Times-Advocate, 1987-07-29, Page 23A
When Jerry Giessen wants to go
fishing, he just has to step out the
back door of his century -old faun
house. In a short two years he has
turned his farm at KR1 Denfield from
agriculture to aquaculture, and built
up an ever-growing business in catch -
your -own trout in the summer, ice
fishing in the winter, and fresh, smok-
Times-Advocate, July 29, 1987
catch every time guaranteed at this pond
ed and pickled trout for sale year
round.
Spring Haven Fish Farm has
catered to people rather than the
wholesale and restaurant trade since
opening to the public in February of
1986. Families are encouraged to
bring their children for a fishing
outing.. An impatient child doesn't
1..j
Ntl'r i row
SMOKE RACK — Jerry Giesen pulls out the rack he built to smoke
rainbow trout raised at Spring Haven Fish Farm.
A CATCH —
his fish farm.
Jerry Giesen
checks the breeding stock in the
-4
(
1
tank on -
have long to wait before a trout is on
the line. Anglers wanting more of a
challenge can test their skills and pa-
tience at the gravel pit, which is also
stocked with mature trout.
For a charge of $20 a person may
catch and keep five full-grown rain-
bow trout. Unlike some enterprises,
Giesen charges by the number of fish
-caught rather than by weight. The
largest catch at the second annual
Spring Haven fishing derby held
recently weighed two pounds and 10
ounces.
The caught fish are humanely
stunned with electricity before being
killed. Giesen cleans the catches and
packs the fish in ice for the journey
home to the frying pan.
Only two rules are enforced. Once
captured, no trout can be thrown back
in, and no minnows can be used as
bait. Giesen explains that if minnows
got into the ponds and started to
breed, they would compete with the
trout for food, and would also eat the
young trout in the vulnerable larva
stage. Otherwise everything from a
worm dangling on a safety pin from
a tree branch pole to the most
elaborate rod and reel and the last
word in trout flies is acceptable.
Giesen has always had a private
trout pond wherever he lived. He and
his brother had dug a pond and stock-
ed it to raise fish for their dinner
tables on a farm they owned in
Nissouri township near St. Marys.
They were also partners in a con-
struction business.
In 1981 a series of events coincided'
to launch Giesen on his new venture.
The brothers dissolved their partner-
ship, the farm was sold, and Giesen
began working for a Bryanston real
estate company.
One of his listings was the Denfield
farm. Finding a buyer proved to be
•
difficult. Of the 100 acres, only 30 were
workable. The land around the house
was wet and weedy because of near-
by artesian springs. More acreage
was swamp. The property also includ-
ed an almost depleted grave pit con-
taining clear, cold spring water.
Giesen thought the farm had poten-
tial for raising fish. He and his wife
Ilelen discussed the matter, and
agreed that if no buyer could be
found, they would put in an offer
themselves. That's exactly what
happened.
In 1984 the Giesens sold their house
in St. Marys, moved to the farm, and
dug in - literally - to make their dream
come true.
With the exception of hiring some
drag line work, the Giesens supplied
all the hard labour which turned an
ugly duckling into a beautiful and
valuable swan.
Three ponds averaging 14 feet in
depth were dug out on two acres of
land a few steps from the house.
Water from artesian springs flows
through raceways into the first pond.
Six-inch drops between ponds directs
the flow throught the three ponds and
out an overflow pipe into a creek. The
dug -out clay was packed into dikes
around the ponds, and the banks were
tightly packed with stones from the
gravel pit.
A family of Canada g(ese have
claimed the first pond as home,
fighting with the leaping trout for
their share at feeding time.
A peninsula jutting out into the se-
cond pond was designed by Jerry to
encourage water circulation. Two
young saplings planted at the point
will someday provide a patch of shade
on a hot day for the trout beneath.
Three ice -fishing huts sit on a
floating dock on the third pond. The
huts are so well constructed and in-
sulated Giesen swears they could be
heated with candles. Fishermen who
rent the huts can sit on comfortable
built-in bus seats and drop their lines
through holes in the floor at their feet
without worrying about being carried
away by a peripatetic ice floe.
In summer the best place of all is
on an old buckboard seat firmly an-
chored in' front of one of the huts.
•''°`'°'' The Giesens are constantly learn-
ing more about the fish business. Un-
til this year, they made their annual
purchase of 10,000 young fry from a
hatchery in Kintora, but this spring
they successfully raised their own
trout on the third attempt.
