The Charles O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery, more commonly known as the Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, opened in 1912. The facility was responsible for
trout production up to 1981, when the Pequest Trout Hatchery took over coldwater production. Hackettstown's emphasis then turned to cool and warm water production.
The hatchery is currently responsible for the production and
distribution of 15
species of cool and warm water fish depending on annual
requests from the Division's regional
fisheries biologists.
The hatchery also raises gambusia (mosquitofish) to supply to
county mosquito control commissions. Annual production numbers
range from 1.5 to 2.5 million fish per year. (See summaries below.)
The hatchery is located in Hackettstown, Warren County,
along the banks of the Musconetcong River. The facility actually
has two separate components, the West Hatchery and the East
Hatchery that are situated, as their names imply, on the east
and west sides of Hackettstown.