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TRANSACTIONS 


iological 
Medical 
rials 


( OF THE- 


AMERICAN 


Fish Gulturists Association. 


SPECIAL MEETING 


Heep at THe Cextessiar Exaisities, Putaperrita. th Toren t 


SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING. 
February 14th and 15th, 1877. 


New Fork: 
JOHN Mo DAVIS, PRINTER, 40 FUL PON STREET. 


1877.- 


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OFFICERS, 484/-8: 


Rost RA BB. ROOSEVELT, - . : PRESIDEN 
Nitto Surk City. 

GEO. SHEPHERD PAGE, - : Vick-PRESIDENT. 
New Jurk City. 

BMGs XE GOBLACKFORD. - - : TREASURER. 
Ven dork Cit. 

BARNET PIIELIPS, : - - 2) SECRETARY 
Brooklyn, NOY. 


» 


Ears LIVE COMB Free: 


My §. Pe, - - . - Keaston, Pa. 
Pee. AA EER. - - Honcove Falls, NY. 
Vata. KENT: . - - - Baltimore Mi. 
Wat welt TER, -- - - Oferta Canada. 


SLT GREEN, - . - Rochester, NY. 


5 al 


SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY. 


The meeting was called to order by the President at 11:30 
o'clock, A. M., in the Judges’ Hall, Centennial Buildings, Phila- 
delphia, Pa., and an Address was delivered on “The Advance of 
American Fish Culture.” 

Following the Address of the President, Mr. Barrett Phillips 
read a paper on “ The Exhibition of Fish Preparations at the 
Centennial, and kindred topics.” 

Mr. Milner gave an account of what had been done in the 
way of collecting specimens of fish for the Smithsonian Institute, 
which were on exhibition in the Government Building. 

Col. Lyman of Massachusetts spoke of what that state 
was doing in the way of fish culture, following which a discus- 
sion followed on Fish-Ways, engaged in by Mr. Reeder and 
Worrall of Pennsylvania, Lyman of Massachusetts, and others. 

Following the discussion, Mr. Banks moved that a recess of 
one hour be taken by the Society, which was adopted. 

On re-assembling in the afternoon, the Secretary read letters 
from Geo. Shepard Page, Mr. Coup of the New York Aquarium, 
and others. Mr. Brower offered a paper on Fish-Ways which 
was read. 

Mr. Ward of New York City offered this Society, through 
W. C. Coup, the free use of rooms at the New York Aquarium 
for the purpose of holding meetings of the Society, which, on 


motion, was accepted. 


4 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


Mr. Mather spoke of what was being done at the Aquarium 
in New York, following which a discussion on Black Bass was 
engaged in by all present. 

Mr. Stone spoke of sending eggs of the Salmon successfully 
to New Zealand and Sandwich Islands. 

The President invited all the members present to a dinner of 
the Association, at Lafayette Restaurant, when the Society 


adjourned to meet again at 11 o'clock to-morrow, 


SECOND DAY'S MEELING: 
The meeting was called to order by the President. 
The Society listened to remarks from John O. Warder of 
North Bend, Ohio. 
Mr. Milner spoke on Nomenclature. 
Mr. Mather spoke of the Grayling, followed by remarks from 
C. J. Worrall on Fish-Ways, which was engaged in by the mem- 
bers present. 
Dr. Robinson of Virginia, spoke of what his state was doing 
in the way of propagating fish. 
Mr. Banks proposed the following named gentlemen as 
members of the Association: 
Dr. C. A. Kingsbury, rr1g Walnut Street, Philadelphia. 
Dr He CG: Yarrow, Washington). (C: 
Greene Smith, Peterboro, N.Y. 
Charles Hutchinson, Utica, N.Y. 
Which, on vote of this Society, were duly elected members. 
This Association, on motion of Seth Green, adjourned seve dre. 
MC. EDMUNDS. Saveane 
WEDNESDAY SAE TING: 
The Sixth Annual Meeting of the Association convened at 


the N. Y. Aquarium, New York City, February 14th, 1577. The 


Spectal Mecting of the Sacicty. 5 


meeting was called toorder by the President, Robt. Bo Roosevelt, 
at 2.0'clock, pM. After the reading of the President's Address, 
Mr. Milner of Washington, D. C., read a paper on * Protective 
Legislation.” A discussion followed, in which Mr. Betteman, 
Superintendent of Fisheries in the Netherkonds, spoke of the 
great advantage gained in protective legislation with proper 
police force in Holland, 

Mr. Tileston moved the election of WoC. Coupasan honorary 
member of this Society, which was unanimously cGerried. 

Mr. Wilmot of Canada had on exhibition a stuffed specimen 
of the Salmon Wilmott, or Ontario Salmon, which was bred from 
artificial propagation. — He also exphiined his process of breed- 
ing, and the advance made by him since beginning tn the work. 

The President: appointed is Committee on Nomination of 
Officers for the year, Messrs. Green, Tileston, and Evarts. 

Messrs. Milner and Wilmot discussed the question of the 
Salme Fentinalis and Sea Vrouw. or Sadae Canadents, claiming 
the two fish to be identical. Concurred in by Seth Green and 
Mr. Blackford. 

Prof. Baird spoke of the inception of the scheme to introduce 
California Salmon, and what had been done the past season 
through Mr Milner and Mr. Stone. Ele spoke of results 
attained in the cultivation of the European Carpand Pench. Mr. 
Milner spoke of the Shad hatching in specthe numbers the prast 


ScCuLSOn. 


The committee on nominations reported : 


For President—Rorreke Bo Roostseit. New York City. 
For Viece-President—Grokar So Pane. dle. 

For Treasurer—hverxnt Go Bivekrokn, deo 

For Seerctary—Biagsarit Protirs, Brooklyn, NOY. 


Executive Committee Th Jo Rirork, Easton, Pact Frew. 


6 Fish Culturists' Assectation. 


Matuer, New York City; ALEX. Kent, Baltimore, Md.; W. 

F. WircuHer, Ottawa P. O.; Sern Greex, Rochester, N. Y.; 
which, on motion of Mr. Stone, were duly elected officers of the 
Association for the year ensuing. 

Mr. Livingston Stone spoke of the California Salmon—their 
growth and propagation, and their shipment to New Zealand, 
etc. A discussion followed on the propagation of Salmon in 
salt water, by Messrs. Baird and Wilmot. 

On motion of Mr. Blackford the Society adjourned, to meet 


again at 11 o'clock to-morrow. 


THURSDAY'S MEETING (February 15th, 1877.) 


The Society met pursuant to adjournment. 

A paper was read by Mr. Mather on Fish Culture in the New 
York Aquaria. 

Mr. Wilmot spoke of a new theory in the practice of impreg- 
nating fish eggs, claiming that impregnation was instantaneous. 

A discussion followed by Messrs. Green, Milner, Mather, 
Stone, and Wilmot, in which no concurrent opinion was 
entertained by the disputants. 

Mr. Phillips read a paper on Edible Fish of foreign countries, 
in which he compared our fish with those of other nations, 
extending the variety of edible fish in this country beyond the 
conception of our most noted connoisseurs in fish diet. 

Mr. Waldheim spoke of fish culture in his country. He 
thought the mode of preparing fish for market in America was 
better than the European way; that our way of freezing was 
much better than their way of salting and pickling. 

Mr. Hall spoke of the Adirondack region, and what the Legis- 
lature should do to protect fish in that locality. 

Mr. Phillips moved that Sekizawa Alkelkio of Japan be made 


an honorary member of this Association. Cavvved. 


Special SMeching of the Sects 7 


~ 


Mr. Wilmot read a letter trom Mr Witeher, extending bis 
good wishes to the Society, 

The report of the Treasurer was read and adopted 

The Secretary read letters trom AL PL Rockwood of Salt Lake, 
Utah, and trom Mr. Redding of Californi:. 

Mr. Milner moved that the Associttion organize sections tot 
CSSAVS and discussions on fish Lopies betore the Association, 
and that a committee of three be appointed by the President to 
report such organization to the Society. -lidepled 

The President appointed as the Committee, Messrs. Milner, 
Blackford, and Phillips. 
The Committee reported that four sections be adopted, viz: 
1 A Section of Methods in Fish Culture and Apysratus. 

2. A Section on Fishery Laws and Fish-Ways. 

3. A Section on Natural EHlistory and Aquaria. 

4. A Section on Fisheries. 

That the President appotnt three members to each section, 
with power to add to their namber, and when all members 
present lhive united with a section, that section shall then elect 
its chairman. That certain hours of each session of the Society, 
in the future, be voted to certain sections for the reading of 
essays and discussions in their special branches, snd after cach 
section has occupied their time, the meeting be given up te 
veneral discussion, 

Report of the Committee adopted. 

The President appointed as Committee on the sections mamed: 
Srerion « Mr S. Green, 

Mr. B. B. Porter, - Wethods in Fish Culture, ete. 
Mr. S. Wilmot. | 


Srcnens, Sir. ©. 5. Evycrts. 
Mr. lL. Stone, - Fishery Lawes and Fish - Wars 
Mr. TO B Ferguson \ 


$ Fish Culturists’ Assectation. 


SECHON Ss) Alc. gw: Milner, 
Mir te Mather, - Virtural frsterv, ete. 
Mr-C. He Hallock: \ 
SeCriox4. Sir EVG Blackford, 
Mr. B. Phillips, espe’ 
Mr. M. C. Edmunds. 


Mr. Hallock offered the following resolution: 


Whereas, Virough the influence of the American Fish 
Culturists’ Association, attention was first) directed to the 
necessity of establishing an American Aquarium for the collec- 
tion and study of American fish; and 

Whereas, Through the earnest effort of individual members, 
and the active and substantial co-operation of Messrs. Coup, 
Reiche, Blackford, Mather, and others, the present: creditable 
Aquarium, as we now find it, was established; and 


Whereas, By fortuitous circumstances, the present session of 
this Association has been held at the Aquarium buildings as 
above, be it therefore 

Resolved, That there is no place so suitable for the annual 
meetings of this Association as the Aquarium, offering, as it 
does, unusual opportunity for study and comparison of speci- 
mens and species, and therefore, that hereafter the sessions of 
this body be held at the Aquarium, as not only advantageous to 
itself, but as a proper recognition of the enterprise and efforts 
of the gentlemen who have established and now superintend it. 

Resolved, That the Aquarium be recommended to the public 
as well worthy of its patronage. 


The resolution was adopted unanimously. 

Messrs. Mather and Porter spoke of carrying live fish in 
snow. 

Moved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to W. F. 
Witcher for his interest in its behalf. Carrred. 


Dr. Edmunds offered the following resolution: 


Spectal Mecting of the Secretly. 9 


Resolved, That the President appoint two members of this 
Association to prepare for our next meeting suitable memorials 
on the death of Bo FL Bowles and W. FB. Parker. 

The President appointed as said committee Mr. Edmunds 
and Mr. Stone. 

Moved, Vhat the Society purchase, through its Treasurer and 
Executive Committee, a book-case, to be placed in the Aquarium 
rooms, in which to keep reports and donations to the Society. 
Adopted. 

On motion of Mr. Phillips the Society adjourned to meet in 
annual session on the second Wednesday in February, 1878. 

Ma.C. EDMIDN DS, 


Secretary. 


CENTENNIAL MEETING. 


CENTENNIAL GROUNDS, PHILADELPHIA, 


Friday, October 6th, 1876. 


A special session of the American Fish Culturists’ Associa- 
tion was held in Judges’ Hall, Centennial Exhibition Grounds. 
Among those present participating in the meeting were the 
following persons: 

Prof. Spencer F. Batrp, U. S. Fish Commissioner; Rosert 
B. Rooseve.t, President of American Fish Culturists’ Associa- 
tion; M. E. Epmunps, Weston, Vt.; T. B. Fercuson, Baltimore | 
Md.; A. A. ANDERSON, Bloomsbury, N. J.; | SerH GREEN, 
Rochester, N. ¥.; Frep. Matuer, Honeoye Falls, N. ¥.; HL EL 
Tuomas, Randolph, N. Y.; T. C. Baxks, New York; J. 
Bremer, Pennsylvania; A. Bert Mactcoimsen, Jr., New York; 
Livincston Strong, California; E. G. Brackrorp, New York; 
Wittiam Gorpsmitu, Vermont; SeEKIzAWA ALKELKIO, Imperial 
Japanese Commissioner. 

Hon. R. B. Roosevelt, President of the Association, delivered 


the opening address. 


GENTLEMEN: Some fifteen or more years ago [ wrote a book 
upon the Sporting Fishes of North America, and in it devoted 
some attention to the matter of fish culture. At that time but 
little was known upon the subject, the investigations of Gehin 
and Reiny had but lately been given to the world. Ainsworth 
was not known to the public, and Seth Green, although working 
away on his own account, had yet made no sign. The only 


American work on the subject was the pamphlet of Dr. Garlick. 


Centennial Mecting. in 


However, as 1s the case with most of the great inventions, human 
attention was directed to the same subject much in the same 
direction at the same time in widely-separated sections of the 
world. Reiny, Green, and Ainsworth were practically at the 
same point, and had not Reiny sueceeded when he did, the others 
would not have been much tater. In my own writings, which 
were intended to bring the importance of the subject to general 
consideration, and which contained all that was known at the 
time, now that | look at them from our present advanced stand- 
point, I find many errors that deeper investigation has disclosed. 
Among these short-comings, however, there is one sentence 
which this meeting makes so conspicuously prophetic, that I 
quote it as contirmation of the reasonableness of our convictions 
in the past, and the encouragement that our present higher 
anticipations may yet be fully realized: “Our first farmers 
chopped down the forest and shade trees, took crop after crop 
of the same kind from the land, exhausted the soil and made 
bare the country ; they hunted and fished, destroying first the 
wild animals, then the birds, and finally the fish. till in many 
places these ceased utterly from off the face of the earth, and 
then, when they had finished their work, that race of gentlemen 
moved West to renew the same course of destruction. After 
them came the restorers; they manured the lund, left. it 
fallow, put in practice the rotation of crops, planted shade and 
fruit trees, discovered that birds were useful in destroying insects 
and worms, and passed laws to protect them where they were 
not utterly extinct, as with the pinnated grouse of Pennsylvania 
and Long Island, and will, I prediet, cre long, restock the 
streams, rivers, and ponds with the best fish that once inhabited 
them.” When fish culture was first attempted in this country, 
our fisheries of all kinds had deteriorated, till in many places 
they were on the point of extinction, and in’ facet, had been 


. 


12 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctatton. 


destroyed in some instances, as with the salmon fisheries in Lake 
Ontario, and the northern portion of the State of New York. 
The Middle and Eastern States had been the first to suffer; in 
New England the salmon had diminished greatly in the once 
prolific streams of Maine, and had disappeared from the 
Connecticut River; shad, alewives, and herring, were growing 
scarcer yearly, while the cod fisheries had been driven from our 
coasts to the banks of New Foundland. In the Hudson River 
the shad fisheries were being abandoned at many stations. 
In the Delaware the yicld has been enormously reduced, and 
destruction was impending over the James and other more 
southerly rivers. Smaller streams in some localities had been 
left utterly bare of fish, and everywhere the most delicate and 
attractive species ; the brook-trout had diminished to little more 
than a memory of the past. The time had arrived when, if our 
fish supply was to be saved at all, it had to be looked after. 

The first attempts at fish culture in this country were mét 
with ridicule and opposition, but nothing could deter the 
enthusiasts who had taken it in charge. The shrewdest of these 
perceived it not merely an immense benefit to the country at 
large, but a source of private profit. Trout breeding was 
commenced as a commercial enterprise, and discoveries were 
soon made which placed America at the very head of fish culture. 
Seth Green, at his private establishment at Caledonia, discovered 
the principle of dry impregnation, but as he kept the process a 
secret, it was not generally known till it was re-discovered 
abroad and came back to us from Russia. He next invented 
his shad hatching-box, which has been so universally employed 
since. Ainsworth substituted screens for troughs in trout 
hatching, and Holton improved on the idea in his box with the 
water rising from below instead of falling from above—an 


invention specially adapted to the breeding of white-fish. ATI 


Centennial Meeting. 13 


sorts of fish were tried, from the bony fish of our coast to the 
pork livers of the West, and innumerable matters of detail were 
changed for the better, while many doubtful questions were 
settled. 

In Europe, all that had been effected up to that time—and 
there has not been much advance since—was the cultivation of 
trout and salmon, and the building of salmon-passes. The latter 
has been of vast importance to them; and with no other aid than 
proper legislation has restored many rivers which had been 
ruined by artificial obstructions, and greatly iniproved the yield 
of others where there had always been natural obstructions. The 
vield of any river, other things being equal, is dependent upon 
the extent of the spawning-ground, and the more that can be 
enlarged the greater will be the supply. It often happens that 
a single fall bars the salmon from the upper waters, and when 
this is overcome, hundreds of miles may be added to the range 
of the fish. Our rivers are probably more generally obstructed 
by artificial dams than those of Europe, so much that in some 
States—I may instance that of New York—little attention has 
been devoted to the erection of fish-passes. In the New England 
States, however, much energy, skill, and ingenuity has been 
displayed in giving salmon, shad, and herring an easy and 
convenient method of overcoming obstructions which man or 
nature had placed in their way. Good has already resulted, but 
greater benefit is to be expected when time shall have accustomed 
the fish to their new habitat. One incidental benefit has been 
derived from this work: the inhabitants along the banks of the 
inland streams are beginning to understand their rights, and 
appreciate the damage and wrong which were done them when 
an impassible barrier was placed between them and a supply of 
food which had hitherto, unsought, presented itself at their very 


doors. I find it exceedingly dificult to obtain reliable statistics 


14 Fish Culturists' Association. 


of the extent of the domestic yield of fish. The cod and mackerel 
of the northern fisheries, which are imported, are recorded in 
the returns of the Custom-houses, but the produce of our shore 
and stream fisheries, and even of our great lakes, remains a 
matter of guesswork instead of calculation. Nevertheless, any 
one familar with the subject, who knows something of the 
diminution in the past, and has seen the improvement here and 
there effected by fish-ways in the present, can positively assert 
that the destruction of fish by mill-dams amounts yearly to many 
millions of dollars. We pay Canada alone a million annually 
for the privilege of eating salmon which once abounded in our 
waters, and thousands of miles of shore fisheries have been cut 
off in our land by dams. That these obstructions can be over- 
come is being made clearer year by year; there have been 
mistakes in construction, errors of Opinion as to the habits and 
capacities of different species of the migratory fishes, but fish- 
ladders are now constructed which meet all requisites, and which 
not only salmon, but shad, herring, and alewives, have ascended, 
although shad are exceedingly timid, and not to be tempted 
where their distrust is aroused. As conspicuous instances of 
the effect of opening additional spawning-ground, may be men- 
tioned the Damariscotta River, in Maine, to the upper waters of 
which alewives were admitted in 1806, and which has vielded 
millions yearly since. And in Ireland, the river Corrib, in which 
a fish-pass was erected in 1853, the yield of salmon being thereby 
increased from sixteen hundred to over twenty thousand. Many 
other instances could be presented, but these are enough to prove 
that similar results may be anticipated from our later efforts. 

