A bucket brigade of volunteers stretching between a large white stocking truck and the streambank is a scene that has repeated itself for generations. For many sportsmen and women, it is a beloved tradition every spring and fall. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, who traces their roots to 1866, has been the agency entrusted with raising, transporting, and delivering fish to stock the waterways of Penn's Woods.
In the early years of the commission, known at the time as the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of Pennsylvania, an applicant could apply to the commission for fish to stock any waterway across the state. For local shipments, 10-gallon milk cans full of juvenile fish were loaded onto horse-drawn wagons to be taken to the applicant. However, as stocking efforts expanded, the question arose, how to get shipments to more distant locations?
An answer to this dilemma was found with the state's vast railroad network. Being the pinnacle of transportation technology at the time, railroads were the most efficient and direct transportation option of the era. To reach the same destination by road often meant traversing meandering dirt strips that, depending on the weather conditions, could be almost unpassable. Another advantage the railroads offered was that their routes often followed the natural corridors carved by the state's waterways, making delivery of fish to their intended destination all that much easier.
Initially, fish were loaded into cans at the closest hatchery and placed in the baggage cars of passenger trains that crisscrossed the state. A hatchery employee, known as a messenger, would accompany the fish and do their best to keep them alive during the journey. Wherever the fish went, the messenger followed until the shipment reached its destination.
Space constraints limited the number of cans of fish that could be carried aboard the baggage cars. Fifty cans was generally the limit per car, however the average quantity per order could range between 200-250 cans or more. Thus, numerous shipments would have to be made to satisfy an order. Though the railroad companies often did not charge the Commission to transport the fish, the number of trips required made this method cumbersome.
As early as 1887, the Commission surmised that the only way to remedy this issue was to transport fish in their own specially designed railroad car. A report for that year advocated for the use of railroad fish cars. It noted that, "the fish car is not expensive and is fitted with all the conveniences for the safe transportation of fish and fry. The Michigan Fish Commission reports that railroads in that state willingly transport the fish car free on any road and doubtless our railroads would do the same."
By this era, many state fish commissions had began ordering fish cars to fulfill this role. The idea for a specialized railroad car to transport fish had originated in the federal equivalent, The United States Fish Commission, a precursor to today's U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1881, Car. No. 1, became the first fish car to ride the nation's rails.
 |
| United States Bureau of Fisheries Car #3 being loaded at unknown date |
In 1891, the commissioners authorized and appropriated $5,000 to construct a fish transportation car, nearly a third of the budget for the year. The Jackson & Sharp Company of Wilmington, Delaware was selected to fulfill the order, who by this time, had previously constructed several such cars. On June 5, 1892, Car No. 1 was delivered to the Commission in Harrisburg.
 |
| Jackson & Sharp design plans for the Susquehanna |
Christened Susquehanna, the olive green wooden car measured 64 feet long and 10 feet wide. Special lockers for holding 84 cans of fish were arranged along the sides of the car. One end of the car housed the living quarters for commission employees who would travel along with the car. A state room complete with sleeping berths could accommodate up to four persons. Also included was a kitchen complete with a sink, stove, and table. On the other end of the car was a boiler and steam-powered pump to circulate water in 6.5ft.x 1.5 ft. holding tank.
 |
| The interior of a Bureau of Fisheries car from 1919 |
The first documented use of the Susquehanna was on July 14, 1892 when it delivered black and rock bass from Corry to Harrisburg. When not in use delivering fish, the Susquehanna was used to ferry fish between hatcheries.
 |
| The Susquehanna as delivered in Harrisburg |
The 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago provided the stage for the Commission to not only showcase their fish cultural and stocking efforts, but also debut the Susquehanna to a world wide audience. $8,000 was appropriated for the purpose of displaying an exhibit at the fair. A commissioner's report following the event reported that, "the Pennsylvania state fish exhibit received the encomiums of thousands of delighted spectators as well as the praise of scientists and fish culturists of both the old world and the new." The report also thanked the Pennsylvania Railroad for transporting the car to the exposition free of charge and its continued assistance with its stocking and scientific endeavors.