Giving Mother Nature a hand is a
tricky business, and must be done
with perfect precision and timing.
The eggs are gently stripped from a
breeding female into a bowl of water.
A fluid that accompanies the female's
eggs both stimulates the male and
makes the eggs receptive to the
sperm. The sperm is enticed from a
: is i 3: ><„tri ,. ..
FEEDING TIME Canada geese compete with the rainbow trout for the commercial fish food Spring
Hoven Fish Farm proprietor Jerry Giesen is throwing into the water. The Giesen family built three con-
necting ponds on a farm they bought a few years ago.
set hot I ine fra Iicants
Universities up pp -
choices of three preferred institutions be in a position to assess the situation ding, and to determine the number of
and programmes by now. If .a place in the light of the supplementary fun- further places available.
has not been offered. or students are
unable or unwilling to accept a
university's alternate offer. up -to -
dale information is available from the
hot line on which universities are still
accepting applications and for which
programmes.
On .lune I I, the provincial govern-
ment provided details on funding for
an "accessibility envelope". These
funds, which are supplementary to
basic operating grants. will assist the
universities in their efforts to accom-
modate to the best of their abilities
the increased number of students
seeking to enter university.
Once student responses have been
received and the acceptance rate has
been evaluated. the universities will
:1 seven percent increase in ap-
plications to university from secon-
dary school students has promoted
the council of Ontario linivel-sities to
open an information hot line to its Ap-
plication Centre in Guelph. By calling
the :'uimission Information Service al
(519) 823-1440, students can be
assisted in determining which Ontario
universities have places available in
their programmes of interest.
More than 50,(X)0 Ontario secondary
students - a record number - have apr
plied for admission to university this
fall. at a time when some universities
have already reached optimal enrol-
ment levels and others have been im-
posing enrolment limitations on an in-
creasing number of programmes.
Most students will have received
the unversities' responses to their
Postal revenues up
Canada Post's 1986-87 Annual
8eport reveals it earned revenues of
!lose to $3 billion, the highest since
*coming a Crown corporation in
.981, handled record mail volumes of
'.9 billion pieces and added 162,000 ad -
tresses to the 10 million already
nerved. .
The Honourable Harvie Andre, -
Minister responsible for Canada Post,
tabled the report in the House of Com-
mons today.
Canada Post's loss from operations,
which was in the $600 million range in
1981, now stands at a record low of
1129 million.
The Annual Report also shows that
while the Corporation had planned to
reduce its loss from operations from
$210 million in $985-86 to $132 million
during the fiscal year ended March 31
of this year. it actually was lower by
$3 million.
The continued growth in mail
volume, reflected in nearly all ser-
vices and products, is the most rele-
vant indicator of the success of
Canada Post's efforts to provide
reliable service at a reasonable cost
to the user.
With record-setting ac-
complishments in the past fiscal year,
as revealed in its annual report,
Canada Post is now moving closer to
its target of reaching operating
breakeven in 1988-89.
Auction Sale
Butcher equipment, cooler and freezer equip-
ment, building supplies, and many other
consignments.
At Mt. Brydges Abattoir 4 miles south
of Mt.Brydges or 1/2 mile north of No. 2 Hwy.
on Hwy. 81. -
on Saturday August 1st at 2:00 P•m•
2 h.p. Hobart meat grinder, sausage linker, buffalo
hute low
3
- 3 hp single phase Copeland units, 1 - 5 hp Teceemseh unit, temp Copeland 502 unit, 1 - belt driven 5 hp
13/4 hp Copeland unit, 3 ton electric defrost coil, 2 - 1 ton coils,
Copeland 3 hpcompressor, 3 ton coil, 3" electric heated freezer
door, commrcial chest freezer', 8' display cooler, 1/4 hp, 1 hp.
2 hp motors (new), 110 and 220, 5 hp motors 220, railway
quantity of 8" cement blocks, 60 2.x 6' 10 feet 5 ed 2 oak Wirt ' S• ,
treated posts 6", 6' x 6' wood g
20 hardwood pallets, Garden Master 5 hp 26"• riding n 3wer
Honda 100 dirt bike, 2 chain sows, New Idea 2 row picker
shelter.of sale. Consignments
Terms cash or cheque with ID day
welcome.