In America, advance has been made not alone in the mechan- 
ical appliances of Fish Culture, but in the varieties of species to 
which it has been adapted. Abroad, as I have said, attention was 


paid mainly to the salmon, which was the most valuable species, 


Centennial Meeting. 15 


and to the trout. Since then, attempts have been made to hit hi 
carp, but no fish having the eggs enveloped in a gelatinous 
substance has been managed as successfully as those whose egys 
are free. With us we hatch trout, salmon, land-locked salmon, 
salmon-trout, grayling, whitefish, while with shad enormous 
results have been obtained. [tis nothing unusual for individual 
states to hatch millions of cach of these varieties, while of shad 
as many as fifty millions have been produced at a single station. 
In practical results [ believe that our efforts will compare 
favorably with those of any country, many lakes and 
streams which had been depleted by overtishing and disregard 
of reasonable protection, have been restored to productiveness, 
better varieties of fish have been substituted in localities occupied 
by worthless or coarser ones, the prices of fish-food had been 
conspicuously reduced, while in many instances fisheries which 
were being abandoned have been made once more remunerative 
to their owners. Although all the hopes of the enthusiasts in 
fish culture have not been realized, this is a fair showing for the 
past. The most serious ditheulty encountered has been the need 
of proper legislation. The cel-weirs still stand in most of our 
streams, destroying, along with the cels they legitimately cap- 
ture, amass of young try of valuable species which often have 
been laboriously bred to stock these streams; dams are still 
being erected, unseasonable fishing is still allowed, and scarcely 
an effort has been made to limit the ruinous effects of pound- 
nets—those most destructive of fishing appliances. We need 
legislation, and can only obtain it by instructing the people 
and explaining its necessity and the advantages it will confer 
upon the entire country, 

In addition to the varieties mentioned, successful attempts 
have been made with other kinds. The alewife, striped-bass, 
and sturgeon have been manipulated and will soon be included 


’ 


16 Fish Culturists’ Association. 


in our permanent list; and the oyster fisheries, while receiving 
careful supervision from the Commissioners in several states, 
have become in private hands vastly profitable. Many most 
interesting experiments have been made; sea fishes have been 
confined in fresh waters, fresh-water fishes allowed to visit the 
ocean, shad have been carried to Michigan and to the head 
waters of the Mississippi River, and even to the Pacific coast 
where they had heretofore no existence. Black bass have been 
brought East and neutralized in the lakes and ponds of New 
England and the Middle States; while salmon, trout, and white- 
fish have been distributed throughout the great West. California 
salmon have been placed in the Delaware and the Hudson, and 
white-fish sent to California. Already nineteen states of the 
Union, one Territory, and the United States, have appointed 
Fishery Commissioners, who have displayed great enthusiasm 
and commendable energy ; and attention is being paid to fish 
culture in all the more advanced portions of our country which 
nature has peculiarly adapted to it. In America are to be found 
the largest lakes, constituting almost inland seas, the longest 
rivers, the greatest net-work of streams, and the most remarkable 
variety of water in the world; while to fill these with food we 
have species of fish the most productive and the best suited to 
artificial manipulation. The shad produces its eight or ten 
thousand eggs to each pound of weight; the black bass guards 
its young from danger till they can protect themselves, and the 
California salmon will endure a warmth of temperature which 
would destroy the salmon of Canada and Europe. Of water we 
have all sorts—clear, confined, turbulent, stagnant, extended, 
and limited; the purling brook, the stately river, the vast lake, 
varying in temperature at all degrees, from the hot springs of 
the West, to the mountain trout-stream and the icy spring—even 


underground ponds and streams inhabited by eveless fish. There 


Centennial Meeting. 17 


is to be found also every kind of bottom and spawning-ground 
and abundant food. It has been shown by the able and scientific 
labors of the United States Commissioner, Mr. Baird, that there 
need be no fear of scarcity of fish food either in the ocean or in our 
great lakes, and that beth waters contain much of the same sort. 
We have only to take advantage of these opportunities. “This is 
the national centennial; fish culture has existed only a few 
years; what will be its condition at its centennial the mest 
enthusiastic can hardly conceive. Wei have passed through 
doubt and uncertainty > errors were inevitable. .\ new science 
was being born into the world, and mistakes were unques- 
tionably accompanying it, but the clear light is visible at fast. 
We now know where we are, and although an endless vista lies 
before us, we are enabled to tread it with firm and intelligent 
steps. The vast boon te the people promised by this discovery 
oft abundant tish and cheap tood is now assured. There need be 
no fear for the future, and ino much less than a hundred vears 
the waters of America will teem with food for the poor and 


hungry, which all may come and take. | Applause. | 


Mr. Baksers Puttirs of Brooklyn, NOY addressed the 
meeting in detail upon the objects of interest observed by him 
in Grroup Vo, embracing exhibits ot fish, methods of fish culture, 


appliances for fish catching, ete. 


I feel somewhat thutered by the call vou have made on me to 
deseribe some of the objects Eomay have seen in Group Vo 
must dechkire my abilitw te dose except in the most cursory way, 
If our twe days session were to extend over two months, 
perhaps by constant talking TPoright: accomplish this obypect. 
All Lean hope te dois te ran over ina desultery and perhaps 
unsatisiietery: oeinner the character ot the aren, with its 


Various ramiibeations tute: branches or classes 


18 Fish Culturitsts’ Assoctation. 


Now, when committees, juries, or experts are brought 
together for matters. practical, scientific, ecclesiastical, or com- 
mercial, the best general work or result is brought about if each 
man is allowed to follow his own bent. In fact, men, by their 
own natural impulses, slide into peculiar grooves. So, in a 
body of men acting together, one person has the brains and does 
the tammking, another has the legs and does the wadking ; and I 
assure you that individuals so blessed have ample scope for 
pedestrianism in this exhibition, while another who has the 
mouth does the talking. I would like to draw here your 
attention to this fact. In this enormous icthye show, IT am 
inclined to think that the mouth was comparatively useless—at 
least in what is sometimes regarded as its noblest function. 
The mouths having to do with Group V., [ suppose, have talked 
but sparingly, and for the best of reasons. It was because the 
mouths of the judges of Group V. were fv//—not of poetic 
sentiment nor of dry scientific names, but full of fish. You 
may depend upon it that there was a great deal of steady tasting. 
If it is permitted to man, in his ordinary experience, to taste a 
good deal, at this exhibition the most extraordinary opportu- 
nities were allowed him.  [f we run through the ordinary 
alphabet of tastes, calling for instance A the savor of salted cod, 
or B the flavor of smoked herring, it must have required quite 
the perfection of gustatory grammar to understand squid in its 
original ink-sauce, coming from Spain, or to construe or digest 
dried skark-fins from China. Certain combinations may no 
doubt have been pleasant to the judges, though [ am inclined to 
think that occasionally their impressions might have’ been 
painful. Of course [do not mean to say that the judges of 
Group V. were martyrs in the cause. but as icthvophagists, eating 
ploddingly and conscientiously through the fish of twenty-seven 


countries, in a continuous kind of repast, extending over a 


Centennial Mecting. a) 


couple of months, their task, | taney, was by no means a light 
one, 

I have here a list of the fish products derived from the various 
seas, rivers, and lakes of the world, which have been tasted, It 
is, in fact, an edible fish-chart : 

Counrkiks.—Austria, Argentine Republic, Baltama, Bermuda, 
Brazil, Canada, China, Chili, Cape of Good Hlope, England, 
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Netherlands, N. 5. 
Wales, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Tasmania, 
United States, British Columbia. 

Fish.—Anchovies, Bream, Barbel, Cavear, Carp, Cray-tish, 
Clams, Cod, Cockle, Cusk, Eels, Conger-vels, Flounders, Hake, 
Haddock, Halibut, Herring, Lamprey, Lanquet, Ling, Lobster, 
Mackerel, Mullet, Mussel, Menhaden, Ox-fish, Oyster, Oola- 
chans, Pilchard, Pike, Pollock, Rouget, Roach, Sea-Snails, 
Sardines, Salmon, Shad, Shark, Skate, Sprat, Squid, Sole, Sword- 
fish, Sturgeon, Shrimp, Turtle, Turbot, Tunny, White-fish 
Whiting,—fifty fish, and further supplemented by unknown fish. 

Now it must be remembered that in a great number of cases 
the same fish was prepared by different exhibitors in’ various 
countries in many strange ways. For instance, take eels. They 
came from Comancho, the famous eelery of Ttaly, and from 
Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Russia, and the United States. Of 
Salmon there were 29 exhibits. This latter fact: showing, I 
suppose, that the Whitefish, Salmon, or the family of the 
Salmonide, feed more human beings than any other fish! I 
suppose, then, that at times the judges might have been both 
palled and appalled with all this richness; but Iam pleased to 
state they still live, two of them here present, and the news has 
reached them that the gentlemen from Norway, Mr. Joak 
Andersen, has arrived at his home in Aalesund in the best of 
health. With this slight and, I trust, impressive introduction, 


20 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


I cannot presume to give you anything more than the lightec 
idea of Group V., which treated principally of fish, the products 
derived from them, with the apparatus used in catching them. 
For more particular information as to the divisions of the group, 
I would direct your attention to Mr. G. Brown Goode's most 
careful classification of the collection to illustrate the animal 
resources of the United States. Group V. was split up into nine 
classes, beginning with No. 641, and ending with No. 649. 

No. 640 was * Marine animals, seals, cetaceans, and specimens 
living in aquaria, or stuffed, salted, or otherwise preserved.” | 
must here refer you to the wonderful display made by the 
Smithsonian Institution in the Government Building. It can be 
safely stated that before this Centennial year there has never 
been brought together so magnificent a collection. Its thorough- 
ness and practical usefulness quite manifest, and allow me to 
explain how. As we are not quite well posted in Chinese fish, 
it became the duty of a person attached to the group to endeavor 
to find out what fish China used principally as food. Thanks to 
Mr. Knight, the Chinese Commissioner, the person) whose 
business it was to grope into the Chinese fish darkness, was 
provided with an intelligent Chinese interpreter, and he was 
backed up by a learned Chinaman, undoubtedly a savant, 
because this latter person was to write a book or maybe deliver 
only speeches on the Exhibition in Chinese for the benefit of 
Chinamen. [| think rather an unprofitable evening was spent 
between this American person and the Chinamen, though it was 
not uninteresting. But China fish was a closed book. It was 
apparent that in China there must be twenty different names for 
the same fish, in which peculiarity they do not differ from our 
own people. At last a happy thought struck the person who 
wanted “to know, vou Know.” Next day he took his two 


Chinamen among the plaster casts of tish in the Goverment 


Centenmial Mecting. 21 


Building, and no end of useful information was readily obtain- 
able. Both Chinamen fairly gushed and pointed right and left 
at fish they were at home with, and opened their eyes in wonder 
at such nondescripts as were strange to them. In fact, this 
collection of plaster casts of fish, supplemented by the photo- 
graphs, is like a Kindergarten, where object-teaching is made 
intelligible to the largest children, scientific or otherwise. I 
must recall here, too, the very complete collections of fish pre- 
served in alcohol, coming from Sweden and Norway, which may 
be found in Agricultural ELall. } 

Of class 641, “ Fishes Living or Preserved.”—If I cannot refer 
with pride to the aquaria, which, for very good reasons, were not 
as extensive or as well filled as Mr. Mather would have wished, 
oras Mr. Mather’s great acquaintance with this subject deserved, 
ithas taught us this lesson: That aquaria, like menageries or 
zoological collections, require special facilities, and must be 
constructed solely for the purposes intended. 1 can, however, 
point to the refrigerators stocked by Mr. Eugene G. Blacktord 
of New York, as one of the prominent features of Group V., the 
worthy Treasurer of our Association having poured out there 
during the whole of the Exhibition the entire riches almost of 
the United States in edible fish. At the present moment | 
believe there are no less than 180 inthe refrigerators. The high 
character of the award, which [I understand the judges have 
accorded him, may, I believe, be considered as a merited compli- 
ment to the American Fish Culturists’ Association. 

No. 642, “ Pickled Fish and Parts of Fish,” [ have already 
alluded to. If I was merely to endeavor to describe them in these 
two days’ sessions, hardly more could be done than to open, 
figuratively, the innumerable cans, jars, casks, tubs, or barrels, 
which contain them. To recount how they looked, tasted, or 


smelled, might be but to offer you a Barmecidian feast. Some 


22 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


of them, in imagination, might make your mouths water; some, 
if actually experimented upon, might have quite a contrary 
effect. I trust as to the crucial test, for “the proof of the 
pudding is the eating of it,” that the gentlemen here present 
will have ample opportunity of forming their own opinion at 
the dinner to be given to-day at the Lafayette restaurant. I 
may sav that since there are curious wines which connoisseurs 
admire, so are there curious fish. [I am led to suppose that in 
making their awards as to preparations of fish as food, the 
judges very wisely did not confine themselves to any pent-up 
Utica of taste. White bait at Greenwich is good, and, undoubt- 
edly, seal meat at Omenack, in Greenland, is excellent. If 
preparations of fish from Sweden, Norway, or from Spain or 
Portugal, did not suit American palates, such might have been 
admirably adapted to the wants of more northern or southern 
climes. De gusttbus non est disputandum, 1 suppose, was taken in 
its broadest latitude. Now, there were those Chinese shark-fins, 
certainly not savory as to smell, still we have the assurance 
from the Chinese Commissioner, that made into a soup with 
barley, shark-fins are unequalled as stock. I think, too, shark 
eating in the United States has a representative here who has 
declared that portions of a young shark are excellent as food. 
Of class 643, “ Crustaceans, Echinodeons, etc.,” the samples were 
numerous. Of class 644, “* Mollusks, Oysters, Clams, etc.” there 
were innumerable specimens. In class 646, which includes 
ising-glass and sounds, some very beautiful preparations may be 
seen in Agricultural Hall and in the Brewers’ Hall—American 
ising-glass from the hake being used to a large extent to clear our 
lager beer—the superb specimens of ising-glass exhibited by 
Russia, all worthy of notice. In class 647 are “Instruments of 
Fishing ;" the biggest show the world has ever seen is full of 


them. From the huge drag-net used by the Dutchman on his 


Centenmal Mecting. 23 


broad-breasted lugger as he thrashes through the ugly North 
Sea and sweeps up the turbot, to the delicate silken net, the 
plaything of the Japanese lady, all were found at the Exhibition. 
These nets alone were a study. In Norway and Sweden a 
curious example may be found of usages now in vogue which 
have descended from the stone and bone age, or from prehistoric 
times. For here may be scen nets weighted with stones, cach 
one with a hole drilled patiently through it, and nets held below 
the water by means of split sheep-bones. If, however, such 
primitive methods still exist in northern countries, perhaps duc 
to the poverty of the fishermen, still in Sweden and Norway 
engines for the capture of fish may be seen admirably con- 
structed. If there be nets thoated with the core of their fir-cones, 
they use, too, hollow spheres of «lass. In trawls, such as serve 
for catching cod and haddock, certain systems of arranging 
the hooks, and methods of carrying the tine, are worthy of being 
copied by our Gloucester and Nantucket fishermen. In both 
the coarser and finer fishing-lines—tackle for business or 
pleasure—the exhibitions were superb. Dilettanti fishermen in 
the United States would be hard to please had they to look 
bevond the contents of the cases in the Government Building, or 
in Agricultural or in Main Pall As te reds, such delicate con- 
ceptions, so light, vet so strong and chastic, one could hardly 
imagine could be constructed. Ino reels. made im the mest 
Ingenious manner, ne end of talent and ingenuity has been 
lavished. In fact mt looks as if a fisherman was naturally 
inventive. Perhaps when trout de met rise, he broods over some 
ideal reel, and his dreams tind actual shape. In class 648, * Fish 
Culture” a subject more particularly within the scope of this 
Association, the exhibition was a tatriv @ood eue. Their sim- 
plicity of form, and = comsequent cheapness of construction, 
prevents ino ao measure such an exhibition from having the 


. 


24 Fish Culturtsts’ Assectation. 


startling claims to attention as a Fresnel lighthouse might call 
for. Excellent varieties of hatching apparatus may be seen in 
the Government Building, with the various utensils used in the 
transportation of fish, some of the latter being indeed historically 
famous. The collection of models of Fish-Ways are wonder- 
fully complete, and may afford one ample means of study and 
comparison. [ would call your attention to the charming 
miniature fish hatching-house in the Maryland State Building, 
planned by the Fish Commissioner from Maryland, and also to 
the process of hatching California salmon, now actually going 
on in the same building. 

I should endeavor, betore concluding this exceedingly rapid 
and necessarily imperfect sketch of Group V., to give some 
deductions in regard to its general character. [ must declare, 
then, that as faras the actual fishing or catching goes, we have 
in America very little, if anything, to learn. Our nets, lines 
hooks, and apparatus, generally, are exceedingly well made and 
of the best material. As to the ingenuity displayed, the best 
proof of the excellence of the apparatus is to be found in the 
diminishing quantity of the fish. 

Without our being then the least pretentious, we are to be 
taught but very little trom abroad as to how fish are caught in 
the cheapest and most expeditious way. Here and there, 
occasionally, some things seemed to be novel, as derived from 
another country, but a more careful study of such devices showed 
that the methods had been employed in the United States, and 
either given up or amended. 

In fact, the United States is sending fishing material abroad, 


Where it finds an increasing demand, due to its cheapness and 


excellence. Asto “Fish as Food "—class 642—other deductions, 
T think, could be made, and perhaps not as tlattering. Certain 


methods of preparing cod, haddock, and ling, emploved in 


Cratenmal Meeting. - 


“Ve 


Norway, where fish are dried and cured without salt, present the 
greatest advantages. Inthe same bulk or weight vou have all 
food. Perhaps the climate of Norway would allow the fish to 
be prepared in this peculiar way, which would mot be possible 
in the United States or in Canada. That the fish dry-cured were 
excellent, and will stand over-heated weather is quite mianitest, 
as may be scen by going to the very fine Norwegian exhibit in 
Agricultural Hall Both Spain and Portugal put up erade tish 
ef the cheaper varieties in admirable wavs. worthy of imi- 
tation. 

As to the finer preparations of fish, such as Sweden and 
Norway send into the Northern markets, and are called ded/rca- 
fessen, We have ever so much te learn from them. —P need not 
call your attention to the admirable French preparations of fish, 
which excel those of any other country ; tor French sardines, like 
French bonnets, go all over the world. As te our own canned 
preparations, they are excellent. ino their way, but they are 
wanting invaricty. They are monotonous. Tt may be said that 
what we put up meets the demand, but there is no doubt that if 
we got out of the stereotyped forms of preparation, such as are 
represented by canned salmen, and tried our hand at other 
things or methods, our suceess would be greater, We have 
innumerable fish on our coast, new newleeted. which ought te 
be cared for and which, if properly srranged., would tind cager 
purchasers all over the world. Of course an opening has been 
made in this direction, and our American canners are puiting up 
good preparations in oil, which even tind a market as far off as 
Russia. Nevertheless we are still somewhat wanting in the art 
and deheacy of the thing, Our method of canning salmon, the 
natural one. ts entirely original, and has assumed marvellous 
proportions. [t ts on the Pactlie side that this immense fish 
harvest is garnered, and Tomiay state from careful statistics thet 


‘ 


26 fish Culturtsts’ Association. 


the Columbia River alone yields more salmon, four times over, 
than does the whole of England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales. 

Fearing to tax your patience, [ shall now close, repeating 
that no one ina casual way, without careful study, could imagine 
the vast number of objects included within this group, and what 
a tund of information and instruction is to be found in it. 

This grand exhibition, then, in its widest sense, being founded 
on the broad and great principle of the exchange of thought, 
that fractional portion represented of Group Vo may have been 
of great advantage to other countries in affording them ample 
opportunities to study our methods of fish capture, while in 
exchange we may take from them many approved ways of pre- 
paring fish food. 

As to fish culture, there are so many distinguished gentlemen 
here present, men whose reputations are Known all over the 
world, that it would be worse than presumptuous on my part to 
speak abouta work of which they are scientifically and practically 
the great masters, only T think that they will agree with me in 
coming to this conclusion, that in fish culture we in the United 
States and in Canada have performed greater feats and have 
arrived at broader, larger, and, above all, more usetul results than 
in the Old World. Tf fish culture was discovered in Europe, it 


isherethat fish culture has taken its most practical development. 


Prof. Jawes W. Mirxer, Assistant United States Fish Com- 
missioner, in special charge of the work for Shad) Hatching, 


reported as follows : 


Mr. CratruMan: The collections of the United States National 
Museum in the Government Building of the International 
Exhibition, or, as our countrymen have chosen to term it, 
“Centennial Exhibition,” relating to the fisheries, are arranged 


under the following classifications : 


Srorion AL AwNiwats Benericive ok INpektous ro Mas, 


IV. 


: 


Vi. 
VIL. 
VILL. 
IV. 
BE 
DB 
an. 
NIIL. 


Crateumal Mecting. 


Pinnepedia: Seals, ete. 

Sirentia: Sea Cows (manatees, ete). 
Cete: Whales, porpoises, dolphins. 
Testudinata: Tortoises, turtles, ete 
Fishes: (kishes proper.) 
Elasmobranchiates : Sharks and rays. 
Marsipobranchiates > Lamprevs, lags. 
Leptocardians : Amphioxus or haneelet. 
Arthropods: Crustaceans (eritbs, ete). 
Worms: Annelids, scolecids. 
Mollusks: Cuttlefishes, chums, oysters, snails, ete, 
Radiates : Stur-fishes, polyps, ete. 


Protogoans and toruniniters. 


Secrion Bo Meraxs or Pturstrr anp Carrure. 


Hand implements > clubs, Knives, axes, spears, ete. 


Implements for seizure of object: SCOUDS, poaff-hooks, 


tongs, cle. 


Missiles: spears, harpoons, bows and arrows, firearms. 


Baited hooks: angling tackle. 
Nets: entangling nets, surrounding nets. 