 |
| The Columbian April 1896 |
Until 1896, the fish car was stored within a shed at the railroad yards in Kane, McKean County. However, the railroad required the use of the building and evicted the car. It remained outdoors, languishing under the beating sun and harsh climate of the Northern Tier. In spring of 1897, the car was requested by the New Jersey Fish Commission. This request was granted and the Susquehanna found itself traveling outside of its home state once again. 3,700 fish were transported from Erie to lakes and rivers across New Jersey in two trips. The fish car was the center of attention wherever it stopped. According to a newspaper article, "the car was so crowded that it was with great difficulty that the wardens attended to their work." It then returned home to Kane.
 |
| An 1898 article from the Susquehanna's trip to New Jersey |
After two years exposed to the weather, a Commission report in 1898 described the car as, "very dilapidated looking condition for want of paint." A year later, the annual report described the car as in a "deplorable state." Vagrants had twice broken into the car, but had been driven out before anything was damaged or carried off.
By the turn of the new century, the Commission was in search of locations to establish two new hatcheries. In July 1903, commissioners explored several sites in Centre County that had been offered. One of which was situated along the banks of Logan Brach and along the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Further enticement for the Commission to select this location was that citizens of the county offered to secure the required land for the hatchery, construct a railroad siding to the site, and erect a car barn to store the Susquehanna, all from their own pockets. This promise was kept and $3,500 was raised to accomplish the aforementioned tasks. The site was officially turned over to the Commission in August 1903. A gala at the Bellefonte courthouse was held to celebrate the occasion and officially name the site the Bellefonte Fish Hatchery.
Operations formally commenced in October after just two months of construction. Priming the Bellefonte hatchery was to come from fish taken from the Allentown hatchery, however a flood liberated much of Allentown's trout stock. Thankfully, the United States Fish Commission stepped in and contributed 3,000 fingerlings that it transported to the Bellefonte hatchery in their own fish car in November 1903.
Also completed in November was the car barn to house the Susquehanna. After spending seven years outside, the Susquehanna was finally indoors. While in the barn, the car was "practicably rebuilt" according to a Commission bulletin. It was also during this overhaul that the car was renamed Pennsylvania. An explanation for this alteration remains unknown.
 |
| The Pennsylvania at an unknown date |
The year 1904 once again saw the fish car traveling beyond the borders of the Commonwealth, this time to the World's Fair in St. Louis. It was decided that as part of the exhibit, the Commission would display live fish from across the state. The first load of 5,000 fish from the Corry Hatchery were transported the 1,200 miles to the fair aboard the Pennsylvania. Only three died in transit.
Fair personnel sourced the water for the display tanks directly from the Missouri River and treated with high concentrations of lime and alum for clarity. When the fish were offloaded from the Pennsylvania to the display tanks, the following calamity was the result: "The trout, pike-perch, whitefish, and blue pike all died within twenty-four hours. Yellow perch and several other species, notably blue catfish, died within a few days."
Commission officials waited to send another supply of fish using the fish car until the water problem could be resolved. Another car load of fish was then sent to the fair. While the water was of better quality, the summer sun had heated the display tanks to over 80 degrees. Once again, disaster ensued with trout and lake fish dying shortly after being released into the tanks. A refrigeration system was later installed to cool the water circulating in the tanks. A third and final shipment from Erie arrived to restock the exhibit. Commission officials would not permit anymore shipments, as each trip had cost the agency $300, or over $9,000 dollars in modern currency. At the end of the exposition, the Pennsylvania State Fish Exhibit won a grand price and four gold medals.
