. Young from the first spawning are thought to have washed out of the lake, down the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers and the rest is history. Planting were subsequently made in the both the Willamette and Yamhill Rivers.
The first report of a Largemouth Bass was in 1898, caught by a Joseph Paquet, upriver from the present day Bonneville Dam and was thought to have originated from plantings made in the Willamette River some 10 years earlier. Subsequent plantings were made in Oregon's coastal lakes, with Devils Lake reported to be planted in 1925.
Smallmouth bass are reported to have been planted in the Yakima River by N.E. Plamer, who ironically was called a "state game protector, or warden" in 1925.
Crappie were found in the Columbia River as early as 1905.
Contained within the book is a brief account of a huge Largemouth Bass. On pages 97 and 98 of the book Lampan mentions that a employee of the Oregon State Game Commission
was called in 1924 to identify a fish at the Portland Fish Company's plant that had been delivered along with a catch of salmon from the Columbia River. The OSCC employee identified the fish as a Largemouth Bass weighing 25 0r 26 lbs.
It's a great book if you would like to learn more about where these fish came from. I'm sure your local library would have a copy.
For example the introduction of the Carp can be attributed to Captain John Harlow of Troutdale who had ponds along the banks of the Columbia River containing carp which he had shipped up from California. A high water event in the Columbia in May 1881 resulted in their release into the Columbia.
One interesting account, among many in the book, describes that in 1891 Carp became such a problem in Lake Merced, CA that 19 Sea Lions were placed in the lake to thin out their numbers. The resulting carnage was so terrific people had to be hired to pick up fish carcasses along the lake shore to keep the rotting fish from further destroying the lakes water quality.
Shad were introduced into the Willamette and Columbia Rivers as early as 1886. Some Shad had already migrated up to the Columbia from California plantings as early as 1876.
Bullhead catfish were introduced into Silver Lake, WA near Castle Rock in 1882, or 1883. Young from the first spawning are thought to have washed out of the lake, down the Toutle and Cowlitz Rivers and the rest is history. Planting were subsequently made in the both the Willamette and Yamhill Rivers.
The first report of a Largemouth Bass was in 1898, caught by a Joseph Paquet, upriver from the present day Bonneville Dam and was thought to have originated from plantings made in the Willamette River some 10 years earlier. Subsequent plantings were made in Oregon's coastal lakes, with Devils Lake reported to be planted in 1925.
Smallmouth bass are reported to have been planted in the Yakima River by N.E. Plamer, who ironically was called a "state game protector, or warden" in 1925.
Crappie were found in the Columbia River as early as 1905.
Contained within the book is a brief account of a huge Largemouth Bass. On pages 97 and 98 of the book Lampan mentions that a employee of the Oregon State Game Commission
was called in 1924 to identify a fish at the Portland Fish Company's plant that had been delivered along with a catch of salmon from the Columbia River. The OSCC employee identified the fish as a Largemouth Bass weighing 25 0r 26 lbs.
It's a great book if you would like to learn more about where these fish came from. I'm sure your local library would have a copy.