Traps : fish-pounds weires and traps. 


Apparatus for wholesale destruction: polsons, tor- 


pedoes. 
Hunting animals: Cormorants. 


Decovs: lures, ete. 


Pursuit — its method and appliances: camp outhit, 


sboat, live baits, personal equipments. 


Fish Culturitsts Assoctation. 


ty 
4 


Section CC.) Merxuops oF PREPARATION, 


I. Preparation and preservation of food: living, freez- 
ing, drying, canning, and pickling. 
Il. Manufacture of textile fabrics from whalebone.* 

If. Preparation of the skin and its appendages: sturgeon 
skins, skins of cetaceans (porpoises, etc.). 

IV. Preparation of the hard tissues: fish-scale work, 
preparation of whalebone, preparation of tortoise- 
shell, preparation of nacre, preparation of coral. 

V. Preparation of oils and gelatines: whale-oils, fish-oils, 
and tsing-glass. 

VIL Preparation of drugs and chemical products : murex- 
ides, tflake-white from fish-scales. 

VIL. Preparation of fertilizers: fish fertilizers. 

VIEL. Preparation of limes: from shells. 

IX. Preparation of the animal for scientific uses: wet 
preparations, skeletons, models, stutfed specimens, 
photographs, drawings, and colored sketches. 


Secrion DL - Axniwat PrRopvers AND THEIR -\PPLICATIONS 


I. Foods: fresh, dried, and smoked, salted, canned, and 
pickled, gelating ; baits and food for other animals. 

II. Clothing: leather of porpoise skins, sturgeons, furs 
of seals, textile fabrics of whalebone. 

I. Materials emploved in the arts and manufactures : 
baleen, tortotse-shell, seales, pearl, shells, coral, 
leather, gechitine and ising-glass, flexible materials 
from mullusks, sponges, oils and fats, coloring 
materials, Chemical products, and agents emploved 
in arts and medicines : fertilizers, limes. 


* The classification employed was scientific, and miade the natural history system its 
basis. In uppls ing it to the teherie< in our reference to the stibyeet owe shall embrace 
everything pertaining to the fisheries as the tern i- ordinarily used. tneludine the whites. seals, 


turtles, corals, ete. 


Centennial Mecting, 24 


SWEOTION Ps > VPROTECHION AND CPRTCRE OF CSEeOL ANISALS. 


I. Investigation: methods of United States Fish Com- 
IMASSIOM, 
HL. Protection : preservittion of fish, care of whiatles, seals, 
fish, ete., In aquarki cnemics of useful animals. 
Hl. Propagation: mink culture. terrapin culture, frog 
culture, fish culture, leceheulture, and oyster culture, 
The objects disphived ander this chissification in- 
eluded: specimens of natural history representing 
seals, whiules, turtles : food fishes that are in general 
use us food, and such as would not ordinarily be 
deemed edible; animals which prey upon fishes; 
and davertebrates which comstitute the food of man 
and oof fishes: stur-lishes, corals, and sponges ; 
Implements of capture, including an almost ex- 


haustive series under cach division of this section: 


nets of all deseriptions; boats used in tishing ; 


. 


toggling Geokle and traps. 


FISth PRLCVRATIONS AN1) PRONE CTS. 


Under the class of maturab history there are five series of 
stuffed specimens, colored: plaster casts. and photographs. The 
feet that aleeholte specimens are unattractive and rather 
unsightly, induced Prof. Baird. seme vears age, te employ in 
Welding fishes and ciantmats an expert who dad athrgdined 
seme saeeess in the collection situated in the Crystal Palace, 
London. The color sketches aire first miaide from fresh) speci- 
mens; the mould is alse made trom tresh specimens, and atter- 
wards the east is made. Nn aecomplished colorist paints the 
east from the color sketch. and they are then neathy mounted 
Ina trame wath bhuek-wielnot mouldings. 

The List at casts ineludes about three hoadred SPyere les, repre- 


sented: by some five dummdred: casts Prom: the same origina 


30 Fish Culturists’ Association. 


specimens a negative was taken, from which usually several 
prints were made. These are also neatly framed, and now 
number some seven hundred. The fishes from which these 
representations were made were collected on the Atlantic 
coast, principally by the United States Fish Commission 
at different stations—Eastport, Portland, Me.. Noank, Conn., 
and Wood Hole, Mass. The collections from the great 
lakes and the Ohio River were by myself, under the direction of 
the United States Fish Commissioner; and those from the 
Pacific coast principally by Mr. Livingston Stone, who has 
charge of the propagating interests of the United States on the 
Pacific slope. Very many specimens have also been received 
from the numerous correspondents of the United States Fish 
Commissioner. The fish products and preparations were largely 
procured under the direction of Mr. E. G. Blackford of New 
York city. The implements and boats were obtained directly by 
Prof. Baird through correspondence with a very large number 
of people in all parts of the United States. 

The excellent system and method in the arrangement of the 
collections is due to Mr. G. Brown Goode of the Smithsonian 
Institution. In the latter class, Section E., the more important 
articles to which attention may be called as having a tendency 
to improved methods in the culture of fishes, may be mentioned 
the new tray-hatching apparatus, the basket-hatching apparatus 
for eges in) bulk, floating boxes, models of  fish-ways and 


Quark, 


The presiding officer having invited reports upon the fish 
interests of their respective localities from the representatives of 
this and other States, to be made by members present, Prof. B. 


Lymanot Massachusetts, responded. 


Contommal Mectiag. 3" 


Prof, Lywax of Massactuscatts said - 


Me. CHaewas: Fo do mot Kmonr that 7 have amy meqoount to 
make that would Ike of special imterest. 7 amaw saw dha it feas 
given me great pleasure to see sacl aum cxdimaoxrdlimaurw «ler tcom 
ars thie come welch thas iheem meported aypomm ibs our avomthw Socne- 
tare, Mr. Phillips So thar as dhe commpauramtiwielly small Saute «of 
Massachusetts is Comeenmed, 7 would saw that we are moar, as we 
hawe: heem thor mam Weaurs, LNW to greta titdh-weaw chat woul caunrw 
ghiad omen wa tbigr damm. We thawe tad a jpaurtitall smocess, umd thogae 
te Ihe mone completely successfull 1 mmcmitiom this more paurticu- 
kauri thowr tlhe jpuunpose ot Caulilimer dhe aunbemiibom wal gretmitlkemmem there 
prexemd to hits subject, itm lhe theoge haut wie dikew gro ho their 
hommes iim wrikdkellw—seypaurauterd! ppaurits oxi Che Commie, Dhew amas thre lherd 
to mettre wypoam iit, paurticuilaurily tinore cot haem asthe liiwie mecaur sthrawdl- 
Sores, amd maw aiid iad thurovwiimer mewr light wyprom dhe moxorsit etfherc— 
time way of gettimg shad omer aa tie dam. Whe diithoullty «sf 
Comrse—aund itt is ab WEIN great oame—likess itm tlhe Laactt cibeaut dlhec sthrandl 
arsuallily imlalbit streams somewhat wide aod somewhat deep. im 
saving “somewhat,” To omeam te speak of streams occupaed bry 
thenm ars commpaured witth streams ecouprked tbw che sallamem aumdi 
thier ttish. Whe @omsxequiemee ibs thew aune wen lhodh ho emer tmiles 
a Shallow or maunroay Stream of water: aumd te imdice them to 
emer inesomt mut tbe fhradl, OD chvimik, to am aunramgcumemt simmilbur tho 
Mhrat of a weir, bye witich thew amaw the tked fino dhe ummauim Ibodds of 
@ Shream iimto a ylkace that gonowes goradhuralllly maone maunnony., canal aut 
last their mores stnike agnuimst the descemdime stream finea dhe 
fish-waw itselliti. So far as 7 Amon, dhe tact ihas appeared that 
when dhey are omoe im the fish-waw there is we mroulblhke alboaut 
their gine omer They have qome omer im comiderable quan- 
tities at Iolwelke, amd also to at oemtaim mumiber at Lawmemne, laut 
thee tromaiblhe ts deo eret them iimto the Ihomtowm «xt thre fish-wraw. 


52 Fish Culturitsts Assoctation. 


EEE 


Another subject, and one which I hope will attract general 
attention among our fish culturists, is that of obtaining informa- 
tion upon which to base the passage of proper laws concerning 
the regulation of our tide-water fisheries, if vou choose to call 
them such. You know very well, Mr. Chairman, that when we 
attempt to make any laws for the protection of those of the 
fishes that seem to need protection, we are always met by an 
immense mass of sworn testimony from) the owners of 
pounds, and others interested in that branch of industry, to 
show that these pounds are not destructive, and do not 
tend to lessen the number of fish. The only way to 
come at the truth of the matter would seem to be to 
cause a series of observations to be made. This has been 
done to a very great extent already by the admirable investiga- 
tions of the United States Commission, under Prof. Baird, and 
the previous investigations by the Massachusetts Commission. 
But we still lack a large amount of specific information. When 
we shall have secured the information upon which we can show 
how many fish may be tiken without diminishing the annual 
crop, and when we know the facts as to the migrations of each 
fish, then we shall be prepared to go before a legislature and 
show that more have been taken than should have been taken, 
in view of what should have been left for seed for the next 
year. When you put your petition in that form, you can get a 
law passed that will be a satisfactory one, but, until you do that, 
you cannot get such a law. 

These are two subjects which have much interested us in 
Massachusetts, and they are those which must Interest all the 
States—the inland States. to a greater or less extent, as well as 
the others. I have ventured to call the attention of my col- 
leagues to these points, so that we may, with the least possible 


delay, acquire all the information which will enable us to 


Ceatenmal Meeting. 


we 
oP 


accomplish these very desirable ends; for T think that, if we can 
establish the law of supply and demand, of inerease and of 
decrease of our estuary fishes, each species for itself, we shall 
accomplish the greatest result that has ever been accomplished 
in fish culture. Of that Lo have no doubt. It has never been 
done in Europe. The great investigation which was undertaken 
in England in regard to the fisheries of that kingdom, had upon 
the Board appointed for that purpose no less a man than Mr. 
Iluxley, and had also Mr. Shaw Lefevre, a well-known Member 
of Parliament, and a gentleman of high attainments, and their 
report was published in very voluminous form. And vet [ say 
it boldly when [ say that the French were quite right when they 
declared that the information thus acquired was utterly worthless, 
one way or the other, The manner in which it was acquired 
made it utterly worthless. The gentlemen appointed to make 
the investigation went to the different sea-port towns of the 
United Kingdom, and they there took the testimony of the 
fishermen. Now, the fishermen are divided into two opposite 
parties—what we call “the crawlers,” or drag-net men, and the 
hook-and-line men, and cach hated the other. The consequence 
was that “the crawlers” swore up and down in one direction, 
and the hook-and-line men in the other, the testimony of cither 
side being thus made utterly valueless. Their bread depended 
on their method of fishing, the support of their wives and 
families depended on it; and the consequence was that each 
party swore to its own notions on the subject. Now, if, instead 
of pursuing that method of investigation, we could go and look 
for ourselves, as Prof. Baird has already done for himself, and 
as bas been done in other directions to a limited extent, | say we 
would obtain a mass of intormation in regard to our Coast 


fisheries greater than has been obtained in any way heretofore. 


34 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


Hlon. HL. J. Reeper, Fish Commissioner of Pennsylvania, 


said: 


Mr. CHAIRMAN and GENTLEMEN: To must ask vou to excuse 
me from making any remarks in reference to this subject to-day, 
as Tam suffering from a severe indisposition, and it ts only at 
the sacrifice of my personal comfort and convenience that bam 
able to be here at all. T want simply to make one remark in 
connection with the subject that was touched upon by Prof. 
Lyman in speaking of Fish-Wavs. The difficulty is in perfecting 
a fish-way which will successfully carry shad over a high dam, 
We in Pennsylvania claim that we have succeeded in building a 
fish-way which is successtul in affording a means of transit: tor 
shad overa low dam. We have not succeeded to it very great ex - 
tent with respect toa high dam, nor do T believe that any fish-way 
would ever succeed to a very great extent unless the very propo- 
sition suggested by Prof. Lyman were adopted, namely sa means 
of leading the shad into the fish-way by an arrangement of the 
weir, We have discussed the matter in our Commission very 
thoroughly. We have never tried the experiment, for the reason 
that it is an exceedingly expensive operation. We have never 
had the opportunity of testing the Pennsylvania weir until this 
year, when the dam, in which it was erected, was repaired in 
those parts in which breaks had been made by the spring floods, 
and jee carried down by the torrents. | This vear the shad passed 
above our dam and most certainly have gone through the fish- 
way to the number of five thousand: that is, we know of tive 
thousand shad that were caught this vear above the Columbia 
dam, im which our fish-way was ereeted. “The sipposithon ts that 
not more than twenty per cent. of the entire shad that etfeeted a 
transit over our dam, by means of the fish-wav. were caneht by 


the fishermen. We are warranted conse puenthy in Geducting, 


Centenmal Meeting. 35 


from the amount of fish caught, the fact that the munmber of fish 
that passed over the diam, using the fish-wavy as a means of 
passage, Was in the neighborhood of twenty or thirty thousand. 
The extreme timiditv of the shad is one of the dithteulties with 
Which any person undertiking the erection of a tish-wiay bias te 
contend, And PE believe that that is the seuree of ditheutty 
with regard to all our fish-wavs, that the shad are afraid te 
attempt the ascent. The descent tn our tish-wav. by reason of 
its very great length—one hundred and twenty teet—-is seo slight, 
and the current therefore so show, that men fave been Kiowa te 


pole a canoe up the descent tor some distiunce. 


Col. Jvumes Workate of Pennsvivantia gave some information 
in regard to the fish-wiaws of that Stue Phe stated that the 
different inventions of tsh-waws were already, in his opinion, 
suffietento in number for the aecomnmockithon of the vartous lish 
speeres, and that these inventions did been supplied in meuny 
rivers of this country. Phaving been connected with the werk of 
coustruction of the dam at Columbia, Penusvivania, fe felt cat 
liberty te state seame ot the results that have tellowed trom the 
completion of that work, thoush, as vet. these results were mot 
fully proven NS stated by the gentleman whe hist) spoke 


| Mr. Reeder], the aseent to the fish-wiav is se ecluacal hice ba 


wr. 
Gano can be poled upp at withent diticutty. the water thot mes bing 
In Hatt greater rate et speed than eight or nine miles von bovr, 
One of the great troubles is te cet the sctoe-Hshermen away trea 
the tromt ot the tish-waws. as they catch a Lire proportion ot all 
the fish that come through. AN gaamberof stiad daave been ecb 
further up the Susqueliinma abewe the dar. thus showing that 
the tish had gone through the fish-ewavs. The speaker then 
referred te the Tiberiulity of the Loewishiture of Penusvinania in 
providing tor improvements. sueh cis Columbia Pham. intended! to 


36 Fish Culturtsts’ Assectation. 


. 


secure requisite facilities for the introduction of shad, black bass, 
and other fish. Elis remarks are given more fully, upon a 


repetition of them, in the report for the succeeding day. 


At two o'clock the meeting took a recess till afternoon. 


The presiding officer submitted a number of letters from 
absent members unable to leave home. 

A letter was received from Mr. George E. Ward, on behalf 
of W. C. Coup, offering the Association the use of rooms at 
Mr. Coup’s new Aquarium at Thirty-fifth street and Broadway, 
New York city, extending to the Association the free use of a 
room in the Aquarium building, for the holding of meetings, the 
establishment of a library, or other purposes desired by this 
body. 

The President remarked that the idea suggested by this offer 
scemed to him to be a good one, and commended it to the 
Association. On motion, the thanks of the Association were 
ordered to be returned to Mr. Coup tor his generous offer, and 
the invitation was accepted. 

The presiding officer introduced the subject of the stocking 
of rivers and other streams with black bass, the adaptation of this 
fish to still water and the strong currents of rivers, and called 
upon Mr. Seth Green, as a representative of the Empire State, 


to respond. 


Mr. Seru Greex, Superintendent of the New York State 
Fisheries, in response, spoke of the success which had attended 
the efforts of the Commissioners of the State of New York in 
stocking the waters of that State. Asan illustration, Mr. Green 
cited Lake Canandaigua, where, in i871. the steck of salmon- 
it is 


trout was small but where. at this time, since re-stocking, 


no unusual thing to make a catch of fifteen or twenty in a day. 


Centenmal Meeting. 37 


Like success has attended the efforts of the Commissioners in 
other directions. In conclusion, the speaker called the attention 
of his hearers to the importance, In stecking rivers, of making 
the number of fish correspond as nearly as possible with the 
ameunt of food te be had by them. The lied sought te carry out 
this idea, and commended it as one essential te suceess in opera- 


tiens tn fish culture. 


Mr. FeepenickK Mariuek remarked that in his opinion the 
black bass, by reason of its predatery tnstinets, would prove 
an injury te the shad when placed in the sume stream with 


that fish 


Mr th. J. Rerork of Pennsylvania argued that by a proper 
use of the methods of artificial propagsition in shad. me case 
for apprehension existed because of the introduction of betss 


inte: the same streams with them. 


Mr. Seren Green expressed the belief that the black bass 
weuld do ne damage whatever, and was unwilling te comecde 


that it would prove in any way injurious te the stad 


Mr M,C. Eowenps gave bis opinion that it tmd been found 
that small streams were net the preper places for the propags- 


tieen of Usbsiek bass. 


Mr. Livinesrex Sroxe of California (in charge of the fish- 
prepricaiting interests of the United States on the Pacific slope) 
ealled attention te the fact that a car-load of salmen-eges had 
recently been sent trom that State te Eastern rivers. The 
number aggregated four million of eggs. The larger pertion of 
these were distributed te the varieus State Commisstoners at 
Chicage. 

The meeting adjourned until the next day. Saturday, at ro 


octock, A M. 


28 Fish Culturtsts’ Association. 


At 5 o'clock, p. M.. the members of the Association, with their 
invited guests, partook of a dinner of a novel character. The 
menu comprised some sixty-five varieties of fish, served in all 
styles. The fish had been procured from nearly every country 
of the globe, including England, France, Norway, Chili, Turkey, 
Sweden, Cape of Good Hope, Australia, New Zealand, Russia. 
etc. Among the guests present were the Governor of the 
State of Pennsylvania, and the Commissioners from England, 


France, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Russia, Brazil, China, and 


Japan. 
SECONTY DAYS PROGEEDIMAGS. 


GES TESSINI GROGNDS HI aD RiGee 


Saturday, October 7th, 1876. 
Hon. R. B. Roosrevenr presided. 


Dr. Warpber of Ohio, being called upon by the Chair, said : 
Having had the honor to serve as a member of the Fish Com- 
mission of Ohio, and Knowing something of its operations, I 
would say that the Commission of that State is a live one, and is 
following the lead of Pennsvivania in the advancement of fish 
culture. T hope, sir, that all the other States will emulate the 
efforts. initiated by the States on the eastern slope of the 
Alleghanies, as no branch of agriculture, in my opinion, promises 
so much forthe food of man as does Pisciculture. In Ohio, the 
efforts of the State Commission, in the hatching-houses, has been 
attended with very considerable success. The hatching of the 
eges of various species in the waters of the State Is going on. 
The recent introduction of salinon from the Pacific coast has 
been attended with remarkable success, and the experiments that 
have been made with salt-water salmonin the fresh waters of the 


State have been most pronounced in their results. [It has been 


Crutenmtal Mectine. 39 


shown that that fish, which only seeks the salt water at certain 
periods, may be propagated with success im fresh waters. 
Whether the results of vears of training in fresh water will 
produce the salmon that come to us direct from the sea is a 
question which remains yet to be tested. Among the objects 
prominentiy held in view in the State from which T come, one of 
the first has been the reproduction of the whitefish, and the 
adoption of such means as will have a tendency to prevent its 
destruction by the fishermen in Lake Erie. This is the great 
fish of Lake Erie. The first of the species ever taken in the 
waters of the State was caught with a hook near Sandusky. In 
making these statements TL speak, of Course, upon the best 
information that could be obtained. The efforts that have been 
made to acquire reliable information were largely made among 
the fishermen, but this class could only answer as to a part of 
the matters concerning which information was desired. These 
men, Whe are interested in the business only so tar as the profits 
of their catches are concerned, can be depended upon for certain 
facts, but, when applicd to, were utterly ignorant of other 
equally essential and mere tapertant facts. It has been left 
to scientific men to develop the peculiar circumstances under 
which the eggs of the whitetish can be treated must successfully 
fora beneficial result. It has been found that the fish spawn 
late in the Fall, near the shore; and the trouble has been to 
protect: them from = destruction by the lines and nets of the 
fishermen, They are in danger of being cut off through care- 
lessness, and artificial means have been reserted to and put in 
operation for the protection of the fish and its voung. The 
speaker added that visitors to the lakes sometimes noticed a 
difference in the Naver of the whitetish, and the explanation of 


this was that in the summer months the fist are not in the 


a2 


40 Fish Culturists’ Assectation. 


condition that Is acquired by them when they approach the shore 
later in the season. 