Minnesota, who also had live fish exhibits, faced the same water difficulties with their display tanks. Replacement fish were transported to St. Louis onboard the Pennsylvania, which was loaned to them at no charge. Commission officials also threw in three fish culturists to assist with keeping the display fish alive during the journey.
 |
| The Ely Miner June 10, 1904 |
When the exposition was over, the Pennsylvania returned home to the Bellefonte Hatchery. A Commission report in the fall of 1905 reported that the car was "good condition" with "nothing that needs done to it." The only complaint regarding the car was the sleeping arrangements. As built, the car could sleep four men, however when it was overhauled in 1904, two of the berths by some oversight, failed to be reinstalled.
However the car's sleeping arrangements weren't what concerned the Commission the most about the fish car. During 1905, it was reported that the car was "seldom" used due to the railroads charging fees to transport the car to and from its destination. A 20 cent per mile fee, whether the car was loaded or empty, had been imposed. Thus, a 100 mile round trip would cost the commission $40.00. While sounding trivial today, this amount was the modern day equivalent of over $1,000 if adjusted for inflation. The Commission's budget just could not justify prolonged use of the car. Unless absolutely needed, the Pennsylvania remained in the Bellefonte Hatchery car barn.
In 1906, a unique request would see the car fulfilling its role yet again, however not for its home state. The New York Aquarium had requested the use of the Pennsylvania to transport fish from a lake in western New York to the aquarium. Commissioners from Pennsylvania granted their request and the car set out on another out of state adventure.
By 1907, hatchery production across the state was exceeding the shipping capabilities of the Commission and the railroads. If this rate was to continue, it was surmised that one or two more fish cars would need to be constructed. Officials lauded the capabilities of the fish car, but noted that the car's potential had been stripped away by transportation rates imposed by the railroads, a cost the Commission could not afford.
The car's extended stay in the barn was beneficial in at least one unintentional way. The barn, having been hurriedly built during the construction of the Bellefonte Hatchery, did not have an adequate foundation. When flood waters battered the building in 1908, the rudimentary foundation failed, and dropped the building upon the fish car. Had the car not been there, the building would have completely collapsed. With the car now essentially holding up the barn, it could not be moved until a new foundation was built and the barn repaired.
This was evidently done, for it 1909, the car was said to require "a few repairs." The Commission report for the year indicated that agreements with various railroad companies had been arranged so that the car could be used more frequently the next year. However, the reports for 1910, indicated that this did not come to fruition and the car was only used once during the year. Even though it had seen limited use, a Commission report advocated the building of two more cars to keep up with the demand for fish across the state.
Time was quickly catching up with the fish car. Both its appearance and mechanical equipment were in such a dilapidated state that by 1913 the railroad companies would not allow it to be coupled to their trains. The cost to implement the laundry list of repairs to make the car compliant were not justifiable. Wooden railroad cars like the Pennsylvania were being eclipsed by modern steel cars that were becoming the standard on railroads, being more durable, easier to maintain, and overall safer. A proposition to sell the car arose within the Commission in order to save money being spent on insurance and also to rid itself of an obsolete piece of equipment. The year's report noted that the Commission could revisit the use of a modern fish car should future operations require it.
A year later, the Pennsylvania in addition to a horse that had "outlived its usefulness" were turned over to the Board of Public Grounds and Buildings for disposal. It was an ironic end for the fish car, as it had replaced the lowly horse for transporting fish when it was introduced. Now it too was being put out to pasture. Though its intended use had been limited, the Pennsylvania served as a representative for its home state in two internationally attended expositions, had travelled through at least eight different states, and transported fish in the service of four states.
To add insult to injury, nobody seemed to want the fish car. As of April 25, 1914, the car remained at the Bellefonte Hatchery. Newspaper reports from the Harrisburg Telegraph noted that no bids were received for the car. An unserviceable antique wooden car would no doubt be a tough sell. According to Commission reports in 1915, both the car and horse were eventually sold and transferred to their respective purchasers. Their final dispositions remain unknown.
 |
| Harrisburg Telegraph March 21, 1914 |
Following the discontinuance of the fish car, the Pennsylvania Fish Commission continued to utilize the messenger system with railroad baggage cars until the arrival of dedicated stocking trucks in 1927. The United States Fish Commission, who had initiated the fish car craze, continued use of their cars until the last one was withdrawn from service in 1947.
