Grassyfork Fisheries: The Goldfish Capital of the World

Martinsville, Ind., has a few nicknames, including Artesian City and the City of Mineral Water — both alluding to its history as the home of mineral spas that drew people from far and wide in the early 20th century. But a lesser known nickname — though equally prominent in the city’s history — is the “Goldfish Capital of the World” due to its vast fisheries that once produced more goldfish than any other location around the globe.

Established in 1899, Grassyfork Fisheries was started by Eugene Shireman, who found himself the owner of some particularly swampy land just outside the city limits of Martinsville.

At the time, goldfish were gaining popularity as a decorative species that were not only freshwater fish but fairly easy to maintain, and Shireman saw an opportunity.

He converted the swampland into fish ponds and began breeding goldfish, using about 200 he purchased in 1902. He quickly found success and expanded his operations into the largest goldfish hatchery in the world.

The hatchery’s original building — listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 — can still be seen today, after it was purchased by a local businessman and refurbished that same year.

The hatchery ponds are also still in existence, though the goldfish species is no longer prominent in the available stock. In 1970, Grassyfork sold to Ozark Fisheries, which still operates some of the ponds. Locally owned Clear Creek Fisheries also operates 88 ponds in the area, supplying the region with a broad selection of sporting fish.

(Prepared by the Morgan County Leadership Academy Class of 2022 on behalf of the Morgan County Bicentennial Committee)