The presiding officer, upon the conclusion of the remarks of 
Dr. Wakper, invited further discussion upon topics incident to 
fish culture, and suggested, as one appropriate subject, the 
peculiarities of black bass, particularly as to its alleged preda- 


tory instiicts. 


Mr. FREDERICK Maruer objected to black bass, as he believed 


that they were disposed to prey upon other fish. 


Dr. Warper of Ohio noticed the disappearance of the mias- 
kinonge and pike in Lake Erie. At points where at one time 
there were caught pike weighing from. fifty. to) seventy-five 
pounds, there are now but few left, and those few are quite 


small. 


Dr. James W. Mitner of Washington, D.C... remarked : 


In reference to the pike family, /secaée, the Common names 
of the various species are habitually confused. The pike of the 
great lakes and West are often called pickerel. In lake Ere 
the wall-eved pike, Luctoperca Amertcana, pickerel > while they 
were far removed, in their zoological relations, from the true 
pickerel, Avex reticulatus, found only on the eastern side of the 
Alleghanies. The lake-pike is of the same genus, but are an 
entirely and well-marked seperate species. The muskellunge 
is also separate from cither of these. Other species are Known. 
These three are to be distingushed as follows : the pickerel, 
Exsex reticulatus, is distinguished by having scales over the entire 
cheek and operculum, and being marked on the body by reticu- 
lated, brown lines like the meshes of a net. The Like-pike, /ser 
estor ov FE. luctns. Was the cheek covered with scales, but the lower 


portion of the operculum and the sub-operculium: is naked: the 


Centenmal Meeting. 41 


coloring pattern isa series of oval, white or chocolate spots on 
wogreenish wround, The muskellunge, /oe. velilier, las the 
lower portion of cheek and operculum and the sub-opercutum 
naked, and has oval, bhick spots on a dusky, greenish ground, 
These characters are strongly marked, aod a slight eximination 


stffices to determine the species. 


Mr. Mather then gave some interesting remarks on the 
vraviing. Fle regarded the gravling as certainty being much 
easier to propagate than the trout, but he did mot think it as 
wood a tood-tish Ele held that when itcame to a question of 
the table, no fresh-water fish was equi as an edible, te tish of 
the salt-water varieties, The graviling ts a gaimev, Inndsame 
fish, and imakes his ome in the same Kind of streams in which 
the trout is te be tound. Tt affords much sport to the angler, 
and in certain pertions of the trout-lishing country is one of 
the delights of trout-Hshing, giving him the same delighttial 
surroundings that fave made that sport sa populur The could 
not tell what was the lowest temperiture it which the erayviing 
would thrive, but it lived and didi well in his ponds at Honevone 
Falls. and: also at Caledonia, NOY Those whieh he brovwghe 
from Michigan three vears age were within two weeks of their 
spa whing-time when brought from there, but they had never 
spawned vet. The only eges which he had procured and 
hatched had been taken fromthe fish to their native waters. Tle 


will friteh them in the New York ANqiuarbun during the goming 


Winter or next spring, 


Col. Jus Workart of Ponnsyivaaias a imember ot the ish 
Cormmissten of thea State, mauude a0 farther statement of the 
results of dias observations aod practical expertenee upon these 
iinprovements in fisheways, parthouborly as te the one at Co: 


Jumbia, Penn 6 The salmen tomily, hie stared. had ter vears gone 


Za 


42 Fish Culturists’ Association. 


up to their accustomed haunts over the dams and through the 
ways, but the shad are still afraid of the fish-vways, and timid 
about ascending them. The shad is an exceedingly timid fish. 
It has been said of it that it is afraid of its own shadow, and 
possibly it may have derived its name from that fact. How- 
ever, in the course of time, as they become accustomed to the 
fish-ways, they may lose their timidity in that respect. 

They had built a fish-way here in Pennsylvania at Columbia. 
It is 105 by 60 feet. It has been built with an inclination that 
does not cause the water to run faster than at a rate of eight 
miles an hour. <A fish that cannot go up through a current 
running at that rate must indeed be a poor, miserable creature. 
Large numbers of shad have passed up through that fish-way, 
but still it has not been as successful as we anticipated it would 
be. How to better it is now the question. Ele was satisfied that 
if the shad wanted to go through they could do so without the 
least difficulty, and that very considerable numbers did go 
through is shown by the quantity of shad that have been caught 
further up the Susquehanna. He was in hope that the progeny 
of the eight or ten thousand shad that have gone up the stream 
heretofore will come back in succeeding years, and thus, after 
a while, the difficulty be overcome. The run this year, however, 
was the poorest known for fifty years. The shad which were 
hatched in 1873 are due next year, and he hoped that they and the 
California salmon will come back together. Should eight or 
ten thousand go through this vear without difficulty, these will 
spawn in the river above, and the supposition is that after going 
down to the sea, the spawn will return, and at the usual season 
each year the number will be increased. If the scaring of the 
fish could be prevented all would be well. As it is, the number 
of shad caught above the fish-ways of our rivers exceed any 


number in other States. The State was willing to give us 


Centennial Meeting. 43 


money when we asked fer it, but we do mot wish te ask for it 
until we can show more tangible results tor our past labor than 
we have vet been able to show. The Legislature bad acted 
generously in the appropriation of money, and the people of the 
State had manifested a very deep interest in the work of the 
Fish Commissioners. The Commissioners liad been going 
along quictly, being mainly occupied in depositing tish received 
from the State of New York and other places. Tle had been 
informed that the salmon-trout received trom the New York 
Commissioners, some two and one-lalt yvecsrs ere, are doing 
remarkably well in the streams of Chester county, these streams 
passing through voleanic rock, and being of that pure water, 
and of that temperature in which trout best thrive. This being 
a dake-fish, the fact is the more gratitying, We cannot vet, 
however, say definitely whether we have been successtul with 
them or net. In Enghkind and Scotland some of the streams 
contun salmon-trout, a fine fish sought after as a wame-tish, and 
growing to from four to six pounds. “Phey live in the same 
streams with the true salmon, and Pde not see why they.shoruld 
not here. Whether it ts or is not the salmon-trout of our Likes 
he cannot sav. ATL the other fish distributed in’ Pennsvivania 
appear to be doing well. Ot the Calitornia salmon the Com- 
Missioners cannot vet speak detinitely. AO few strangers to the 
fishermen, being probably the laggards that did not wo down to 
the sea, taive been caught this vear. This tish is expected to 
return next vear, and if the expectation is realized, all the outhoy 
of Pennsvivaniie will be a hundred-told) compensated for as ne 
erander achievement: could be gained than the permanent 
introduction of Calitornia salmon into the streams of Penn- 
svivania. With this end in view it is only necessary to plice 


the tish in the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers, the two main 


44 fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


rivers east of the Alleghanies; because if they should increase 
they would soon extend to all the tributaries of these streams. 
The speaker, to illustrate his meaning in this particular, 
proceeded to explain the peculiar and tortuous conformation of 
the water-shed of Pennsylvania. There would be no difficulty, 
by this means, in supplying the streams east of the Alleghanies. 
Black bass had been placed in the Delaware and Susquehanna 
Rivers some seven years ago by private individuals, and the 
result has been that both of those great streams are now supplied 
by that magnificent fish, a thing worth ten times all the money 


spent by the State of Pennsylvania on fish culture. 


The presiding officer here invited a continuance of the dis- 


cussion. 


Mr. Setu GrReEN remarked that he could explain the cause 
of the disappearance of the shad, this being because the waters 
were over-fished. Efe thought there should be a close time for 
shad, at least forty-eight hours in a week. He said that one 
reason why the shad do not ascend the fish-ways in great 
numbers, is that they are generally netted at the foot of the 
dams, or in close proximity thereto, and this frightens away 
those that are not caught. He thought that the fish-way 
invented by Mr. Brewer of Muncy, Penn., was the best one 
now in use. It had been tried in New York, and had worked 
with great success. [t was built to face the dam, and not on the 
side, as most others are constructed. Ways built like this the 


fish will find, but those on the side they will seldom find. 


Mr. Werner expressed the belief that, as a general thing, the 
fish would not use a straight fish-way, but that a semicircular 
fish-way, such as the one adopted by the Massachusetts Fish 


Commission, would prove of the greatest practical utility. 


Centennial Meeting. 45 


Mr. Freverick Marurk said that last vear he made some 
experiments with fish-ways in Virginia, and found that those 
which ran under the dam did not work well. Ele had made a 
way to go below the dam, and found that so many fish crowded 
into it as to choke it up. His conclusion was that the fish-way 
should be so constructed as to run from the dam = up-stream, 
instead of running from the dam down-stream. The best and 
most economical way to test fish-ways ts in the hatching-houses, 


where their effects can be closely watched. 


The presiding officer remarked that as Virginia had just 
been mentioned, he would call upon a representative of that 


State present, Dr. Robertson. 


Dr. Ronekrson of Virginia said that in his State California 
salmon had been extensively introduced, and were doing well. 
It was proposed to raise there this winter a great many trout, 
as that fish was best adapted to the swift’ mountain-streams of 
the State. The trout-fishing in the Adirondacks is very famous, 
and deservedly so, but it does not excel that of Virginia. We 
have had a great deal to do with black bass, and we like them 
very much, and hope that ina few years the bass-fishing in the 


James will equal that of the Potomac. 


The following gentlemen were made members of the Asso- 
chation : 

Dr. C. A. Kingsbury, 11g Walnut street, Philadelphia, Penn. 

Dr. H.C. Yarrow, U.S. AL. Washington, 2. C. 

Greene Smith, Peterboro, N.Y. 


Charles Hutchinson, Utica, N.Y. 


The Association then adjourned. 


SixtH AnnuaL MEETING. 


THe AmerRICAN FisuH Curreristrs’ Association held their 
Sixth Annual Meeting at the New York Aquarium on Wednes- 


day. hebritary14,/1877: 


INTRODUCTORY ApDpRESS BY R. B. Roostvert, Esg., PrResipent. 


In calling the meeting of fish culturists to order, T will give a 
succinct resume of the operations of the Commissioners of the 
State of New York, from their appointment, which occurred in 
1868, to the present time, a period of nearly nine years, or, more 
properly speaking, of cight years, as the first vear was devoted 
to an examination of the condition of the public’ fisheries 
throughout the State, and not to active operations on any 


important scale. 


SHap.—The artificial propagation of shad was recommended 
in the first report submitted, and in the following year, 1869, ope- 
rations were commenced, and 15,000,000 shad were hatched. 
This work has been vigorously prosecuted ever since, and, in- 
cluding last vear’s operations, a total number of 49,880,000 


young shad have been placed in our waters. 


Satmon-Trovr.—The first experiment of the New York 
Commissioners with salmon-trout was attempted in 1870, under 
the most dangerous circumstances, Mr. Monroe Green, who was 


taking the cegs, nearly losing his life in behalf of the experi- 


~- 


Sixth Annual Meeting. 47 


ment. It was successful, however, and the undertaking thus 
inaugurated has been annually continued, and a total number of 
5.947,000 fry and 456 boxes of salmon-trout eggs have been 


distributed. 


Wrierrtisn.—The artificial culture of whitefish was com- 
menced in the fall of 1868, and the eyes were hatched out in 
February, 1569. From these, as also from a farther instalment 
received from Detroit, in 1870, the Commissioners were enabled 
to make distributions to numerous applicants, and several ship- 
ments to England. To the present speaking, 1,758,000 fry and 


26 boxes of whitefish egyes have been delivered. 


Sarmon.—Salmon culture was first attempted in 1871, when 
4,000 impregnated salmon ema were obtained from Canada, in 
exchange for 2,000 salmon-trout fry and 2,000 young whitefish. 
The work, although at various times repeated, has met with no 
very cncouraging demand from the public fora supply of the 


young, the total number distributed amounting to about 210,000. 


Cartoknia SarmMos.—This fish was first introduced into the 
waters of our State in 1872-73, as being better adapted to them 
than the true salmon. During that and the following year a 
total of 636,000 have been distributed. Of these many young 
have been seen in the fresh waters, but itis not Known that any 


have visited the sea and returned 


Brer-rackep Proe ¢—Five thousand of the eggs of this fish 
were purchased from Maine im 1874, and in 1873, 4,000 more 
were received; but in consequence of the bad condition of the 
eyys when received, and the small number which were hatched, 
the Commissioners hardly consider the attempt at their acclima- 


tization deserving of consideration. 


Eris—Some little attention has been devoted to this class of 


48 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


fish, but more to its protection than progagation. In 1874, 
36,000 of them were placed in Buffalo Creek, above Niagara 
Falls, to see what would be the result of introducing them in 
Lake Erie. 


SrurRGEON.—Experiments with this fish, made about four 
years ago, but unsuccessfully, were repeated in 1875 with great 


success, about 100,000 young fish being turned into the Hudson. 


Brook-TRour.—An establishment tor the hatching of brook- 
trout was purchased in 1875, and operations immediately com- 
menced ; 1,229,000 of the young fry have been distributed, and 
24 boxes. Importations of California brook-trout have also 
been received. Of the first instalment in 1875 of 1,800, 260 
hatched out, many of the eggs having been spoiled during 


transit. 


Bass, PikE, AND Percu.—The artificial propagation of these 
fish was first attempted in 1874. 0 Since then there have been 
distributed 6,726 black bass, 2,532 Oswego bass, 17,764 rock 
bass, 1.592 pike, 1.336 perch. 

Of the 647 lakes in the State, a majority have been stocked 
to a greater or less degree, and in many most gratifying results 
have been obtained. Trout are now being put in many of the 
streams, so that ina few vears there is reason to believe that the 
fisheries of the State of New York will be fairly productive, 


and vastly more so than they have been of late vears. 


PRIMGECTICE LEGISLATION: 


Dr. J. W. Minsxer, of the Smithsonian Institute of Washing- 


ton City, read a paper on the legislation in regard to fisheries. 


Sixth Annual Meeting. 49 


ON THE FISHERIES OF HOLDAND. 


C. J. Borremay, Superintendent of Fisheries in) Holland, 


said : 


Tam sorry that Mr. Milner, in his explanation of protective 
legislation with regard to fisheries, did not speak of Ebolland, 
the great lind of fishing, where there have been of late great 
changes in the laws. There has been great trouble from having 
no enforcement of the laws; but since 186g this state of things 
has greatly altered, so much so, that the rivers that in 1860 gave 
only about 37,000. were increased simply by legislation, and at the 
same time trying artificial culture, from 37,000 to 150,000 in 1872. 
That proves what legislation can do. They have lately begun 
in Halland to establish the business of fish culturists, men whe 
have nothing to do except with fisheries, and that is just what 
we need here, and what we need not only for one State, but 


for the whole country. 


Mr. Witasam M. Titesron said : 


The trouble, so far as our own State is concerned, is, I think, 
that we have too much legislation. You may be aware that in 
the game-laws of our State there is an unfortunate clause which 
has been the cause of a great deal of trouble—one that permits 
the supervisors of counties to make their own kuws and regula- 
tions with regard to fish and game, provided they do not conflict 
with the general kiws. But this point has been overlooked, and 
the supervisors of many counties have passed ordinances in 
contlict with State laws, and the result is that both are nullified, 
and that nothing can be done. With regard to Owasco Lake, 
Cayuga county has had more legislation than any county in 


the State, and yet there is more spearing of fish out of season 


e 


Fish Culturtsts Association. 


ta 
1@) 


there than anywhere else, from the very fact that there is se 
much legislation and the laws contltet, and nothing ts done 


Whatever. 
7 


Mr. Tinestox gave an invitation, on behalf of Messrs. Coup 
and Reiche, to members of the Association to visit the Aquarium 
at half-past three, and see a species of fish not described ms the 
catalogues; and proposed the name of Mr William C. Coup as 
an honorary member of the Assoctition. 

The motion was seconded, and Mr. Coup was accordingly 
admitted as an honorary member. Phe Ass« ciation then took a 
recess of ten minutes for the purpose of visiting the Aquarium. 

The President announced as the Committee on the Nomination 
of Officers for the ensuing vear, Mr. Green of Rochester, N. Y., 


Mr. Vileston, PIANC, Nite cleans 


(ONENESS SESH (Glare U Chr: 


Tar Prestpexr: TP would ask Mr. Wilmot te address the 
Association. Tle has been kind cnough to bring a specimen of 
salmon that was hatched in the waters in) which he’ has 
been so successtul-in cultivating salmon, and which had gone 
down to the lake-water and returned without ever having gone 
to the sea, having marks upen it to identify it, which he will 


explain. 


Mero Sauer: Witwor, of the Fish Commission tn Canada, said : 


It atfords me much pleasure to be present on this occasion, ] 
assure vou. It was quite unexpected to me to be here, for it 
was the intention of the Government of the country which I 
represent to send a Commissioner, whom) circumstances pre- 
vented from coming; for the Parliament of Canada being in 


session, he has been obliged to be there to give such aid as he 


Sixth Annual Meeting. 5 


could with regard te the interests of fish culture in Canada. I 
received a telegram from him on Saturday evening last, te the 
effeet that he would be pleased if [could spare the time te attend 
this meeting. It has given me much pleasure to be able te be 
here, particularly at the place where your mecting is held, for 
there is a vast amount of information te be obtsined in the 
Aquarium down stairs ; and it ts alse a great source of pleasure 
to become acquainted with so many intelligent persoms con- 
nected with this Association. 

Iwas very much pleased with the address of Prof. Milner. 
Iam pleased te find that beth himself and Prof. Baird have 
changed their views with regard to the protection of fisheries by 
legislation. It has been a hebby of mine that legislation ts as 
impertant as the breeding of the fish, and perhaps mere se, 
because I think that if proper legislation had been carried out 
from the first settlement of the eowntry up to the present time, 
the art of -breeding fish by artificial means would not have 
required at this time the protection of law, for our waters would 
have been teeming with fish. [ have always held that there is 
necessity for strict legislation with regard to the preservation of 
fish at its breeding season, and we only ask a very shert Ume to 
protect them. Fishes mostly depesit their ova within a shert 
period of time, varying from ten to fifteen days, I should say ; 
and if the Government of the country would set aside those few 
days, so as to give them time te deposit the eggs. the probability 
is that a large proportion of them would become living fish. But 
from the first settlement of the country, when the fish came 
within our reach, most needing protection, we have gone to 
destroving and killing them while they are laving their eggs—as 
unnatural as it is unwise. It is the first duty of the Legislature, 
with regard to this subject, to sav that we have been doing 


wrong for a long time, but we will remedy the matter as soon 


. 


52 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


as we can, and we will pass judicious laws to aid the prod- 
uce of the fish as much as we can, and to assist those 
engaged in the artificial method as well, because it Is now 
necessary to supplement the natural mode, which has been so 
seriously interfered with that they eannot produce as numerously 
as they ought to supply the immense increase of population in 
this country. We have to resort to artifice to prevent their 
being reduced in numbers. 

Let me say here that the remarks which fell from = my 
esteemed friend, Prof. Milner, I cannot fully indorse. He says 
that the Dominion of Canada is’ better able to protect its 
fisheries than the United States. If 1 recollect rightly, Canada 
has a population of three or four millions, and the State of New 
York alone has a population even greater than that, and the 
population of the whole United States put together is not far 
from fifty millions. You will see that if the Dominion of 
Canada, covering as much territory as the United States, 
extending from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, can, with its 
small means, have judicious laws and officers, and pay them for 
the preservation of their fish, the United States, with’ its 
immense population and wealth, surely can follow in the same 
footsteps, and endeavor to preserve their fish in the same 
manner as we do. And if they do, it will render us aid, because 
many of our rivers and lakes are international boundaries, and 
the consequence would be that our laws could be more properly 
carried out than at present. We find now that the people 
living on the American side of the rivers and Jakes, having 
no laws, it makes our men disobey the laws that we puss, for 
they come to us and say, “You are passing laws on the Cana- 
da side, when there is no law on the American side, and why 
should we be trammeled by a haw threat thev are net?” Take the 


Detroit River, for instance, Lake Ontario, the whole chain of 


Stxth Annual Mecting. 53 


lakes dividing Canada from the United States, and it is with 
great difficulty that in those waters we can protect our fish, 
The Americans having no liuws, they do not see why we should 
have laws in Canada. - think, therefore, that, so far as Prof. 
Milner’s ideas on this point are concerned, they must fall to the 
ground when he states that Canada is better able to protect its 
fisheries than the United Stites. 