Though the fish car did not measure up to expectations, it exemplified the Commission's dedication to its mission and the lengths it would go to accomplish it. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission continues to exemplify this dedication with its fish cultural and stocking efforts across the state.
Sources (Under Construction)
1887/88 Report
https://books.google.com/books?id=H3VLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+pennsylvania+commission&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmx7rs8M2IAxVNFlkFHclZAxgQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20pennsylvania%20commission&f=false
1898 report car dilapidated and used by New Jersey
https://books.google.com/books?id=H0JPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA43&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+purchased+%2B+pennsylvania&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiY6avXiM6IAxUNMlkFHb0ECnMQ6AF6BAgPEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20purchased%20%2B%20pennsylvania&f=false
1898 trip to NJ
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87068097/1898-06-01/ed-1/seq-2/#date1=1756&index=0&rows=20&words=car+fish+Susquehanna&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=fish+car+susquehanna&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
1899 car in deplorable state
https://books.google.com/books?id=wC0-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA102&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+purchased+%2B+pennsylvania&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjd_deois6IAxXMEFkFHVZlMrM4ChDoAXoECA8QAg#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20purchased%20%2B%20pennsylvania&f=false
Use of car in april 1893
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83032011/1893-04-28/ed-1/seq-9/#date1=1756&index=14&rows=20&words=car+Fish+Pennsylvania&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=fish+car+pennsylvania&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
Fish Car in Bellefonte 1908
https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1908-09-11/ed-1/seq-8/#words=car+fish
US Fish Car Bellefonte 1904
https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1904-11-25/ed-1/seq-8/#words=car+fish
US Fish Car in Bellefonte 1907
https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn83031981/1907-06-14/ed-1/seq-8/#words=car+fish
Harrisburg Daily Independent-July 14, 1892 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/83019892/
Fish Car dilapidated 1913
https://books.google.com/books?id=KKYmAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA12&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+Pennsylvania+Dept.+of+Fisheries+%2B+overhaul&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj0i7TPn8uHAxX3FFkFHWiOMzAQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20Pennsylvania%20Dept.%20of%20Fisheries%20%2B%20overhaul&f=false
Fish Car Good Condition 1906
https://books.google.com/books?id=PJVLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA131&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+Pennsylvania+Dept.+of+Fisheries+%2B+reconstruction&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi65IvUoMuHAxVIF1kFHfflBBUQ6AF6BAgLEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20Pennsylvania%20Dept.%20of%20Fisheries%20%2B%20reconstruction&f=false
Bellefonte Hatchery 1905
https://books.google.com/books?id=WeAyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA16&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+Pennsylvania+Dept.+of+Fisheries+%2B&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiCmYj5oMuHAxXSElkFHaFpD9wQ6AF6BAgNEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20Pennsylvania%20Dept.%20of%20Fisheries%20%2B&f=false
World's Fair 1904
https://books.google.com/books?id=nBBAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA203&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+Pennsylvania+Dept.+of+Fisheries+%2B&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiCmYj5oMuHAxXSElkFHaFpD9wQ6AF6BAgJEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20Pennsylvania%20Dept.%20of%20Fisheries%20%2B&f=false
Fish Car Sold 1915
https://books.google.com/books?id=VqYmAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA35&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+Pennsylvania+Dept.+of+Fisheries+%2B&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiCmYj5oMuHAxXSElkFHaFpD9wQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20Pennsylvania%20Dept.%20of%20Fisheries%20%2B&f=false
