CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT: GAME AND FISH DIVISION: FISHERIES SECTION:
An Inventory of Its Rough Fish Removal Program Files at the Minnesota Historical Society
Government Records
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Minnesota. Section of Fisheries. | |
| Title: | Rough Fish Removal Program Files. | |
| Dates: | 1929-1980. | |
| Language: | Materials in English. | |
| Abstract: | Contractors' lists, lake lists, correspondence, contracts, and related records of a program to contract with private fishermen to remove non-game and non-commercial nuisance fish from Minnesota lakes. | |
| Quantity: | 2.8 cubic feet (2 boxes and 1 partial box). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
HISTORICAL NOTE
In the 1940's and 1950's roughfish contracts were let on a percentage basis for all species taken. Species to be taken and percentage to be paid to the State were indicated in the contract based on waters to be fished. Waters were assigned by the state. Percentages in different contracts could and did vary according to waters to be fished. The state was responsible for all fish taken and for the sale of same. This meant that in actuality the contractors were in the employ of the state. The contractors objected to the state selling fish they had taken indicating they could get more money selling on their own.
Then around 1958 the state discontinued selling contractors fish. All contractors were charged the same percentage (10%) to cover supervision and administration costs. This worked out quite well since the state was expending an average of $30,000.00 annually toward an average income of $35,000.00 annually.
Contracts were let on the basis of a contractors previous performance, equipment available and financial responsibility. Price per pound by species was established by the state. Example 1/3 cents per pound for carp that had an average market value of 3 cents per pound.
This system continued until the season of 1962-1963 when by executive order contractors were required to bid on prices to pay the state for the removal of roughfish. The administrative nightmare and hardship to the contractors that this system created caused the 1963 legislature to reverse this order and change the system back to what it was.
This system continued until the legislative session of 1973. Then an amendment to the appropriations bill created the necessity to call for bids once more. This created the administrative nightmare once again and brought some of the contract fishermen to near bankruptcy. The fishermen were up in arms and insisted the old system be reinstated.
Source: Legislation file in the collection.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota. Section of Fisheries. Rough Fish Removal Program Files. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession numbers: 979-50; 979-81; 982-67; 984-131; 2018-18
Processing Information:
Catalog ID number: 001731027
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| 101.E.5.5B | Contract Fishing Log Books: | ||||||||||
| One volume per fiscal year, divided into alphabetical sections in which contractors are listed by first letter of surname. For each contractor, gives name, usually address (town or township), lakes contracted to fish (lake name and county), date of contract, and sometimes amount of bond. Later volumes also note fish species contracted for. | |||||||||||
| 1929-1949. 20 volumes. | |||||||||||
| 101.E.5.6F | 1949-1968. 18 volumes. | ||||||||||
| 101.E.5.7B | Lists of Rough Fish Contractors, 1967/1968 - 1975/1976. 9 folders: | ||||||||||
| Annual alphabetical lists of contractors, giving name, residence, type(s) of nets, contract period, and lakes fished. For 1967/1968-1970/1971 and 1973/1974, they also include alphabetical lists of lakes fished, noting lake name, county, and name of contractor. | |||||||||||
| Contractor Lists, 1967/1968 - 1971/1972. 5 folders. | |||||||||||
| Roughfish Contractor List, 1972/1973. | |||||||||||
| Includes program statistics. | |||||||||||
| Contractors List and Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1973/1974. | |||||||||||
| Includes program statistics, bidding data, and miscellaneous correspondence. | |||||||||||
| Contractors Listing and Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1974/1975. | |||||||||||
| Includes program statistics. | |||||||||||
| Contractors Listing and Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1975/1976. | |||||||||||
| Includes bidding instructions and statistics, data on each contractor's catch, and a list of rough fish buyers. | |||||||||||
| Rough Fish Correspondence, 1955-1959. 5 folders. | |||||||||||
| Correspondence on various aspects of the administration of the rough fish removal and sale program. Includes letters and petitions (1955) urging reinstatement of the bullhead removal program in LeSueur, Blue Earth, and Nicollet counties. | |||||||||||
| Bullhead Removal, 1959. | |||||||||||
| A sample advertisement for bids, proposal, and contract for sale of bullheads; with a few related letters and lists. | |||||||||||
| Contract rough fish removal, 1961-1980. | |||||||||||
| Includes correspondence, reports, and statistics. | |||||||||||
| Calls for Bids and Follow-up Data, 1962. | |||||||||||
| A fairly comprehensive file documenting bidding and contracting procedures following a one-year change in state law that required competitive bidding. | |||||||||||
| Rough Fish Removal Recommendations for 1962-1963. | |||||||||||
| Mainly lists of lakes for which rough fish removal bids were invited. | |||||||||||
| Fishermen's Applications and Contracts, A-W, 1964/1965. 3 folders. | |||||||||||
| Contracts, application forms, and some related correspondence. The application forms contain information on the contractee, his fishing equipment and crew, prior experience, and lakes interested in. | |||||||||||
| Appraisal note: The State Archives received contract/application files for the years 1964/1965-1967/68. The 1964/1965 file was retained to offer a snapshot of the industry at that time. Routine transmittal letters and payment correspondence were discarded. | |||||||||||
| Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1965-1967. | |||||||||||
| Mainly correspondence and related documentation on the logistics of fish removal reporting by contractors, and on discrepancies between removal reports and sales reports. | |||||||||||
| Appraisal note: About 1/3 of the original file, retained to document tracking and accounting practices. | |||||||||||
| Rough Fish Removal Legislation, 1973-1975. | |||||||||||
| Documentation of changes in legislation to require competitive bidding for rough fish removal, and a subsequent proposal to repeal this change. Includes a 2-page "Thumbnail History of Roughfish Contract Letting." | |||||||||||
| Bid Material: Rough Fish Removal, 1973/1974 Season. | |||||||||||
| File 4680-1. A fairly comprehensive file illustrating bidding instructions and procedures following the change in state law. Includes several lists of lakes for which rough fish removal bids were invited. | |||||||||||
| Rough Fish Contractors Meetings, July 1974. | |||||||||||
| File 4680-0. More bidding information, including Commissioner's orders and sample forms. | |||||||||||
| Lake Groupings for Rough Fish Removal, 1974/1975, 1975/1976. 2 folders. | |||||||||||
| File 4680-1. Lists of lakes on which bids were solicited, giving lake name, county, location, acres, depth, species to be removed, and gear to be used. | |||||||||||
| State Carp Traps, 1975-1976. | |||||||||||
| File 4680-7. Bidding information and lake lists. | |||||||||||
| [0.2 cubic feet empty] | |||||||||||
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Fish habitat improvement -- Minnesota.
- Fishery management -- Minnesota.
- Fishes -- Control -- Minnesota.
- Lakes -- Minnesota.
- Organizations:
- Minnesota. Division of Game and Fish.
- Minnesota. Department of Conservation.
- Minnesota. Department of Natural Resources.
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