With regard to the success that has attended the fish culture 
in Canada, | will make a tew remarks. In 1865 F commenced, 
as an anniteur, in my own dwelling-louse, in rearing a few fish. 
In 1866-67 the Government of the country heard of what Twas 
doing in a private way. Lb sought, if possible, at that time te 
make it a private undertaking, and endeavored to obtain a 
certain portion of the like in front of where [ lived, and asked 
that it should be given to myselt, in order that if TP produced fish 
there that did not then exist, should have the benetit of it 
afterwards. The Government thought that that would be 
creating a monopoly, and that if there was anything to be made 
out oof tish culture they had better take hold of it themselves, 
and they did so. So that from that small beginning of mine, in 
1865, we have extended over the Dominion of Craada these 
large fish-breeding establishments, in which there are at present 
about six millions of salmon almost ready to hatel out, amd 
nine millions of whitetish alse just ready to batch out. In these 
few vears the strides of Camedia in the direction of fish culture 
have been very great. Originating from the plunting of a few 
egys inthe parlor of my own dwelling-house, it has extended 
through all the Provinces except those on the Pacific coast. 

The buildings that we are now putting up are of a very 
permanent nature. The Government has tiuken the view that 
what is worth dotng at all is worth doing well, and that the 


buildings shyuld be made im as satistietery ao manner as 


54 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


possible, and they are capable of rearing in each of them from 
two to ten millions of eggs, depending upon the description of 
the eggs, and I am able to state that their present position is 
most favorable. 

The question may be asked, “ What success has attended the 
efforts of Canada in the propagation of fish in this artificial way ?” 
The specimen of fish hanging on the wall, to which the President 
has referred, is, in my estimation, a proof of the value of the 
artificial culture of fish in which I have been engaged. The 
stream in which I have been operating, which has been almost 
exclusively under my own cognizance, in 1865 or 1866 was almost 
perfectly depleted of fish. No salmon, comparatively. entered it 
at all. But from what we have done there last autumn, these 
fishes were in thousands in that small stream, ranging from five 
to twenty pounds’ weight, coming back to a stream so small that 
in many instances we have had to take rakes and hoes and spades 
to make channels in the bed of the stream for the fish to come 
up. The stream is so small that you can leap over it in any 
portion of it except after heavy rains. It was larger many years 
ago, but from the face of the country having been cleared off, the 
consequence has been that the springs and smaller rivulets that 
fed it have dried up, and the stream has been consequently very 
much diminished in size; so much so, that when we find large 
salmon unable to get up and surmount the rapids, my men turn 
out with their rakes and hoes to enlarge the channel through 
which the fish pass and go into the building which has been 
erected for them, where we gather the eggs. You see what can 
be done ina few years with regard to reproducing, in a small 
stream like this, that magnificent fish. [ brought this specimen 
in order that the gentlemen of this Association might see it. It 
was caught in July last, immediately at the outlet of this small 


stream in Lake Ontario. There was an effort made by our 


Sixth Annual Mecting. 55 


Government last year to determine what had been the result of 
artificial propagation of salmon in this identical stream, and 
they gave a license to a few individuals to put out a trap-net in 
order to ascertain the result, and in the course of the fortnight 
there were some three hundred of these salmon taken within 
half a mile of the outlet of this stream. This is one of them. 
That fish, when taken from the water, was seventeen pounds in 
weight, and I kept it as a rara azis, because | found it had two 
marks upon it which Thad) put upon it in previous years. bor 
some time [ pursued the custom of marking the grilse, or small 
fish, when they came into our enclosure, after taking the milt 
from them ; then we would take a punch and perforate the large 
adipose fin the first year, and the second year we would put a 
asimilar hole in the tail-fin. You will see there both of these 
holes, so that that fish must have passed through my hands, or 
those of my assistants, for two years in succession, and this 
would have been the third year. I claim, then, that that is a 
fish produced in that very building where Lam now rearing fish, 
and it would have come back again this time if it had not been 
caught in the net, making three years that that fish would have 
migrated back to the stream in which it was bred. [ brought 
it here not only to show the result of the few years in which we 
have been engaged in producing fish, but particularly to show 
that the fish return to the spot where they are bred. 

It was my intention to make Prof. Baird a present of the 
fish as a sort of record of the fish culture. Lalso brought it for 
the purpose of comparing the modes of preserving specimens 
of fish, expecting to find here similar specimens ot fish stufied 
or preserved, and also plaster casts of fishes, which are said by 
professional persons to be better adapted for showing the 
description of fish than the stuffed fish itself. On that point I 
take issue with them, and say that if properly stuffed they will 


+ 


56 Fish Culturtsts Assoctation. 


show their natural colors infinitely better than any plaster cast 
can be made to show them, and they will cost much less than it 
would cost for an artist to imitate the natural colors. A fish 
stuffed like this specimen can be produced in an hour and a half 
or two hours by any ordinary skilled person, but I have not been 
able to make a comparison with plaster casts, because I find 
none here. 

I will return to the subject of the protection of fish. Some- 
times it will be difficult to legislate thoroughly for their protec- 
tion. The whitefish is an example of that kind. On the 


Detroit River the whitefish come in vast numbers only in 


October and November, when they lay their eggs. The trade 


has been immense for a series of years, but it has fallen off 
wondertully of late. I am of the opinion that if proper laws 
are not instituted by the United States, in connection with 
ourselves, the immense fisheries on the Detroit River will soon 
be practically annihilated. In order to recuperate and recover 
what we have lost as much as we can, the Canadian Govern- 
ment have erected a large whitefish breeding-establishment 
there, and Iam pleased to state that the Americans also have 
erected one in the city of Detroit. So that the action of the 
Canadian Government there has had the effect of inducing the 
people of Michigan to do a similar thing. I understand that in 
lowa, and in other States in the West, they are also doing the 
same. [I think that whitefish might be permitted to be killed 
during this season, because, if a law was passed that they should 
not be kille@ when they come there, it would prevent the fishery 
altogether. It would be better, perhaps, that only a few days 
should be given to their preservation, because, when the white- 
fish are taken from the nets and breught on shore, and are 
manipulated by skilled hands, the eggs can be taken from 


them, which is a clear gain. The fish can be brought on shore 


Sixth Annual Mecting. 57 


and sent to the market, and the egys, which would otherwise be 
disposed of as offal, would be taken care of in the breeding- 
houses, making a clear saving of those egys, which would 
otherwise be totally lost. L think, therefore, that it would 
hardly be proper to pass a law that the fish should not be 
caught during the spawning season, because, if you do, it would 
annihilate the fishing altogether. 

One great benefit has accrued as the result of this Assocta- 
tion, and the United States Government, having taken up the 
question of the fisheries, which is the great interest Prof. Baird 
has taken in bringing from the Pacific coast the California 
salmon, and planting it in the waters of the Atlantic. That 
is a subject of the highest) possible importance, not only to 
gentlemen connected with this Association, but to the country 
at large. It was an effort in the right direction, and | think 
it will produce a beneficial effect. | have had the pleasure of 
getting some of those eggs for the list three years from Prof. 
Baird, which [ have planted in this stream, passing where my 
establishment is, and last autumn fish of considerable size 
came back in the stream along with these other salmon, which 
turned out to be California salmon, weighing about three 
pounds. Whether any record exists in any city in the Union of 
California salmon of that size having been seen, and having 
come back by their own natural migration to the place of their 
breeding, | do not know. If there is, | would like to hear of it. 
Here is the result, that the California salmon has become accli- 
mated there, and has come back fish weighing tiree pounds in 
the course of three years, for those fish must have been the first 
egys T received from Prof. Baird; and if you can in three vears, 
in Lake Ontario, where there is no salt water at all, rear fish 
capable of rearing there yet—for this was sufficiently advanced 


to reproduce—this may be regarded as an indication of what 


58 Fish Culturists Association 


may be done hereafter with the fish Prof. Baird has brought 
from the Pacific coast. 

Mr. Green drew my attention a few moments ago to the 
display of fish in your Aquarium. There are a number of 
speckled-trout, specimens of salmon brought from) Lake 
Ontario, and specimens of California salmon, there. Mr. Green 
tells me that the fish in the tank below are the fish he obtained 
from ine; the eggs he received from me some four vears ago, 
and they have grown to a handsome size. Your Government 
may lend a helping hand and benefit the people at large ; but it 
is absurd for an individual to take up the enterprise of fish 
culture with the idea of making money independent of govern- 
mental protection. As to speckled-trout, of Course a man may 
have his preserves, where he may have a few fish; but when you 
come to the question of raising fish for the consumption of the 
millions, then it becomes a work for the Government, because 
the fish, and especially the salmon, migrates to the lake or the 
ocean, and whatever is done must be done pre bone publico. Vhe 
individual cannot reap the reward of his labors which he is 
entitled to. I therefore believe it is the duty of every State 
government in this immense country to foster and carry on the 
work of fish culture as much as they possibly can. No indi- 
vidual can afford to spend a large sum of money in rearing fish, 
and then turn them out, when they will be killed or destroved 
immediately afterwards. [f it is mecessary to propagate them 
at all, it is necessary to preserve them and to protect them. 

The culture of fish is one which has been a labor of love 
with me. [have been engaged in it many vears, and the more 
[see of it the more I like it, and the more [ desire te do. [tis 
a subject which should engage the attention, not only of Canada 
and the United States, but the world; and Tam pleased to find 


that in nearly every civilized nation the Government ts engaged 


Srvth Annual Meeting. 59 


in the artificial production of fish, showing clearly and plainly 
that they regard it asa work of importance, to be carried out as 
successtully as possible. 

Thr Pketstokent: There is a subject to which [wish to call 
your attention: the question between the Canada-trout and the 
sea-trout To osce that some put them down as sa/me Canadens, 
and others as salme featinalis, Vhe question comes up, whether 
they are sea-trout. | Phere are three specimens sent here, and | 
should like to ask vour opinion whether these are the sada 
Jontinalts, or ANEW specimen. 

Mr. Witmer: T shall give my opinion very broadly, because 
Tam satished that what [state will be objected to. Lam of the 
opinion that the sea-trout, or the sade fenvtindis, is one and the 
same fish; that vou may mike the sea-trout the se/me fentinalts, 
or the sadme Jontinalts the sea-trout, at your pleasure. Take the 
eyes of the sea-trout and put them tn the waters of our inkuid 
stream, and you will liwwe a speckled-trout. Take the ova ot 
the speckled-trout and hatch them out and tet them go down 
to the seasand you will have the sea-trout, To have taken a 
great deal of trouble in the List four or five vears in the estab- 
lishinents over which TP luiwe some control, te look closely into 
the matter, and Pan convinecd that they are identical and the 
sume fish—that vou mitke one or the other at vour pleasure. I 
presume that some of the scientific gentlemen may go further 
Chan Todo. amd sav there are a few more spinous rays in the 
Guls or tins. or something of that sort: but bam speaking of it 
practically. TP do not, for ao moment, wish te suggest any 
unbelief! in the science in which these gentlemen are cngaged, 
but Pthink that although one may have dere spinous rays than 
the other, or more teeth, ora ditlerent color they are the sune 


pre tie ally. 


60 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


Mr. SerH Green: Do you not find the same fish in fresh 
water ? 

Mr. Witmor: We do. We find at the foot of some in- 
surmountable falls, up in the stream above, this little fish, the 
salmo fontinalts. 

Mr. Green: Is not that the fish you take when you take 
the salmon on the Hy?) Do you not catch both in the same 
pools ? 

Mr. Witmor: Yes, sir; you catch the salmon and the speckled- 
trout in the same pools. In the little streams, above the large 
falls, you will find large numbers of the speckled-trout, and also 
larger ones called the sea-trout, because they have been down to 
the sea; but they are silvery in their appearance, while the little 
ones are black-looking ; but those little ones will get plenty of 
food and return to the same spot as sea-trout, because we catch 
them all together. 

Dr. Minxer: The question of these trout is one on which 
there isa great confusion so faras the ideas of naturalists are 
concerned. The sa/moe Canadensts is described as having red spots. 
Another species was described without red spots. T know that 
on the coast of Longe Island the sa/mo fontinalts runs down into 
the salt water, and is taken out of the salt water. Whether 
the sa/mo Canadensts and the salme fontinalis are to be con- 
sidered as different species or not, [ do not Know, but there 
is a sea-trout which is not a sa/mo fentinalts. Wr. Hudson 
informs me that Mr. Bracket, the painter of salmon and 
other fishes, in) painting sea-trout from the waters of New 
Brunswick, found they were without red spots, and two speci- 
mens were sent to us to the Smithsonian Institute, from 
Dartmouth River, which were without the red spots, and were 
decidedly the salme fontinatis. Whether sa/mo Canadensts and the 


sadme fontinalis may be proved to be identical or not, [am 


South Annual Meeting. 61 


unable to say. That isa question that cannot be hastily decided 
We should have a great many specimens of cach form, and make 
aeritical and close study betore any decision is mide. 

Tut Prestpene : One word on the subject of the red spots 
It isavery curious fact that people do not always see what is 
before them, We had an instance of thaton the subject of the 
Oquassac trout, that came around here some time since. The 
question was brought up whether the Oquassce trout was a 
salmo fontinalis owt of season; and - think every one whe 
examined them wats ready to go inte court and swear they had 
red spots—carmine specks as [ distinguished them—a speck 
being very small and a spot Lirger; vet everybody Knows thitt 
the Oquassac trout has no red spots at all: and when the parties 
who had so described the fish looked at them, they could not 
believe that the spots were not there, which they thought they 
had all seen. So with regard to these sea-trout, sometimes 
called salmon-trout. Lhave taken those, and when [first ghinced 
at them | thought that there were no specks on them at all. 
Look at those specimens, and you will see that there are no 
carmine specks on them at all, they being exceedingly silvery ; 
but on close examination FE found in every tistance carmine 
specks there, brilliant: and bright, but overshadowed by the 
brillianey of the white color: so that TE think on that: subject 
the gentlemen who reported that there were ne spots, simply 
examined the fish generally. and did not notice the spots on the 
specimen at which they were looking, 

Mr. EK. G. Biuxackrorp of New York: TL would like to sav 
with regard to trout caught in salt water that itis identical with 
those caught in fresh water. TP have reecived handsome trout 
caught down in our harbor, weighing three-quarters of a pound, 


Longe Island trout, with all the markings identical, and had 


62 Fish Culturtsts’ Assectatfon. 


Inot known the man who caught them, | should have thought 
he had taken them out of some stream. 

[ feel that TP ought to sav something about brook-trout and 
the laws regulating their sale. Foam in favor of the most 
stringent laws preventing the salecof brook-trout out of season, 
but L do not think vou ought to frame those liws so as to 
embrace innocent persons. T went, with two other gentlemen, 
to Albany in the early part of last vear, when the Legislature 
was in session, and when the Game Club were endeavoring to 
make the law more stringent, in order to have the law so framed 
that a person proving that he had no guilty intent in having in 
his possession brook-trout out of season, should not be punished 
with a fine. My reason for taking such an active course in this 
matter was this: our President will) probably recollect: the 
circumstance, tor Ll addressed him a communication at the time. 
A party in Newcastle sent to me, on the first day of March last, 
some boxes of brook-trout, genuine sadme fontinalts, he laboring 
under the impression that our laws enabled the sale of brook- 
trout after the first of Mareh. The first notice LT had of the 
trout was that some boxes were Janded at my stalls in the 
market, looking like boxes of smelts; TP took a hammer and 
knocked off the cover, and found there brook-trout cnough 
to amount to a tine of about 875,000. Twas bothered to know 
what I should do. Elad there been one of the informers of the 
Game Society there, who keep us poor fishermen under such 
Constant supervision, and had he seen those trout, [| would, 
under the law, have been found guilty of having trout ino my 
possession out of season, and | should have been table to a 
fine for each and every fish. [erased my name from the boxes 
immediately and set them out on the sidewalk, and when asked 
about them, | did not know to whom they belonged. Then 


[ emploved an expressman to take them back to the steamboat 


Strvth Annual Mecting. 63 


dock where they were brought from, and to leave them there for 
further orders. Then To wrote a letter to Mr Royal Phelps, 
President Society for Preservation of Game, and Mr. Roosevelt, 
and others, and asked them what course TE should pursue. They 
all told me what would be the consequence if they caught 
me with the trout, but they did mot tell me what to do with 
them. The next day, by mail, | received the invoice of the trout. 
Now, although there was no intent to evade the hkiw of 
selling trout out of season, T became liable to a very heavy fine. 
The Game Clab have an idea, P think, that every man engaged 
in the fish business is a suspicious character, and they will not 
believe but that Twill sell brook-trout at all seasons. Talking 
with several of the members, they seem to think [have been 
too smart for them, and that was the reason they have not 
caught me in it, but they will catch me some time or other. 
They sent an officer one time with a search-warriant to search my 
stores, and they exposed my fish and put me te a good deal 
of damage, because somebody had given information that | had 
stored on my premises a box of Long Island brook-trout. [tis 
a benefit in my business as i trout-merchant to have a close kuw ; 
for after the «5th of March To can sell more trout in thirty days 
than Teould if you had the sale open the vear through. Now 
with regard to these fish and the tinal disposition we made of 
them: [shipped them to Boston, and they remained there until 
the 15th of March, and then they shipped them to me again, and 
E sold them legally and kiwfully, and, so far as PT could discover, 
they were about of the same quality as those which we received 
from Ouebee and Montreal in March and April. 

Mr. Witwer: Were diev recvived from New Castle, Ontarsio, 
or from Neweastle in New Brunswick 2 

Mr. BuackrFokp: Newcastle in New Brunswick. 


Mr. Witmog: That alters the case, for the present season for 


64 Fish Culturists’ Association, 


catching trout in Ontario is extended to the rst of April. It 
was formerly the ist of January, but regulations were passed 
that salmon-trout should not be taken in the Province of 
Ontario until the rst of April, and in the lower Provinces | 
think it is January still. 

Mr. GreEN: Some twenty-five years ago a vessel started 
from our place and went down on purpose to catch these fish. 
They went around to the mouths of all these salmon-streams 
and caught quite a cargo of them. They not only caught them 
in the salt water, but in the St. Lawrence outside of the streams. 
They had the best fishing where the streams came in, and they 
went up the streams as faras they could go with their boats, and 
caught the same fish; and in my opinion they were the brook- 
trout. 

Prof. SpENCER F. Baixo: In response to a question of Mr. 
Wilmot with regard to the agency of a United States Com- 
missioner—myself—in regard to the introduction of salmon, | 
must honestly disclaim the credit of that enterprise, and give it 
to this very Association. You may remember my having been 
in Congress at the time the United States Commissioner wits 
authorized, and that the original object was to prosecute an 
inquiry as to the decrease of the fisheries, which had nothing to 
do with the propagation or multiplication of fish > and for myself 
the working of the Commission was confined to endeavoring to 
ascertain whether the fish on the coast of the United States had 
decreased, and if they had, what was the cause ; and if the 
cause could be found, what was the remedy. During that same 
year, 1871, the Fish Culturists’ Association had its first or second 
meeting, and resolutions were presented appointing a committee 
to proceed to Washington during the coming session, and to 
memorialize Congress on the subject of natural action in the 


propagation and distribution of fish. That committee discharged 


Stxth Annual Meeting. 65 


its purpose, and an appropriation was made for the propagation 
and placed under my charge as Commissioner to disburse. 

Feeling my ignorance of the theory and practice of fish 
culture, Knowing a little about fishes themselves as to their 
zoolovical Characteristics, but nothing about the meade of multi- 
plying them, | considered it my duty and pleasure te counsel 
with the Fish Culturists’ Association and the Commissioners of 
the States present; and TP spoke to them and asked them what | 

> 

should better do, in what way the best measures could be taken to 
increase the fish supply of the country, Two propositions were 
mide > one that a certain portion of the appropriation should be 
expended in assisting the enterprise of obtaining the exys of 
stlmon trom Mame, and the other that we should send some 
ene out te Calitornia tor the purpose of obtaining eyes from 
their fish, as it was Known that egys could be had there tore 
readily and in larger mumbers than in the East. Both of these 
suggestions were adopted. Mr. Atkins, then at werk on the 
Penobscot River, was requested to enlarge his fisheries to enable 
us to cover the ground we desired, which was to be dene out of 
the funds at my disposal; and Mr Stene, now present with us, 
went out to California te organize the California salmon enter- 
prise > and beginning ona small scale at first, with 2,000 eggs, the 
capacity of the establishment: lias inereasecd in comsequence of 
his admirable management of it, until mow it is capable of 
furnishing at least 15,co0o,coo eyes every vear, which more 
than equals in the aggregate that ot all the European salmen- 
producing establishments together. 

