The Martinsville facility of Ozark fisheries is located
at 2195 State Rd. 37 N. Martinsville, IN 46151.
This property was purchased from Grassyfork
Fisheries in 1970. One of three properties
owned and operated by Ozark, it is used
to produce goldfish and koi.

Below is a brief history of Ozark, kindly provided by Fisheries President Lawrence B. Cleveland.

Ozark Fisheries was first established in April 1926 by F. Lawrence Bailliere. It began with 97 acres at what is known today as the No.1 spring. This large spring is one of three known as the "Camp Ground Springs" which was the location of the second oldest Methodist Church west of the Mississippi and Camden County's first Post Office which was established in 1857. The office of Ozark Fisheries is located in the old Post Office building.
In the early 1920's, the big boom in Goldfish popularity started with the establishment of pet departments in the chain stores such as S.S. Kresge, Woolworth, Grant, McLellan's and other major chains. There were over 60 Goldfish producers in the U.S. in the 1920's. Their combined production was only large enough to supply Goldfish from September through January or February the following year. Most of the production was common Goldfish with a limited supply of fancy varieties such as Red Fantails, Black Moors and Calico Fantails.
While traveling in the East in early 1927, Mr. Bailliere became interested in displays of fancy Goldfish from Japan shown in several department stores. He learned the demand exceeded the supply and that producing quality Goldfish offered a greater profit potential than Rainbow Trout. Mr. Bailliere, who had a friend in charge of buying livestock for the Woolworth chain stores, heard from his friend, who said his firm would sell all the Goldfish Ozark Fisheries could raise. So it was decided that the Ozark Fisheries would begin production and marketing of Goldfish with an emphasis on the fancy varieties.
On January 1, 1928 construction began to convert the trout raceways into Goldfish ponds and fancy Goldfish broodstock was imported from Japan; the Common Goldfish broodstock was obtained from Grassyfork Fisheries in Indiana. Less than two acres of water were stocked the first year. The first shipments of Goldfish were made on December 11, 1928- three shipments totaling 1,035 Goldfish for total sales of $55.50 which represented the total Goldfish sales for 1928.
Construction of ponds was started with horse teams and slip scoops along with wheel barrows and shovels. From the early days on, Ozark's Goldfish production included, in addition to Commons, Calico Fantails, Black Moors, Red Fantails and Shubunkins.
By 1936, all the land suitable for pond construction included in the original land purchase had been utilized. Adjacent properties were purchased, not only for expansion, but also for the protection of the watershed supplying water to the Springs.
Shipping Goldfish to Ozark's customers has evolved considerably over time. In the early days, most shipments were made in large, heavy metal cans and were delivered by Railway Express. Freight costs were low and service to major cities by rail was very dependable. Two sizes of cans were used, small orders of approximately 100 Goldfish would be shipped at a gross weight of 50 lbs; large orders of up to 500 small Goldfish would weigh as much as 100 lbs. Through the mid 1940's shipping losses averaged under 2% but by the late 1940's wage demands, shorter hours and decline in passenger rail traffic, forced freight costs upward and service began to deteriorate. Shipping losses due to inattention to the perishable product started climbing and many firms quit handling Goldfish. To survive, alternative shipping methods were required.
Ozark Fisheries developed and patented Golfipak which is now in general use in both the Goldfish and the Tropical Fish industry. The Golfipak mixes Goldfish and water in an oxygen inflated plastic bag that is sealed and shipped inside a corrugated cardboard box. For two years the U.S. Postal Service cooperated with Ozark Fisheries in mailing test shipments to all parts of the U.S. to determine if it was safe enough to handle Golfipaks with other mail without causing damage from leakers. Prior to the development of the Golfipak container, it was impossible to ship by air freight in the old style shipping cans. With the development of the much lighter and less expensive shipping container, shipping by air freight became possible. This opened up numerous markets that previously were not economically feasible to serve by Ozark Fisheries. This included both domestic and overseas markets.
In the late 1960's additional land acquisition at Ozark Fisheries included another large Spring, for a total of six, and additional ponds were constructed. Throughout the history of Ozark Fisheries, whenever possible, land was purchased to protect the watershed supplying water to the Springs. This watershed was originally in timber and of very little productive use. A slow, but deliberate process of converting the excess land into pasture was pursued and the Circle F Cattle Company was formed to manage and ensure the best use of the watershed that is now in pasture land. Today Circle F specializes in production of high quality Black Baldy replacement heifers from a herd of over 600 females.
Ozark Fisheries own and operates in addition to it's Missouri operations, production and shipping facilities in Martinsville, Indiana and Guntersville, Alabama. Ozark's combined acreage totals over 8,000 with 800 acres under water. All three locations produce Goldfish and Koi which are shipped to customers throughout North America and Western Europe. The headquarters is in Missouri where all marketing is performed. Following the death of Mr. Bailliere in 1973 and Mrs. Bailliere in 1975, ownership passed to their daughter, Anne Bailliere Cleveland and her four children. After 70 years of continuous operation, the business in now being managed by the third generation.

Ozark Fisheries Incorporated
HCR 67, Box 20
Stoutland, MO 65567 USA

Ph: 800-775-3474
or 573-765-3227

Fax: 573-765-3166

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