Bruce Coulter Auctioneer
238-8000 Grand Bond
AN INTRIGUING SIGHT — Lindsey Van Domme concentrates on the
White Squirrel during Exeter's Sidewalk Sale. She is from Clinton,
and had never seen such o squirrel before.
Large Auction Sale
Antiques, furniture, appliances, large offering of glassware,
collectors -plates and general household effects to be held at
Richard LoLtb's Auction Barn Clinton Ont. for Mrs. Harold Adams
plus good additions.
Sal. August 1 at 10 a.m.
Beer fridge, small 2 burner electric stove, wringer washer,
vacuum cleaner, Targe antique flat to the wall cupboard, Early
Canadian antique bed 23" wide and 5'/: ft. long, motching his
and hers antique art decor wardrobes w/matching vanity, fan-
cy sideboard w/mirror, oak gate leg dropleaf dining table, spin
dry washer, small Maytag apt. size dryer, Moffatt 30" electric
stove, oak dining table w/4 leaves, 6 matching chairs nori h' f.
fet w/mirror, antique chest of drawers, modern rho .t'
and chair, china cabinet, wicker chesterfield, chai t, Stu,
and floor lamp, 6 fancy walking cones, antique . rr lues I >>o
modern round table w/centre pedestal and leaf, antique wrru
desk, Victor oak floor model pho odraph, Bernhardt mahogany
buffet, fancy side board w :' r . ed door and beveled glas'.
mirror, 3 old dressers wire ror, leather padded bar w/3 bar
stools, 2 treadle sewing machines, electric sewing machine in
t r antique platform rocker, pressback arm choir, 2 antique
„Ir,,,ket boxes, chrome table and 4 chairs, antique dresser
sv mirror, large modern Spanish Provincial dresser
or . single continental beds, 3 old style wooden beds,
tchrrrg oak chairs, Copenhagen and Norman Rockwell col-
rrs plates, oil lamps, cutblass, silver pieces plus a large of-
fering of other dishes and collectable pieces, bedding, pots and
por•s, fancy table lamps, pictures, small appliances, plus many
other good items too numerous to mention. A good auction
w/something for everyone. TERMS CASH
Auctioneer Richard Lobb Clinton 482-7898
male, and allowed to wash over the
eggs for exactly one minute before be-
ing rinsed off. The rinsing causes the
formation ofa firm outer coating that
protects the eggs while they incubate.
The fertilized eggs are left in a
trough- of gently flowing water for
four weeks. Giesen has discovered
through trial and error that too much
water bumps the eggs around and
damaged eggs do not hatch.
This year 5,000 tiny trout larvae
were eventually hatched at the Giesen
farm. The little creatures swim
around making no demands for two,.
weeks as the protruding egg sacs on
their abdomens are gradually
absorbed.
The future trout begin to feed at the
swim -up stage. The babies' firs( food,
a high -protein commercial feed, looks
like instant coffee. As the fish mature
from fries (up to four inches) to
fingerlings ( six inches) to adults, the
size of the pellets increases too.
Adult fish are fed twice daily. A
floating ration is thrown into the
ponds downwind in the summer, and
one that sinks to the bottom is used in
the winter.
The Giesens experimented with
various recipes for smoking and
pickling the trout before settling on
the present methods to produce a
gourment.treat for their customers.
Helen perfected the pickling recipe.
adapting the expertise acquired
through years of preserving countless
bottles of relish and pickles. Jerry
built a smoke house and racks to hold
hardwood chips and a simple but
Page 1 1 A
secret marinade to give the trout their
distinctive smokey flavour.
The smoked fish are usually
available. but the pickled trout should
be ordered ahead. as the pickling pro-
cess takes three weeks.
Giesen is continually improving the
property. Ile put his carpentry skills
to good use by constructing a two-
storey huidling near the ponds. The
downstairs contains the room for
cleaning and smoking the fish. and a
small store Upstairs is a cosy club
house.
' Ile has reforested the land at the
five -acre gravel pit. planting a total
of 15,090 trees altogether around the
farm. He received a plaque from the
Ausahle Bayfield Conservation
Authority last year I or his efforts.
Giesen has cleared another :30
acres. bringing the total number of
arable acres to 60. This land is share-
cropped.
Giesen plans to continue expanding
the fish farm. The ponds and the
quarry could handle a yearly produc-
tion of 15,000 fish as soon as the re-
maining gravel is removed.
In the meantime. Spring Haven
Fish Farm is open for business year
round. The ice huts should be booked
in advance, but in the summer Giesen
promises that "there is always elbow
room around the ponds".