Jo presume it will be agreeable to the meeting te hear 
semething of the general operations of the United States Com- 
nission with regard te its measures tor fish propagation. and | 
Will proceed to sketch briethy what thew are.and will then refer 


veu to Mr. Milner, whe has the shad departinent more especially 


66 fish Culturtsts’ Association. 


under his control, and to Mr. Stone to tell you about the opera- 
tions in California. [I will state that the United States Com- 
mission have always endeavored to carry out the principle of 
doing nothing on its part that the States should be or are willing 
todo; and while it takes charge of.the rivers and large bodies of 
water that belongs to the several States, it leaves to the States 
themselves the care of fostering the fishers’ interests in the rivers 
which belong exclusively within their jurisdiction. Therefore, 
with regard to such fish as the California salmon, it was 
considered best to confine the operations of the United States 
Commission almost entirely to the gathering of the eggs, and 
to distributing those eggs to the said Commissioners in such 
quantities as should be called for, they being charged for the 
payment of packing and expressage merely on what they took. 
During these years the operations with regard to the California 
salmon have therefore been constituted on about the same scale 
as at present, the appropriation being about equal to the demand, 
and sufficient to pay for the distribution to such States as had no 
Commissioners. A certain number of eggs were brought to the 
East, and part to the establishment at Northfield, at Michigan, 
anda part to the Central Park, from which they were distributed 
toa very large number of rivers. There are comparatively few 
principal streams which we have left unsupplied with these fish. 

The operations with regard to shad for the last year were 
much more limited than before, as the appropriation available 
for the purpose was not passed until early in May, when it was 
too late for the southern rivers, as in previous vears the eggs 
were furnished to the Commissioners of the States, or shipped 
to other parts. Nothing was done this year with regard to the 
Bucksport salmon. [It was considered undesirable to breed land- 
locked salmon. We have rather preferred to wait and see the 


result of the operations with regard to the land-locked salmon, 


Savth Annual Mevting. 67 


The operations with regard to the land-locked salmon were 
carried on ona kurger seale than before, but owing to some 
peculiar condition of the water or the tempenriture, a much 
souiller number was obtained. Lb think about goo.coo cys were 
all that were obtained by the parties jointly interested—the United 
States Commissioner, the Commission of Mirssachusetts, cme 
one of Connecticut—a division having been made of the exes 
between these three parties. 

Another enterprise, which promises well forthe future of the 
fish culture of the country, froma supply ot toad fishes, is thet 
with reward to the carp. The carp is a fish not very well Known 
to this country, but occupies a prominent place in Europe as at 
stock-lish. Tt can be cultivated in any barn-vird tank. Tt can 
be cultivated intubs. “They can do as the Clfinese do, raise them 
in large tubs, teeding them with vegetable substances, with a 
satisfactory result. “There are avariety of carp Known to fanciers 
in Europe : one variety without any seates at all, which obvintes 
the necessity of sealing them tor cooking > another variety hits 
a row oof seales. “Phere are several varieties of carp fully 
provided with seales. | There are two distinet species: one of 
which, by its multiplication: in Europe. das thrown a great deal 
of cliscredit pen the other. One of these fishes is long and 
unpalatable, but very lurgely cultivated. The truce carp. cul- 
tivated in’ Germany, is a different tish, and has certain merits 
that commend it to the attention of fish culturists. I] have made 
several efforts to obtain ao suflicient supply of these carp, bat, 
unfortunately, twice owing to the storms and the exacerbation, 
they have been lost on ship-board by the swashing around of the 
fish inthe tank and other causes. 1 have a few, brought in by 
a date importation, which are in’ charge of Mr. Ferguson in 
Baltimore. 


Another fish, of which we have a small number te sturt with, 


68 Frsh- Culturtsts’ Assectation 


is the tench, a special variety of the European tench, which has 
many qualifications for a desirable fish. One is extreme 
ordjhood, and the other its ability to resist the desiccation of 
the ponds. It can be cultivated in any mud-puddle, and when it 
begius to dry up the fish buries itself in the dust, and the surface 
may become perfectly hard, so that you can drive a wagon over 
it: and if you want a fish you can take it out with a spade: 
yet when a rain comes the fish will wiggle their way out, and 
there they are. It grows with great rapidity and to a large size, 
not unfrequently weighing ten, twenty, thirty, and even tofty 
pounds. Both the carp and the tench make flesh a great deal 
more rapidly than any fish we cultivate. They are vegetable 
eaters, and that is one great advantage over the trout, the black 
bass. and other fish which are cultivated in limited enclosures. 
Give to them a certain quantity of plants—rice, Canada wheat, 
Wwater-cresses, and the like—and they will find in them all the 
sustenance they require. If vou wish still to feed them, throw 
in lettuce, cabbage, or other vegetable offal, which they will cat 
very readily. 

The vilue, therefore, of the carp is very. great. 1 -mever 
tasted it, but E lave the statements of those familiar with its 
merits; they admit that it is not as good as salmon or mackerel, 
but they can be raised by anybody, and they are especially 
adapted to the warm parts of. the United) States. The eneat 
want isa fish that can be brought into the mill-ponds and warm 
strenms of water of the Southern and Gulf States, where the 
trout cannot be introduced. The warmer the water the better 
the carp thrives, and the best results in carp culture in Europe 
have been in ponds connected with low pressure steam-engines, 
where the water Is at a temperature of go’ to 1o°",” and in those 
ponds the carp grow with abnormal rapidity. [have been told 


that ina single vear they have been known to make over four 


Savth Annual Mecting. 69 


pounds in weight. The carp is also a very hardy fish. You can 
easily transport it. To have heard of cases where carp have been 
kept five days out of water in damp moss. This is an advantage 
in favor of distributing them. [therefore hope. as a result of 
the new experiments now being made in Central Germany, the 
results of which are to be expected here in April next, to be 
able in a few vears to supply breeding-carp in a great many 
parts of the country, and perhaps in ten years it may be as 
common here as in Europe. 

Mr. Wuemor: Do you say that the carp is well adapted for 
mill-ponds ? 

Prof. Baiko: Any sluggish, stagnant water. It does not 
thrive in spring-water, 

Mr. Wimor: Would it suit the disposition of gentlemen 
who have ponds and small streams? Are they not desirous of 
combining fish well adapted for food, and at the same time 
having gamey qualities as faras sporting is concerned 7? Would 
they consent to introduce a fish from which they could derive 
no advantage themselves, except from their marketable value, 
when they are a very inferior fish for the market, being inferior 
to trout. 

Prof. Baikp: Our great object is to increase the amount of 
animal food in the country, and it is purely a matter of cookery 
to make it palatable. Tf we can introduce a fish that asks no 
favor in the way of food, and that will furnish, as [ am credit- 
ably informed, 1.200 pounds annually to the acre, that Is a great 
deal better fish to have than many that we now have. 

Mr. Witmor: That is, by giving them additional food ? 

Prof. Baikp : Without feeding them atall Tam told that it 
is not an uncommon thing for the ponds in Germany to furnish 
annually four hundred carp to the acre, each carp weighing 


. 


7O Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


three or four pounds, which sell for about a quarter of a dollar 
in the German markets, without the slightest difficulty. 

Mr. Witmor: Do they live upon one another ? 

Prof. Barry: No, sir; they live together like a flock, of 
sheep. 

Mr. Witmor: Tcannot conceive how this large carp can grow 
in ponds merely from the vegetation they will find. 

Prof. BatkDb: The more the carp lives upon the vegetation, 
the faster it grows. There is one gentleman in Austria who 
has 26,000 acres in carp ponds, and it Constitutes an clement in 
a very large fortune to him. 

A Menper: [snot the vegetation in the Southern States more 
luxuriant ? 


Prof. Batrn= Wes. sin: its: 


IN VG SION tO! AC DINNER: 


The President introduced Mr. Coup, who thanked the mem- 
bers for the honor conferred upon him by electing him as an 
honorary member of the Association, and invited them to a 


dinner this evening at 8 o'clock at the Gilsey House. 


SHAD FISHERIES. 


The President called upon Prof. Milner to give a further 
statement with regard to the United States Commission. 

Prof. Mitxer: There is very litthe more to be said bevond 
what Prof. Baird has stated. When the shad culture commenced 
we were associated with Mr. Ferguson in Maryland. Instead of 
getting our entire supply of eggs from one fishery, we were able 
to get them froma large number; but the shad do not seem to 
have the disposition to come up the streams unless the tempe- 
rature is as high as 68° or 6g* and from the want of rain 


the streams have been very low. We succeeded in obtaining 


Sixth Annual Meeting. 7! 


about Goo,coo eyys trom the Potomac. Later, Mr. Ferguson 
established a station in the vicinity of Phivre de Grice, where 
there were hatched about three or four million. Again, in the 
Connecticut, at Llolvoke, we had bad weather in that direction. 
The temperature got to be very high an July, so that the 
water of the Connecticut reached the temperature of S6° which 
is entirely too warm for any success with shad. The egys 
died in the boxes, but the work began again cond was carried on 
until August sth. The distribution was mot near as extensive 
as it would have been if we could have wot the supply of tish- 
eggs that we needed. There were altogether seventy-two or 
seventy-three applications trom members of Congress, governors 
of States, and citizens from all parts of the country : and we 
made about thirty-one or thirty-two shipments of shad. The 
Most extreme southern point was in Louisiana: the mest 
vortherly point was in Connecticut; and western, we went to the 
Des Moines River, where the success of the shad fishery has 
become thoroughly established. Uhe first shipment made there 
was made under the auspices of the California Commission, by 
Seth Green, in i871, Sinee then the United States has made twe 
shipments, and every vearwe have taken more and more of those 
shad. There ts ne mistake about the identity of the fish, because 
specimens tniwe been preserved and earctolly exsimined. 

Mr. Witter: Phave any of vour researches extended as far 
as the Bay ot Fundy. with reward te shad ? 

Prot. Mitxek: Ne. they Inewe net 

Mr. Wier: It is the intention of the Canadian Govern- 
ment te previ eoshad in that: seetion of the COUNLEY, but the 
Inhabitants sav that the shad de mot breed there at all. and only 
come there tor breeding purposes.  bowish te get information 
before we commence operitions. 


Prof, Marsters My Kaowledge extemds only as far as the 
’ 


ty 


Fish Culturists Association. 


~~ 


Androscoggin. I know they are taking the spawn there, and 
while there, in 1874, we did not obtain any quantity of eggs. 
Still we got a great many fishes, and they are said to have been 
found in the St. Lawrence. 

Mr. Wirmor: If we can produce large numbers of shad in 
that section, it will be equally beneficial to some portions of the 
United States. 

Prof. Mitxer: It requires a very large catch to make any 
success in getting eggs, because the per cent. of ripe fishes to 
fertilize is very small in a catch. In three or four hundred 
shad you will perhaps not find more than two or three or four 
spawners. 

Mr. Witmor: Is not that because they have not gone 
sufficiently far up the river ? 

Prof. Minxer: It was so in the Connecticut, where they had 
got to the end of their course. 

Mr. Wirmor: What period of time will the shad-spawning 
season Cover ? 

Prof. Mixer: It differs on different rivers. Onthe St. John, 
in Florida, and in the Savannah River, it is in February: the 
Washington markets have had their supply from Savannah for 
two weeks past; in March shad begin to run into the Potomac, 
and in May and June they are spawning; in the Hludson the 
season is still later, usually closing about the rst of July: the 
iSth or 20th of July it begins in the Connecticut, and extends 
up to August; so that the farther you go north the later the 


season Is. 


Stvth Annual Meeting. 


~! 
“se 


ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 


The Committee on Nominations reported the following 


as the officers of the Association for the ensuing veur: 


Presttent—R. Bo Roosreverr. 

ltee-Prestdent—Greokck Supevaky Pavce. 

Treasurer —EUGENK G. BLACKFORD. 

Seorctayv—BAkNEL Putas. 

fvccutice Committe, J. Reeorek, PReperick Mavtiikr, 


ALEXANDER Wircnern, Seru GREEN. 


The above officers were accordingly elected. 


CALIFORNIA SALMON, 
Mr. Livingsron Sroxe said: 


Before saving anything with regard to the California salmon, 
I would say, with regard to the shad which Mr. Milner men- 
tioned as having been sent to California, that there is no doubt 
that some of them have been caught there fully grown, TF have 
seen two of them myself, preserved in alcohol, and there is no 
question about it that they are the shad of the Eastern States. 
Besides those two there are a great many more, and [have no 
doubt that hundreds of shad have been caught in California of 
which we have heard nothing. 

With regard to the California salmon we are gaining a little 
every vear and getting things upon a better basis. When I 
first went out there, in i572, F suceeeded in sending East 30,000 
eges. Year before last we took there nearly 9,000,000. In all, 
we have taken about 25,000,000 eggs from California salmon ; 
most of which have been sent East. but a part of which we 
have returned to the head-waters of the Sacramento. Those 


25,000,000 salmon have cost one dollar a thousand, in gold, up 


74 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


to this time. . After this we can get them a great deal cheaper, 
probably for seventy-five cents or half a dollar a thousand. — I 
think that for 85,000 we can get 10,000,000 eggs and pack them 
for shipment. 

There is one feature that may. be worth mentioning. We 
have in our operations this year sent California eggs to New 
Zealand. It has been considered quite impossible to get the 
salmon eggs safely across the equator, and get them introduced 
into New Zealand waters; but this vear we sent five lots of 
$0,000 each, 400,000 e¥vgs, to New enltatel and every lot, without 
exception, arrived in capital order. We sent 8,000 to Welling- 
ton, and we have sent them to many other points. [It seems to 
me that California salmon-eggs must be very hardy, considering 
what they have to go through. In the first place, we have to 
pack the eggs on a warm day, because the salmon spawn in 
warm weather. Then, after being packed, they are taken twenty> 
two miles over a rough road under a blazing sun. The day | 
came away the thermometer stood at ro4? in the shade and 


125° 


in the sun. After they get to the railroad terminus, they 
are taken three hundred miles to San Francisco, and there they 
stay two nights And a day, and then are carried to the steamer, 
and then are carried by the steamer seventy-six miles, most of 
which is through the tropics and across the equator, and at the 
end of that distance are taken out: and [ think it ts perfectly 
surprising that the eggs of any fish whatever can be carried so 
far under such unfavorable circumstances and come out alive. 
In this instance they have succeeded well. 

There is one more feature in this year’s operations, and that 
is shipping the eggs across the continent ina refrigerator car, 
They have before been sent by express, and although they have 
come in pretty good order, it has been very expensive. This 


year the eggs were all put in one car, the surplus room in which 


Strath Annual Mecting. 75 


was filled with ice, and this car was taken to Chicago without 
being unpacked ; and there they were tuken out of the ice, and 
the consequence was that they were all tiuken out in good order. 
Besides this, this method has saved the United States Fish 
Commission about $700, and saved the consignees alwout $700— 
saving to the various fish commissions about $1,400. 

When [I first started there [| found it necessary to put the 
hatching-troughs close to the water's edge, in order to get 
fall enough from the river to get hatching-water, and con- 
sequently every fall we had to tear up all the hatching-troughs, 
and the next spring to put them all down again. — List 
year FE put up a ‘permanent hatching-house, quite a solid) struc- 
ture, above the high-water mark, and put in a large current- 
wheel, which pumps the water up from the river and takes it 
through atlume ; and in this way [hope to save the trouble and 
‘txpense of tearing down the troughs every fall and putting 
them up every spring. 

Prof. Baiko: One word with regard to the California 
salmon. In 1875 Mr. Stone was authorized to give a small 
number of the eggs to the New Zealand colonies, and that lot 
of eggs was divided into two, one part of which hatched out 
Yery satisfactorily, but the other failed. In 1876 that experiment 
was renewed in New Zealand. Lo have heard from all those 
consignments now, and im every case .success has been 
triumphant—not less than 75 to go per cent. of the eggs have 
been turned into healthy, vigorous fish. This is a great triumph 
for our California salmon, in view of the fact that so many 
pounds sterling had been expended in trying to introduce the 
Scotch salmon. They had succeeded in introducing the carp 
and the tench, but the salmon they had not succeeded with. All 
the experiments in Australia, and those in New Zealand, had 


failed. ' 


76 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


This vear I have had applications from all the colonies of 
Australia, and all in New Zealand, and from Chili, and other 
places, for eggs, which I hope to furnish, they paying all the 
necessary expenses attending it. Of course it would not be 
proper to use the money of the. United States in presenting 
those eggs to foreign nations; but the capacity of the salmon is 
so great that, after meeting the calls of the State Commissioners, 
there are millions which we can dispose of in this way in the 
interest of humanity, to be distributed all over the world. 

Mr. Witmor: Prof. Baird hes said that the Bucksport 
experiment had been abandoned on account of its expense. | 
hope that is not to be the end. [should feel inclined to give 
you some experiments [ was engaged in last year with regard 
to the new mode of retaining fish in salt water. The eggs 
matured equally well in salt water as in fresh. Of course it is 
well understood that for many years back, in fact for centuries, 
naturalists have held that there was a necessity for salmon to go 
to fresh water to mature their eggs. Last season T was under 
the impression that the eggs of the salmon would mature if kept 
in salt water as well as in fresh, and, in order to illustrate that, 
I instructed one of my assistants to retain in the salt-water pond 
a few parent salmon, while IE put the rest in fresh-water ponds ; 
and he did so, and took the egyes from them at the same time. 
There was no perceptible difference noticed in the hatching of 
the eggs from those fish last vear. That being sufficient for me 
to go upon, this season [ retained fifty or sixty salmon in the 
salt-water pond. The eggs matured just as well as those of the 
fish in the fresh water. They were manipulated, and showed as 
much vitality and life as those in the fresh water. They were 
hatched in fresh water, but the fish were kept in the salt-water 
cove. Therefore, to a certain extent, the expense of the Bucks- 


port establishment might be saved. PT think there the fish are 


Sixth Annual Mecting. 77 


taken from the salt water and taken to the fresh water, and kept 
there at a double expense. 

Prof. Batko: The establishment is sall kept there, ready to 
be opened whenever the Commission require, We have thought 
it best to intermit for a time the experiment there, in order to 
see if what we did actually made any impression. 

Mr. Witmer: The salmon very seldom die in salt’ water, 
whereas in fresh water there is a fungous growth upon them, 
from which many of them die. 

Prof. Barko: There is very littl trouble in) Bucksport from 


that cause. The pond is very large, and they remain healthy, 


Adjourned until rt o'clock to-morrow, 


New York, February 15, 0877. 


The Convention met atrial MM, pursuant to adjournment, 
and was called to order by the President. 

The first business in order was the reading of a report by 
Mr. Mather, at the close of which the President announced that 
remarks from the members were now tn order. 

Mr. Stone: Mr. President, now that there seems to be a lull 
in the proceedings, PT would like to ask our friend, Mr. Wilmot, 
to vive an account of his method of tinpregnating the eggs of 
salmon. To believe he has adopted a method which, as far ats 
I have heard, is entirely new. and Po should like to hear some- 
thing about it, and Po think other members of the Association 
would alse. 

Mr. Witwer: Mr. President. ino a private conversation a 
Moment ago with my esteemed friend at my left, Mr Stone, the 
subject arose in regard to the matter of impregnating ceys, and 
Tasked Mr. Stone how he did it. Tle said he did it in the 


usttal wav. mamely soatter mixing the milt with the egé&s, they 


=e 


Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


~~ 
e 


were allowed to remain a certain number of minutes, and then 
were taken and distributed upon the trays. [ replied to him, “I 
have adopted a new plan this year, and [ have found it to answer 
admirably, and infinitely better than the one I have practiced 
hitherto.” I formerly practiced the same system that I allude 
to, namely, taking the eggs from the fish and putting the milt 
upon them, and then allowing them to remain twenty or thirty 
minutes. The system [ have adopted this year, I think, will be 
conclusive in itself as showing the benefit that we have derived 
from it and the amount of labor saved. The system that I have 
adopted is this: we take the female fish out of the water and 
strip her as rapidly as possible ; perhaps two or three fish are 
taken out one after the other, so that in some instances we will 
have nearly a gallon of eggs—a half of a gallon any way, or 
three-fourths of a gallon—in one vessel. We then take the 
male fish and begin stripping him in a like manner to get the 
milt. An attendant is standing immediately alongside of the 
other gentleman who is manipulating. Ele has a measure which 
is calculated to hold a thousand or two thousand, as the case 
may be, and he stands immediately alongside and dips these 
eggs out as rapidly as possible and puts them on the breeding- 
tray, and the breeding-tray is put in the hatching-trough. In 
that way T have impregnated a larger number of eggs by far 
than I have in the last seven years in which [ have been engaged 
in this work. It is simple in itself, and so different from what 
has hitherto been practiced, that I thought it advisable to 
mention it here, because it is so much better than any other 
system IT know of. 

