An Angler's Surprise in Lake Union
A six-pound blue catfish is landed, sparking debates about the ecological impact of non-native species introduced by state commissioners.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A genuine blue catfish, weighing about six pounds, was caught in Lake Union the first of the week by J. H. Boblin and Hal Brock. These gentlemen were experimenting with deep trolling using ordinary salmon trolling tackle; the catfish took the spoon and made a game fight. In 1890, the fish commissioners planted a large number of small fry in Lakes Union and Washington, brought from the Mississippi bayous and other streams. So far, two kinds of catfish, crappies, sunfish, small-mouth black bass, and carp have been taken. A rumor that several gentlemen are talking of stocking the lakes with carp is creating much unfavorable comment among the majority of anglers. Wherever carp have been introduced to any extent on this coast, it has been found that they are not a desirable fish. Anglers who have been raised in the 'bass countries' are complaining of the present fish laws, claiming that trout is virtually the only fish protected, leaving other game fish liable to early extermination through seining.
“A genuine blue catfish, weighing about six pounds, was caught in Lake Union... the catfish took the spoon and made a game fight.”
This 1894 report on the introduction of non-native Mississippi catfish and carp into Seattle lakes captures the early, often misguided, efforts to reshape Washington's ecosystem for sport. Today, these introduced species remain a contentious management issue as state agencies work to balance recreational fishing interests with the protection of native salmon and trout populations.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.