Giesen can be contacted by phoning
666-1:331, or by turning west on conces-
sion 13 ( the third one south of Den-
field (. Spring Haven is the first farm
after St. George's Anglican Church
and cemetery.
READY — Three ice fishing huts sit on a floating dock in one of the
ponds at Spring Haven Fish Farms. Summer fishermen can sit waiting
fora bite on the old buckboard seat in front of the centre hut.
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Pinery
NJ CTI 0 N
At Pinery Auction Barn,
Hwy. 21, 4 miles south of Grand Bend
Wednesday July 29 at 6:30 p.m.
We will be selling the contents of a Parkhill 'home plus, addi-
tions of all types of furnishings, modern and antique plus ma-
jo• appliances. Also an 18 ft. fibreglass boat and trailer with
a 135 hp motor.
Auctioneer Pat Lyon 243-2713
Liquidation of new -general merchandise to be sold on a cash
and carry basis on the long weekend.
Martinsheim Farms
Eleventh Production Sale
Friday, August 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the farm on
Highway 7 - 7 km. east of Highbury, Blanshard
Conc. 10-11.
45 boars, 85 bred gilts, most bred in May and 75 open
gilts, York, Landrace, Duroc, Hamp, Spot, H x D, Y
x H, ND x Spot cross. Excellent selection. R.O.P.
tested. Health classification basic inspection'prior to
sale by appointment. For information and catalogues
call Richard or Monfred Stroebel
R.R. 2 Granton 519-225-2587 or 284-2628
Auction Sale
Of house, truck, furniture, tools, and misc. ar-
ticles for Levi White at his premises. First house
south of West McGillivray (across from Twp.
shed), go north of Clandeboye on No. 4 Hwy.
turn west on county road 24 to West McGillivary
or first road west of Ailsa Craig on No. 7 Hwy.
turn n- •th, watch for signs.
on Suturday, August 8, 1987 at 1:00 p.m.
HOUSEHOLD: Westinghouse refrigerator and Inglis 30" elec-
tric stove go d), kitchen table and 4 choirs, Moffatt 24" stove.
Maytag automatic washer, Viscount dryer, corner cupboard. 3
pc. maple bedroom suite, cedar chest, arm chairs and recliner,
Kroehler chesterfield and chair nearly new. upholstered chair
w/heater, Philips 22” color TV, 20" color TV, 20" B 8 W TV, 2
stereos, antique maple dre6ser w mirror, coffee table, swivel
chair, 4 dining room chairs, w needlepoint seat, 34" x 60" oqk
desk w/chair, 6 kitchen chairs, 5 drawer legal size filing cabinet,
Hitachi vacuum cleaner, Kirby vacuum cleaner, 15' shuffleboard.
dehumidifier, humidifier, wosh tubs and stand, 2 school desks,
quilting frames, partial set Crown Sussex and assorted dishes.
GARDEN TRACTOR AND TOOLS: Ford garden tractor 12 HP
LCT hydrosotic drive w/PTO 42" mower and roto tiller, 26" 4
HP hand roto tiller, 24" MTD Tecumseh snow blower, (electric
start), Homelite chainsaw, step ladders, 12' aluminum ladder,
lawn roller, steel fence posts, chicken wire and fence, 6" vise,
Y," drill, 2-1/4" drills, 7" skill saw, small air compressor, blow
torch, tool box and assortment of pipe wrenches and tools,
ass trimmer, garden tools and many other useful articles.
rrUCK AND CAMPER; 1982 Ford F150 ' , ton 302 V8 low
mileage. one owner (Cert.) like new. BONAIR 15' fold down
hardtop camping trailer.
PROPE • Pt. lot 16, Con. 14McGillivray Twp. beautiful ranch
stye rick house 65' x 28' situated on 1'/4 acres, electric heat,
Lake Huron water, cement drive, attached garage, 3 bedrooms,
3 bathrooms, completely finished basement to be offered sub-
ject to moderate reserve bid if not previously sold.
AUCTIONEERS NOTE: Pian to attend this sale as everything is
in immaculate condition very well cared for, owners retiring
to apartment. For appointment to view property ahead of sale
please call for appointment.
JERMS: Cash or cheque with I.D. PROPERTY: 10% day of sale,
balance in 30 days when vacant possession will be given.
Bruce Coulter Auctioneer
Grand Bend, (519) 238-8000