The question may arise, * How is it possible that these eggs 
become impregnated 7” My impression is that impregnation is 
instantaneous under all circumstances; it Is instantaneous or 


else not at all; therefore when the eggs are taken from the 


Srvth Annual Mecting. 79 


female fish, and the fluid put upon them, the sooner you lay them 
down in that state upon the travs and do not disturb them 
afterwards the better itis for the egys. That is the system I 
have pursued, and | think if vou will adept it vou will tind it 
superior to anything vet practiced. TF have found it se. In 
laving down some four or five million egys this vear that is the 
system | have practiced; and [TE have sent word to the various 
establishments over which T have control, telling them to do 
the same thing. Some did not do that way, some did. Those 
who carried out the plan TP have now laid down have succeeded 
better than those who did not. With regard te my own 
establishment, | have carried that out to the very letter, and out 
of a million and a half or a million and three-fourths eggs | 
don't think that [ have lost one per cent. up to the present time. 
That is my success. [think it is the duty of those engaged in 
fish-breeding to give as much knowledge as they possibly can 
to their fellow fish-breeders upon this important question, and 
I think, under the circumstances, that you will find that the 
system that [ have practiced this year will be very satisfactory 
and productive of a great deal of good in the science of fish 
culture, 

Mr. Buackrorp: Mr. Mowat stated that he had kept the milt 
of the male salmon several days and then used it successfully. 
I don't recollect the number of days in detail. Perhaps that 
might interest the gentlemen here present. 

Mr. Wiiwor: Several experiments of that kind have been 
tried by my assistants in the lower Provinces. In some cases 
the milt has been carried a long distance—in one case [ think 
two or three hundred miles in small vials. The vials were put 
in cold water and conveved to the hatching-house where they 
had an abundance of female fish but no males. [ have not vet 


heard the result : it has net been reported to me, and | fancy from 


So Fish Culturtsts’ Association. 


not having received a report of it that it is not satisfactory, 
because, generally, when things are very satisfactory, my assist- 
ants are in the habit of sending information to me immediately, 
but up to the present time T have not received any report from 
them. Elowever, as we are speaking upon this subject, | will 
give you,an experiment that T have tried myself. P have carried 
the milt of a male salmon-trout about forty miles. T carried it 
in a bottle, and [ have put it upon the ova, and [| produced a 
hybrid or cross-breed fish from that mixture: so that, to a 
certain extent, itis true that vou can carry the milt as a matter 
of-fact. IT would not advise it in all cases, for Tthink that the 
sooner the application is made the better. 

Mr. Epwenps: The theory in regard to the instantaneous 
impregnation we have verified in the statement of Dr. Hastings 
of Hartford. He claims that he put the egg of a fish under a 
microscope and the milt was put on to the egg, and he said the 


cell-structure changed so suddenly that he could not tell when 


it took place—that it was perfectly instantancous. ~The whole 
cell-structure of the egg changed. 

Mr. Marieer: f have seen tt in the shad, but TE did not tind it 
instantaneous under the microscope.  T found it took perhaps 
eight or ten minutes before vou could see the first line drawn 
through the egg—the first subdiviston, As vou are all aware, 
it subdivides into two, and then into four, and the lines keep 
crossing tn that manner, and T think it was fully from eight to 
ten minutes before we could see this change in the shad-ege, 
and the development of the shad-ege goes on so much more 
rapidly than the salmon that P should think the salmon would 
take considerable time in order to see it. The shad hatches 
quickly ; the whole fish is formed and ready to hatch in from 


three to four davs, and the same amount of development will 


take the salmon fifty to sixty days, or more. 


Sith Aannal Meeting. Si 


Mr. Witwer: Tf our friend had stated that he experimented 
in this way upon a striped bass, we would awe been oiach more 
likely te believe bis theory. Ele says itis dene in stripes. one 
stripe made and then the rest. Tam under the impression that 
it iS instantaneous; that the moment the impreenating tuid 
enters it is instantaneous. fis not in parts, and they coming 
together afterwards and forming a body, but itis instuntaneots. 

Mr. Mainek: It mav be instantaneous, but bo meant, to get 
any result that vou could sce. You can tell an impregnated egy 
long before the fish is perfectly formed, as every one of vou are 
aware: but with a trout-ege it will take some diavs—perkipes 
eight or ten—and then vou have got to tukew lithe viel and hold 
it up in order to see those dines. Tt is the dines that vou see that 
gives vou the idea whether the egg is impregnated or mot, and 
it is se with the shad before vou can even see itor be aware 
of it. 

Mr. Witwer: Pdo not mean to sav that certain ports do met 
come together for the purpose of forming the volk-sac, but I 
mean to say the substanee which gives vitality and lite ts of thet 
minute form, and gives life instantaneously. That) is the 
argument LE heold. 

Mr. Mirxek: Von Baird, the Russian embrvologist, whe hues 
within a few weeks died, in making studies of the cugs of fishes, 
found that on one side of the eee was an orifice which he 
termed ao vuerepra, and he, under the microscepe, in impreg- 
nating exes, saw the sArrmwatesed enter the waicrepra Now whit 
the physiological action is nobody Knows, but the process, so. far 
as that is concerned, has been followed. They have seen the 
ermatewva enter the orifice in the egy. The next stage seems 
to be, the egy is so constructed that it is formed ino concentric 
spheres. There is the inner volk, the vted/as, having around it 


a coat, and then outside of that is the outer coat or shell. . After 


82 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


the egg is impregnated, the water enters the mcropia, swelling 
the egg, and spreads the outer shell—extending it. The inner 
sphere remains the same, the water entering between the two 
coats extends the outer shell and enlarges the egy. So far as 
the mere conception is concerned, that is, as far as they have 
been able to observe, all that they know about it. This action 
caking place is subsequent. [I should imagine that in fishes like 
the shad, which hatch in three days, that the whole development 
process would begin earlier, and of course it goes through much 
more rapidly ; while in a salmon, in water of from 32° to 35°, 
it would hatch out in about five months. 

Mr. Witmor: Then the inference to be drawn is that this 
spermatozoa enters the womb, and then the formation that goes 
on in the egg is the collection of the fatty substance to feed the 
living object that has gone into the egg. 

Prof. Miuxer: That is what we do not Know. That is 
assuming all the physiological action. 

Mr. Epuunxps: Don't you believe that impregnation in the 
natural process, ina running brook or in a race, must be almost 
instantaneous where it is naturally deposited ? 

Mr. Green: Yes, I believe that it is. It strikes “ere [illus- 
trating], and keeps striking, and by-and-by it goes in Mere, 
and that is instantaneous, but it is not until you get it there. 
That fellow has got to find that place. 

Mr. Epwunps: You think it is liable to accident ? 

Mr. Green: It is liable to accident, of course. Here is a 
ball floating in the water, or in the air, or what not, filled with 
all these little animalcules crawling all over it, and they might 
not light right on to that hole, or strike right into that hole, at 
one time. TI believe that impregnation is caused by one of those 


little insects getting into the channel and seeking the proper 


Stuth Annual Mectineg. $3 


place, and when it is there it is nourished and fed and grows, 
and that is the animal. The same with this. 

Mr. Eywexps: In one sense you do not claim that as really 
accidental, and in another sense it miy miss. 

Mr. Green : Twenty-five per cent. used to be allowed for 
impregnation of eyes. The reason was that there was so much 
water init that the animaleules were not thick enough. They 
were not thick cnough in it to find a hole in the egy. When we 
came to thicken it up, as PE did four or five vears ago—and | 
didn't tell Mr. Stone of it cither for four or five vears after- 
wards—my cyys impregnated then. 

Mr. Witmer: Friend Green says there is no advantage in 
this process. [ have forgetten the great advantage that there is 
in this speedy mode of laying down the egy after it receives the 
impregnating fluid. fn omy establishment we will manipulate 
one hundred salmon at one time, take a hundred salmon out of 
the water as rapidly as we can and manipulate them.  [f the old 
system wis pursued we would require perhaps fifty tin pans or 
vessels to lay these eggs in for thirty minutes. We would have 
to have the whole building strung with a lot of tin pans with 
these cygs to carry out your system of twenty or thirty minutes : 
whereas, in this system we gain a great deal because we only 
use one or twe pans, and as soon asene is full we dip them out 
and put them on the breeding-troughs immediately. 

Mr. Gktex: Your tray is standing in the water when vou 
put them on ? 

Mr. Wiwer: No, it is not. 

Mr. Gakten: That is net my experience. We have a trough 
With an ineh of water in it, bam speaking of our hatching- 
house. We take the spawn, and as soon as we have taken whit 
Wwe want inone pan we set that in the trough in the water. It 


remains there until we get all through taking spawn. .\t that 


84 Fish Culturtsts’ Association 


time those that were taken first are ready to put in the hatching 
apparatus, and I really do not see any advantage unless it is 
where you have them by the bushel. 

Mr. Witmor: It is the speediest way by all means to do, and 
I think if you try it once you will be a convert. 

Tur Presipent: Do you pour them right into the trays dry ? 

Mr. Greex : No; my version is that you cannot handle them 
too carefully, and that there would be a great many less spawn 
killed provided they had a little thin shell on them that you 
could see when they were killed—when they broke. A salmon’s 
spawn will stand more than any other, and whitefish and shad 
less than any of them. [think that to pour any of them into a 
dry tray that you would have a good deal of picking to do in 
the course of ten or twelve days. 

Mr. Witmor: We laid down several millions of eggs this 
year, and that is the system we pursued. 

Mr. MatruHer: Just as soon as this little animalcule, or 
spermatozoa, enters the egg, if the theory is correct that the egg 
immediately closes, how then can we account for the production 
of double fish? We have two perfect fish often in one egg, 
joined on one side, and sometimes with two heads. The ques- 
tion is whether more than one of those entered in order to 
accomplish that. 

Mr. Green: There is such athing as two of anything getting 
into a hole at the same time. 

Prof. Mixer: Multiplying the number of sfermatosea that 
enter the eggs would not have anything to do with making 
twins. That relates entirely to the double volk or to the two 
germ-spots, perhaps, in the egg. In all the elementary works on 
anatomy they give illustrations of the egg of the squirrel after 
impregnation, and in a number of instances there were as many 


asia dozen spermatosea that had entered the outer coating and 


Savth Annual Meeting. S 


‘a 


were found fastened upon the inner sphere. Two spermattesea 
entering an egy would not make a double fish or Siamese twins, 
as we see frequently, but the egy must have been a double-volk 
egy, or with two germ spots more likely. 

Mr. Green: There is a great deal of force in that—in its 
being a double-volk egg. A double-volk egy would deo it, and 
that T should think would be the natural cause. 

Mr. Evarrs: This discussion seems to have been brought 
about by the difference of the two things that are spoken of. 
Mr. Wilmot spoke of the impregnation of the egg, and Mr. 
Mather of the growth of the sermatesea atter it got into the 
egg. [mpregnation, physically, through all animal life, must be 
instantaneous. The amount of spermatesea that are in semen is 
sufficient, so that the first one that finds the egg will get there 
as quick as he can, The number is so great that they do not 
stop a great while to find it, and the first one that gets there gets 
in. That is instantaneous throughout physical life. 

Mr. Eomenps: Mr. Green's idea in regard to the age of the 
animal is well understood by physiologists, that where an undue 
amount of sexual intercourse has taken place with any animal 
in early life they very soon become untit for use. It is well 
Known among horsemen and farmers that a horse that is used too 
much when he is two or three years old, will be spoiled for 
impregnation ; and so also with the bovine family ; and it may 
be that itis due to the cutting off of a portion of the spermatocea 
that he speaks of. 

Mr. Stone: | would liketo ask Dr. Edmunds if Dr. Llastings, 
whom he referred to, has published any of his observations. 

Mr. Epmuenxps: No: it was in a casual conversation that I 
had with him in regard to the matter, and it is well known that 
the cell-structure in an ege changes almost instantaneously 


after the passing in of the spermatozoa. 


86 Fish Culturists Assectation. 


Mr. Sroxe: How is that known?) Who are the authorities ? 

Mr. Epmunps: T only state myself, from the personal con- 
versation with Dr. Hastings, in which he said that the cell- 
structure was so suddenly changed that it was impossible for 
him to distinguish when it occurred, and he considered natural 
impregnation as the same, that it was instantancous ino the 
running streams, and that the sfermatovoa tound a foramen in 
the ege and entered it instantaneously ; that there was no doubt 
about it at all. 

Mr. Witmor: Prof. Agassiz investigated the speedy mode by 
which a whitetish-ege becomes impregnated. Efe savs it is 
almost instantaneous, and he says almost immediately after- 
wards it begins to grow. almost instantaneously ; and he gives 
vou a description of that almost every hour afterwards until 
several days have gone by. So I think these scientific men have 
indorsed the theory which we have laid down, that it ts 
instantaneous. The immense quantities of spermatosea that 
are taken from one male fish are almost innumerable, and the 
moment they get where the egg is one of them enters, and that 
is Instantancous- 

Mr. Green: Teclaim that it takes time to do anything, and if 
it takes time, it is not instantaneous. Efe gets in as quick as he 
can, there is no doubt of that, but it is not instantaneous ¢ it 
takes him a little time to get in. 

Mr. Pritiirs: TE wish to ask Prof. Milner if he has not made 
microscopic examinations of eggs immediately after impreg- 
nation ? 

Prof. Mixer: PE have made none that Tecan refer to. T have 
watched the development, but it is a critical thing to do, and 
unless a person has had considerable training as a student 
in embryology, they do not know precisely what they see. Tn 


using a microscope it takes a certain amount of time to get 


Saath Annual Meeting. 87 


familiar with it, and te Know peosttively what vou see. T have 
heard professional microscepists remark that trequently ; and 
embryology requires the same critical, trained eve to follow the 
processes. The work that Mr. Wilmot speaks of gives illustra- 
tions of the condition of the eeu, and it shows the sewmentation 
and vives the whole process. 

Mr. Stexe: EP think it is perfectly well established that the 
results of impregnation—the first furrowing or seementation of 
the eyg—is very slow and cradual TP think there-is mo doubt 
about that. The results of the impregnation are slow and 
gradual, and in a salmen-ceg the very first furrowing only tikes 
place after twenty-four hours >and if PL anderstand Dr. ldounds 
rightly when he speaks of this tnstantancous change which 
takes place at the time of impregnation, he means something 
that is different from the sewmentation, or the furrowing, or any 
of the results of impregnation. Tle speaks of the instantincous 
change in the cell-structure of the eee. 

Mr. Eomenxos: Yes, sir. 

Mr. SroXe: And that is the thing that TE would like to get at. 

Mk. Eowenps: Ttis a thing that T have never experimented 
with, but it ts well established. 

Mr. Evakrs: That) instantaneous change, [ should say, 
probably, judging from the impregnation, would be the closing 
of the orifice through which the sfermeatecea had entered the 
egg, and it would Keep any other sfermeatesea from entering. 

Mr. Pris: Mr. President and Gentlemen: It is from 
rather a high and scientific standpoint that vou have been 
speaking, and perhaps the matter which [ would like to bring 
to vour attention may net be as lofty, but still it is one which 
interests me exceedingly. The discussion which has just been 
had is very interesting to society, and so far as it tends in one 


way or the other to determine how long milt can be carried, 


88 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


therefore it is exceedingly interesting to me. Would it not be 
possible, at the next meeting of this Association, for such a 
scientific subject to be more thoroughly studied in this Aquarium ? 
Would it be possible for you, Mr. Mather, to examine carefully 
the action of milt upon eggs, and by carefully watching it to 
determine how the increase is formed ? 

Mr. Maruer: It might, if we had the spawning-fish here, buy 
there are very few here in the Aquarium that will spawn. We 
intend to do everything we can do in that way. I hope this 
coming season to take some eggs of some salt-water fish that 
have never been taken, and if I carry out that intention | may 
do something of that kind. I have done very little microscopic 
work, and that that I referred to awhile ago as watching was 
done by a very fine worker, Dr. Shafer of Washington, who is 
well known in microscopic work ; it was with him that [ observed 
these things and learned many things about impregnation. I 
have done but very little of it myself. I am studying it, and I 


hope to arrive at some results by-and-by. 


Mr. Puittires then read an article upon the Centennial, and 


upon the value of different kinds of fish as food, as follows: 


GENTLEMEN: There are certain topics which are everlasting. 
Being everlasting, they are monstrously tiresome. When an 
endeavor is made to explain such topics with any degree of 
amplitude, they may be listened to for the moment with some 
amount of attention, but it is very doubtful whether much 
immediate effect ts produced. We get around the long explana- 
tions of things which are self-evident by inventing certain brief, 
pithy sentences, which we call proverbs. We say “time ts 
money,” which has been often twisted into an idea of this kind, 
“that time or credit is money.” Another well-known saw. is 


“aeaste not, want not.” No man ever did take these few words 


Sixth Annual Mecting. 89 


exactly to himself, but deems them applicable entirely to some 
one else. Advance this idea of waste more particularly in 
regard to fish, and the generality of people will say: “Ob! of 
course it is quite true. That is to say, we have not the least 
doubt but that it may really happen some day or other, this 
want you speak about, but what business is it of ours? When 
the trouble comes this man is talking about we shall not be 
here, you know. It will regard the men who are to live and eat 
some fifty or a hundred years after us. That is their look-out, 
you see, and not ours.” 

What struck me then most particularly at the Centennial Ex- 
hibition—something which pervaded me all the time, which was 
always the most prominent—was this idea of American waste. 
[ mean the immense quantity of good fish, intended by the 
Almighty for food, which was despised and thrown away by us 
in this country. [ must confess that my own studies have been 
for the last few years more particularly directed towards the 
preparation of fish as food, and at the Centennial an opportunity 
was allowed me of comparing the preparations of our own coun- 
try with those of other sections of the world. One thing which 
Was apparent was the meagre list of our own fish preparations. 
Mind you, I do not mean as to quantity. When we think that 
the Columbia River alone furnishes fully three times more 
canned salmon than the whole catch of salmon in England, Scot- 
land, Ireland, or Wales, we can say nothing as to quantity. Bat 
quantity is net always quality. What [ took the liberty of 
sugyesting, in a brief paper read by me in Philadelphia some 
months age, | have to repeat now, and that is that in our fish 
preparations we are monotonous. When we have said cod, 
mackerel, herrings, shad, salmon, and whitefish, we have entirely 
exhausted our list of fish preparations. We scem from custom 


or habit to be pent up within certain limits. Now I do not 


90 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


mean to advance the idea that these preparations are not 
excellent of their kind, but they always run somehow in one 
particular groove. We stick to one or two kinds of fish, and 
refuse to go beyond them. 


Talk about prejudices ! 


There cannot be found any people 
who, in a piscatory view, have such a narrow horizon as our- 
selves. Now let me give an example of what I mean, derived 
from some absolute facts which were apparent at the Cen- 
tennial. Little Portugal exhibited no less than SIXty prep- 
arations, derived from twenty fish, while America was repre- 
sented by fish derived from only ten kinds. Now I will cite 
our own. We used clams, cod, eels, herrings, lobster, men- 
haden, mackerel, salmon, oysters, and turtle. Now Portugal 
gave us bream, cockels, eels, herrings, lampreys, mackerel, 
mullet, mussels, pilchards, sardines, anchovies, salmon, shad, 
sprats, soles, sword-fish, squid, salmon-turbot, and tunny—some 
twenty-one kinds of fish, not counting some half-dozen others— 
the names of which so far untranslatable—we are awaiting the 
identification of from Portuguese icthvologists. Now remem- 
ber, too, that from the warm seas which bathe Southern Europe 
the Gaddidz are not found in the list. 

