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Greetings Chapter 50 . . . Happy New Year to all. Just a heads up on an article that ran in Musky Hunter December/January issue starts on page 20 and the second half of the study report starts on page 26 of the February/March issue. I found it informative.

Here is a summary of the improvements at the Hacketstown Hatchery. Craig Lemon and his full time staff of three run the 200 acre facility along with the help of seasonal help and interns. They not only run the hatchery but they also stock 100 bodies of water in 23 counties with musky, pike, large mouth, small mouth, catfish, walleye and panfish.

The following improvements were made: spring line replacement, new valves on the "big side pools along with new valves and water main to ponds #44,50 and 53. New valves to all 3 spring houses. 2300ft of new 12" main feed line along with 1600ft of new 10" main feed line. New back up well that yields 250gpm . . .( back up well target was 600 gpm). Although the back up well falls short it is still enough to run the hatchery building. These improvements were needed on the 100 year old facililty and more are on the way.

We will continue to work with Fish and Wildlife through out the 2011 season to increase the statewide size limit to forty inches and we'll need your help in providing "kreel study" info to Chris Smith, our State Fisheries Biologist who is working with us. Your release info is important and we'll come up with a way that you can submit it directly to Chris. Sure could use Chapter 50's help in providing info to increase the state and trophy waters size limit and perhaps the number of trophy waters in NJ.

Regards, Cal Huntzinger MI22