Fish Car Obsolete and Sold w/ horse 1914
https://books.google.com/books?id=Ng1PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA74&dq=The+old+fish+car+of+the+Department+had+been+left+behind+in+the+progress&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwic6cuhmcuIAxXULFkFHXdrDUcQ6AF6BAgOEAI#v=onepage&q=The%20old%20fish%20car%20of%20the%20Department%20had%20been%20left%20behind%20in%20the%20progress&f=false
Fish Car 1908
https://books.google.com/books?id=jD9PAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA72&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+Pennsylvania+Dept.+of+Fisheries+%2B&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiCmYj5oMuHAxXSElkFHaFpD9wQ6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20Pennsylvania%20Dept.%20of%20Fisheries%20%2B&f=false
Fish Car needs painted and repairs 1910
https://books.google.com/books?id=cOEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA31&dq=the+output+of+fish+by+the+Department+is+no+so+large+that+the+baggage&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz2fHym8uIAxWuFFkFHQYoHdoQ6AF6BAgFEAI#v=onepage&q=the%20output%20of%20fish%20by%20the%20Department%20is%20no%20so%20large%20that%20the%20baggage&f=false
Fish car transports 5000 fish 1910
https://books.google.com/books?id=pkFPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA74&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+purchased+%2B+pennsylvania&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiY6avXiM6IAxUNMlkFHb0ECnMQ6AF6BAgJEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20purchased%20%2B%20pennsylvania&f=false
New York Borrows Fish Car 1906
https://books.google.com/books?id=p4je--ynUpEC&pg=PA540&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+%22susquehanna%22+%2B+harrisburg&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjwltDdosuHAxVwMVkFHfcRBN0Q6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20%22susquehanna%22%20%2B%20harrisburg&f=false
Fish Car and Car Barn 1909 1910
https://books.google.com/books?id=mdNOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA100&dq=%22state+fish+car%22+%2B+pennsylvania&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiljfSno8uHAxVBMVkFHY4PCKEQ6AF6BAgLEAI#v=onepage&q=%22state%20fish%20car%22%20%2B%20pennsylvania&f=false
Fish Car rebuilt at Bellefonte 1903
https://books.google.com/books?id=JtwZAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA58&dq=The+work+of+constructing+the+bellefonte+fish+hatchery+was+pushed+with+such+energy&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiNqNnwjr6IAxXBElkFHQbEHpUQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=The%20work%20of%20constructing%20the%20bellefonte%20fish%20hatchery%20was%20pushed%20with%20such%20energy&f=false
1893 Exposition
https://books.google.com/books?id=029LAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA9&dq=Columbian+Exhibition+in+Chicago+%2B+Fish+car+%2B+pennsylvania&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjJ3r-akb6IAxVRMlkFHcu6MjwQ6AF6BAgOEAI#v=onepage&q=Columbian%20Exhibition%20in%20Chicago%20%2B%20Fish%20car%20%2B%20pennsylvania&f=false
Proposed to Sell and Rebuild backstory 1913
https://books.google.com/books?id=cuEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA12&dq=Back+in+1897+the+board+of+fisheries+commission+which+preceded+this+department+purchased+a+fish+car&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwikqsCnssuIAxX7FlkFHbIWDIQQ6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q=Back%20in%201897%20the%20board%20of%20fisheries%20commission%20which%20preceded%20this%20department%20purchased%20a%20fish%20car&f=false
Nobody wanted it 1914
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038411/1914-04-25/ed-1/seq-8/#date1=1756&index=12&rows=20&words=car+fish+Pennsylvania&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1963&proxtext=fish+car+pennsylvania&y=0&x=0&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1
Fish Car Borrowed by Minnesota
https://books.google.com/books?id=Eq87AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA35&dq=%22fish+car%22+%2B+pennsylvania&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjf06On7c2IAxXIF2IAHdV0IgAQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=%22fish%20car%22%20%2B%20pennsylvania&f=false
Fish car era
https://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/fishcar.Html
Fish Commission Report
https://www.fishandboat.com/Conservation/Plans/Management-Plans/Documents/history.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment