DNR looks for fish thieves

Some accused “fish-nappers” may face the scales of justice. State officialsare investigating the theft of several hundred fish from a northeast Iowatrout hatchery. Twenty-five “trophy-sized” trout were taken recently from the Big SpringTrout Hatchery near Elkader. Officials believe two men in their 20s wereinterrupted by a camper as they tried to steal “brood trout” from a racewayat the hatchery. Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials are alsoworking with the Minnesota D-N-R to determine whether several hundred troutstolen this spring were taken from Iowa waters. In that case, three menfrom the Minneapolis/St. Paul area were stopped in southeast Minnesota bypolice, who found more than six-hundred full-grown trout in the trunk andback seat of their car. Iowa officials are sending genetic material toMinnesota to find out if the seized trout were from Iowa hatcheries.