Fairport State Fish Hatchery - Muscatine, IA
N 41° 26.288 W 090° 53.967
15T E 675489 N 4589525
This Federal Mussel Research Center/Fish Hatchery is now State owned and operated.
Waymark Code: WM40RD
Location: Iowa, United States
Date Posted: 06/19/2008
Views: 39
In the early 1900's, the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries found that the expanding pearl button industry was devastating the Mississippi River mussel populations. Although the Bureau encouraged the use of the river's natural resources, the mussels needed protection from over-harvest.
In 1914 this facility was dedicated and soon became known as a leading edge research center for river aquatics research for both mussels and fish. As the pearl button industry was replaced by synthetic buttons, the bureau moved its research funds more and more to fish reproduction. Fish culturists had been unable to get catfish to reproduce in a hatchery setting, and the first successful reproduction of channel catfish in confinement was achieved here at Fairport.
Eighteen earthen ponds, some as large as two acres, are used to hatch and rear angler favorites such as largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish. Each year, the Fairport hatchery produces approximately 700,000 bass fry and 200,000 fingerlings; one million one-inch bluegill; 500,000 two-inch walleye and 200 eight-inch white amur (grass carp). All largemouth bass and white amur used for DNR stocking are produced at Fairport. The hatchery also administers the farm pond program, stocking nearly 600 acres of ponds with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish annually.
There is a self-guided tour of the hatchery. Groups can schedule a guided tour.
The above information and more can be found at the web site listed below.