Now, referring again to what I had to say in Philadelphia 
before the Convention then, which I must repeat again to-day, it 
is this, that although as to the implements of fishing, such as our 
lines, nets, traps, hooks, we can be taught nothing from the Old 
World: as far as their preparation of fish-food goes, we have 
everything to learn. [ again insist, then, that we have in this 
country an avalanche of fish-food, admirable of its kind, which 
we disregard. [I do not refer even as much to the fish which 
might be prepared for future use, but to fresh sea-fish, to be con- 
sumed at once. Now, for example, who ever in this country 


thinks of eating a skate or a ray. Sometimes you will finda 


Nov Annual Mectirg yt 


magnificent skate hanging trom the hooks at Mr. Blackford’s 
establishment in’ Fulton) Market, and people look at it as a 
curiosity. The idea of cating it never enters their mind. And 
pray, Why is it not eaten? The very stupid answer is) viven, 
“ Because it looks so funny.” See its long til and its ugly fice.” 
Funny! Some of you lave undoubtedly seen in the Aquarium 
below these skates thying, as it were, like birds, with undulating 
swoops of their wings, through the water. Is there anything 
ngly about them, then?) Compare a skate with a lobster—is there 
much difference as to looks? Butin all these things Inuwidsome 
is that handsome does. Apart, then, from the appearance of the 
fish, did any of you ever cata fillet of skate? Of course I do 
not think vou could do much with the tal, but TP assure vou, 
that when properly cooked, a fillet of skate is about the mest 
delicate fish-mersel vou can cat. 

Here is, then, the best of food, which we despise. Our tisher- 
men catch them, and with an impreeation throw them back again 
into the water, And why?) Because there is a stupid prejudice 
against them. But somehow or other vou do eat them and vou 
enjoy them, when you know nothing atall about them. There 
is more than one first-class restaurant in New York where a 
skilful French cook prepares skate with skill, and vou cat it 
under the name of turbot, and vou think it delictous. 

Now there is the sea-robin—the Prrewetus Carelinus.  Cateh 
anybody eating that! And why?) Because he is mottled red and 
black, and has large pectoral fins like wings. Some two years 
ago Twas fishing off Sandy Hook in a vacht, with a dedettant 
crew; that is to say, they were very particular as to what they 
eat. A chowder was a sive gua nen, but no blue fish would rise ; 
but we caught sea-robbins in quantity. Some one suggested 
converting the sea-robbins into chowder, which was done in 


secret, and a better fish for chowder purposes never was eaten. 


Q2 fish Culturists Associatien. 


Now of large and injportant fish there is the ling and the 
cusk. Both are admirable tish. Mr. Blacktord tells me that 
some years age he had a standing order for a fresh cusk on every 
Friday from one of the noblest: few-irants in New York. 

[ean tell you, too, of another fish which T declare to you to 
be better than almost any other fish in the market, and that is the 
Parcphippus Quadratus, or moon-tish. Always referring to our 
worthy Treasurer, | have his account for it, that some three vears 
ago he divided up a barrel-full among the numerous New York 
hotels. Mr. Blackford gave the moon-tish away. Next day 
every hotel sent an order tor moon-tish, and mow they are in 
demand. Now there is the red-grouper, coming from Florida. 
There is some stupid spite taken against this really exceilent fish 
which is quite the equal ot the bass. Some MEUES, sto tt Wits 
only the very poorest whe would look at our flounder. ft was 
called a mud-fish. To-day, in some respect, the despised tlounder 
is getting into use, and thanks to French cooks, vou eat it dis- 
guised as fillet de sole, There are sectional dislikes, too, which are 
CULTLOUS. Now Boston and Nantucket delight in) sword-tish: 
which is a sweet and excellent fish, much superior to halibut ; 
but in New York no one will eat it. TP could cite innumerable 
cases of this character where a fish onty to be apprectited should 
be tasted. The other day, when visiting this Aquarium with an 
ftalian lady, she noticed the sea-urchins. As she wis a person 
quite celebrated for her artistte testes, PE pommted out to her the 
sea-urchins, indicating their beauty.  Eler impressicns of their 
prettiness was onty secondary to her appreciation of their 
excellence as fued.. “Ah, she said, in Italy sce. thank Sse 
urchins delicious as food. Wit. is it possible that in this country 
you do not know of this delightful truitof the sea? And vou 
call vourselves an intelligent people without pregudices 1” 


One thing is very certain, that it would be wise on our part 


Sarath Annual Mectens. o3 


te look im every way towards the augmentation of our food 
supplies. Qur national birder should be tiereased, and tt can 
be done by a better appreciation of the bounties showered down 
Upon us. 

Now [To by ne means am desirous of seconding the ideas 
advanced somewhat at random by some enthusiastic admirers of 
fish-ftood, who say, "Give us a greater abundance of sea-produce, 
and we shall speedily record a fall in the prices of beef and 
mutton.” Tf sucha lowertng in the price of beet was possible, 
it might of course be desirable. But beet in quantity is good, 
andsois fish. T think that in this country, as in England, the 
following paragraph, taken from a leading London journal, is 


quite pertinent: in some respects to the situation 


“The present demand for fish, even with the great: organiza- 
tion which now exists for its supply. can only be partially met; 
ner can fish-food ever become so abundant as materially to 
affeet: the prices of our other supplies. At certain times 
throughout the vear, when markets become glitted with the 
commoner kinds of fish, the price falls so as te be almest 
nominal; but what is remarkable on the occasion of such ehuts 
is, that however Large the supply may be, it can readily be 
disposed of. By the aid of the telegraph, coupled with quick 
railway transit, such arrmingements may now be made for the 
disposal of the hiurgest supplies of fish as could not be entered 
upon fifty vears age. when the produce of the deep was asserted 
te be much more plentitul than it is at present” 


There is this difference, however. Whereas in England their 
stock of fish is augmented by many varieties of fish, we restrict 
ourselves in this country to but few kinds. Englishmen and 
Scotchmen, ctich and poor eat fish we would turn up our 
Noses al. 

Among some new products whieh PE noticed at the Cen- 


tennial, there was one. of American origin, which excited ‘the 


94 Fish Culturtsts’ Assectatros. 


particular attention of the Judges. [It was an advance made in 
the proper directton—an admirable attempt to stop the fearful 
waste of fish-food. A gentleman in Maine had succeeded mm 
utilizing as food, in its most concentrated way, the much- 
despised menhaden.  A- product had been made by him which 
in every respect resembled Liebig’s extract of meat. it was of 
good taste and color, and without anv fishy oder Dissolved in 
water it was like a dw//on made of beef. Pere was a valuabic 
substance, useful to man, giving muscle and brain—something 
worth dollars and cents—which heretofore had been thrown 


erent ad antag ef this tish-extruct was 


> 


away ; for one of the 
that in its preparation it did net preclude the extraction of the 
oil, nor the conversion of what was [eft of the fish inte 
manure. 

As the action of this Society is peculiarly comservative In its 
character, as it tends to the preservation of fish, P have theught 
that these ideas of mine, hastiiv put tegether, might give oppor 
tunity for thought. 

No country under God's heaven has se much good fish-food 
furnished it, and in no other land de FE think it is so wasted. If 
rich men with long purses only care toe place salmon, trout, or 
pompano on their tables, there are many modest boards, where 
barely a scant meal is furnished, where vanety of tish-toad and 
plenty of it might be had if we were net shaves te very false 
and stupid ideas. 

It is not possible that even the present degree of plenty IT 
speak of im regard to fish can abwaws last. When in fittw vears 
to come New York will rival London as te population, when 
there are more mouths to feed and fess to pat im thems, the de-sson 
of “waste mot. want mot 7 will be better timadersteecd 

lo think even Th we were more fethwomumiverous, cmd cat of 


niore Varieties of fish both derived) feo finesda cand salt water. 


Srvth Annual Meetings. 95 


the advantages fish culturists would derive from this would) be 
very great. We should not then devote our entire attention and 
appetites toa few classes of fish. The supply might then keep 
nearer to the demand. There would be more breathing-time, 
as it were, allowed for the fish, whieh this Association ts 
directing its attention to—those fish which, by means of artiticie 
propagation, we trust to fill our streams with. Pn tact just mow, 
from our tendeney te waste, we are very much like children, 
cating our cake and wanting it all the time. 

Tor Prestorse s In that connection, gentlemen, might call 
your attention to the fact that some of vou perhaps are mot aware 
of, although LE see some gentlemen around me whe probably can 
wo back in their recollection as far as Eoin: but in my early 
days sucha thing as eating a seft-claum was unknewn, Nobody 
ever ate asoft-clam at ail | They called it a piss-clium. Now 
we all know it is infinitely better than anv ether clam, and 
ranks both in quality and price with the oyster. 

Mr. Biuxekrorp: They are $2 a hundred forextra large ones. 

Tur Preesipexst : When d was a bow they were utterly worth- 
less; ne one touched them at all exeept some few colored 
gentlemen on Long Island. They seem te be the piencers in 
such things ; they cat horse-toot cribs. whieh me white min his 
eaten vet that T kiew of, 

We have with usa representative trom the other side of the 
water, a country that ts celebrated througherut: Europe as prob 
ably being the most productive of salmon ef aay there, equalling 
almest, it met fully equalling, our own streams—the country of 
Norway. Pwould be very happy i Mir Waldheim would fiver 
us witha secant et the tishertes of that coumntey, 

Mr. Watt: Mer President. Tam met stecustemed: to tise 
the benelish Lineiawee. and i will be dithtontt fer me teexplun 


my themehts, brat Powill tev as best Tocca In reward te the 


90 Fish Culturists’ Assectation. 


question introduced by Mr. Phillips, I should think that we in 
Norway have some experience in it, because we have for over a 
thousand vears had such fish, and we still have the same way of 
putting them up for the trade. We dry them as dry as wood, 
and we prepare them for the most distant countries as wood_ 
The codfish ts prepared in the northern part of the country in 
three ways. The oldest way is to dry them in the wind ; another 
way is to salt them, and the third way is to pickle them; but 
this oldest one is not the best one, because the climate is mot 
suitable for drving the cod. Then I should say the best way to 
furnish the market with fish was to try and send the fish as fresh 
as possible, and then instead of putting it up tm several ways, to 
try and get it only in one way—fresh in ice. [| have sent let- 
ters home about this matter, having seen Mr. Blackford’s 
establishment, and [ think he ts on the right way; and the 
American trade in fish is better than the European, because they 
send the fish fresh to their customers, and leave them the choice 
to put the fish on the table just in the way they want it. If we 
send our stock-fish, or dried codfish, to Italy and to China and 
to South America, they have to dissolve it to make tt soft in 
different ways—by means of ashes and water, by means of soda 
and all such things; and T guess this process may disturb some 
particles of food in it. In the mean while, if they had the fish 
fresh they would prefer it, and would have the whole fish more 
equal to the best kind of food. But, on the other hand, this 
pickling of fish and salting of fish ts still necessary, because 
it it often, especially in our country, very difficult to have it 
fresh, and there is no other way to send it to the market than te 
salt itor pickle it. The reason why the Americans use so few 
kinds of fish, Ethink, is, in the first place. that they have so many 
that they use from choice only the best ones, and that in the 


next plice the customers do not Know what to eat. They have 


NSavth Annual Meeting 97 


to learn to eat fish as they do other things. “They, for instance, 
in some parts of Norway do not know to cat mackerel They 
are afraid of mackerel, because they say the bhick stripe along. 
side of the back is meat of the voung creature, and they are 
afraid of that. Others do not eat eels because they are a kind 
of snake. But in the last vear there has been a large alteration 
in that, and people all over Norway eat mackerel: they have 
learned to do it. Lthink if the American people would learn to 
eat all kinds of tish that are here in America, the fish trade would 
be larger, and the benefit very large also, because, as the 
Americans say, fish makes brains. We Norwegians say brains 
miatke fish, because to get these fish we have te use brains. But I 
think the question about that is a real business question, and the 
first one isto teach the people how to eat fish; and if any business 
man has customers that know how to eat the several kinds of 
fish, he also will know how to get the fish from the fishermen. 
In short, my opinion about the question is this, that we in 
Norway have learned that the best way to get customers for fish 
is to deliver the fish as plain as possible, without any preparation; 
and if you could send it fresh in ice | think we would prefer 
that to any other way, leaving to the customers and the eaters 
how to pickle them or how to cook them. 

The Presipenr: Betore you sit down, will vou be kind 
enough to tell us the condition of the fisheries in your streams 
now, and whether anything has been done to keep them up ? 

Mr. Waturia: In Norway they have been very anxious to 
know the reason why the herring-fisheries are lost now, after 
having been going | do not know how many hundred years. 
The cod-fisheries, so far as our history goes, have been kept on 
in the northern part more than a thousand years, and there is 
no decrease or increase in it to be mentioned. Some vears we 


catch 20,000,000, in other vears we catch 30,000,000, and, I 


oS Fish Culturtsts’ Assectation. 


think, in no year below 25,000,000, if we take all the dead. fish. 
The herring-fishery has been very small in some years; just 
now in five or six vears it has failed on the western part—whiat 
we call Springnelt—but at the same time we get a heavy catch 
on the northern part of the country, and of a little larger size. 
We call that the large herring. The difference between now 
and then is that the List vear | think they caught 200,000 barrels, 
and some vears ago they caught over 1,000,000 barrels in the 
Whole. Because they do uot Know the reason, they do not know 
how to have any remedy for getting the fishery back again ; and 
they have no haw about the herring-fishery, except the size of the 
seines or the meshes in the seines, that they do not get toe 
small fish: but they have the liberty to put their seines and nets 
Wherever they want. They have a special police for these 
fisheries, both for the cod-tisheries and the herring-fisheries, but 
itis only to keep order, to stop the fishermen from going out 
When the weather is too rough, and to keep justice when there 
comes up any trouble. We have had some maps about the 
fisheries to show in which channel the herring is going into the 
country, thinking that if we could find the channel, and there 
find anvthing that would hinder them from coming in, we could 
have that removed, but, as far as TP know, they find nothing. 
They found the herring in the depths of the ocean. They come 
to the coast to spawn, and then go out again; but the reason 
why they do net come now nobody can tell, Some say that the 
herring belongs to the deep-water fish, and only comes in to 
spawn. Others say that they belong to the coast-fish, and 
extend only a short distance from the coast, but the Tas 
acknowledgment about this matter ts that the herring belongs 
to the ocean-fish. 

There was an expedition List sammer which had in charge to 


Investigate the whole ocean from Norway to Teelind, to get 


Sivth Annual Meeting. 99 


information about the temperature and the salt and a good lot of 
other things ; andone of them, who had a different opinion about 
it from other people in Norway, found out that as far as the 
vessel went to Iecland they could find herring ; and on the other 
hand, that not many miles off the coast they found no cod. 
Before that expedition everybody thought that the cod was to 
be found all over the ocean, and that they would not find the 
herring but a couple of miles off the coast. The principal 
question about the fish is how to take care of the fisheries, 
but the question has no real importance to us because we do not 
know the reason why the fish do not come. Upon the mackerel 
fisheries we have no Jaws at all. They can catch mackerel 
when they want to and can bring them to the market whenever 
they want to, and they have no control of the trade. They have 
not, as here in America, three sizes of mackerel. They have no 
marks on them at all. They generally send them fresh to the 
market in the country, and send them in ice to England. The 
fishery laws in Norway are only in regard to the fresh-water 
fishery, but the fresh-water fishery is very inferior to our salt- 
water fishery, and not worth mentioning at all; but the fishery- 
laws about fresh-water fish are very particular, and nearly every 
year there is some alteration in them. There is a certain time by 
law to put nets in the sea, and at the same time we have a special 
law for every part of Norway. When we in our legislation 
have a law, it means a law forthe whole country ; but in this law 
about fresh-water fisheries, they have a paragraph allowing one 
section of the country to alter it for their own use, in regard to 
the localities there and according to the opinion of the popula- 
lation in that locality ; and after having had meetings about it, 
they fix a certain time: for instance, two days in the week they 
cannot by law catch fish in some parts, and in other parts of the 


country they have fixed a certain size of the meshes, etc. But 


100 Fish Culturists Assoctation. 


this only belongs to the coast where the salmon-trout is going 
up and down the river. Inthe inner part of the lakes they have 
no laws, but there each owner of a farm which touches the lake 
has a right as far as not only the shore, but out inthe lake. For 
instance, if the limits of the farm go in “zs direction [illustrat- 
ing], and here ts a- lake. he owns the lake as far as these limits 
go, and it anybody catches tish here they have to pay him for it, 
and the laws only have that in view. There is another thing 
I would mention. They have a superintendent for the tresh- 
water fisheries, and he is to give his advice to all who want it 
about hatching ; but they have no official connected with any 
public hatching-establishment, and if they want any spawn or 
any milt they have nobody to ask for it. They are in regard to 
that very inferior; they have nothing at “allo ~ Fhe7nese ine 
portant part of his business is only to look out for not disturb- 
ine the fisheries in the lakes. le is more of a policeman than 
a business man for giving advice in the trade. 

The PRESiDENT : I desire to introduce to the Association Mr. 
Thomas J. Hall, who bas taken an active interest in the protec- 
tion of the Adirondack fishing and sporting ino that section of 
the country. 

Mr. Hare: Mr. President and Gentlemen: -owas invited 
to be present here to-day by Prot. Mather, and PT accepted the 
invitation with a great deal of pleasure, Knowing, of course, 
as I did. that I should meet the sctentifie gentlemen of this 
country who are interested in the propagation of fish, and Toean 
assure them that there are none who have taken a deeper 
interest in it than [ lnive doue 1 have been a frequent Visiter 
forthe last twenty-five vears in the Adirondacks in this State, 
Some two vears ago Powas up there in the spring of the ver, 
and my attention wats drawn to the fact of ao band —l might 


almost call them, of gentlemen, as they called themselves 


Savth Annual Mecting. 101 


spertsnen—coming trom Saratoga, Sandy ELill Glenn's Falls, 
ete. Poamet them up at one of the head-sources of the North 
River, when we were camping there together, and TE found they 
had been in the habit of going up there tor vears past, and thet 
they took out some twenty odd thousand pounds of trout and 
sulted them. TF then conceived the idea why would it mot be 
advisable to attempt to preserve certain portions of that district. 
Localled upon the superintendent whe had charge of the 
Adirondack Tron and Steel Works, who owned the property, 
and with him we formed a small claboof ten or twelve gentle- 
men te preserve especially those ponds, the Preston Ponds, 
cousisting of three ponds, good-sized sheets of water, and some 
500 fectof land around. This vear we have enlarged the extent 
of our Chib very greatly, taking in townships 45, 46. and 47. of 
Essex county, containing as it) does about ose acres. This 
property belongs entirely to the Tron and Steel Comypsuny. tt 
comtains almost the entire head-sources of our North River, 
consisting of Lake Plenderson, Lake Sandford, Newcomb bake, 
Preston Pond, Lake Colden, Mud Pond, Boreas Ponds, Lake 
Calamity. and others. No doubt vou gentlemen are all aware 
that the fish that we have had in that seetion of the country 
have been very limited, consisting only of the trout, the lake- 
salmon, piokerel, perch, and ao tew oof the other ordinary tishes, 
and anti we ourseives: pliced them tn those waters last year, 
We had nota bhiek bass of amy description. nor ind we any of 
the salmron atoallh.o AS soon as we concluded te preserve: this 
large tract, Peommenced a correspondence with Prot. Baird in 
regard to trving: te procure certain fish te introduce inte those 
lakes, and through his Kindness tie tis presented te the Clab 
ubeut 5.coo at the California salmon. whieh be desired us pur- 
tieuharky te tutroduce mite Laake Pbenderson. which is ome of the 


largest Sheets of water we have. Perhitps seme of voutwhe 


102 Fish Culturtsts Assectatien 


have visited this section know that Like: it is some two miles 
long, and perhaps a mile wide, and very deep, in some places, I 
believe, over 500 feet in depth, and very recky. Prof. Mather 
has also presented the Club with the eggs of the salmon to 
introduce into Lake Henderson to see if we can propagate those 
fish. Although TP can give vou no facts in regard to the propa- 
gation of fish, [ can assure the members and gentlemen here 
that we are going into this, we hope, in rather a scientific way_ 
We intend this coming season to establish a hatching-house at 
what are called the Upper Adirondack Works, a deserted village 
containing a number of deserted houses. We intend to turn 
one of those houses into a hatching-house. We have now three 
keepers there, and with those keepers we intend, if possible, to 
preserve that section. and to introduce all the game fish, as far 
as possible, that we can. 

I was requested by the members of the Club to state to the 
gentlemen here that, of course, all the privileges of fishing or 
hunting upon that section will have to emanate from the Club 
itself, but if any of the gentlemen at anv time during the fishing 
season desire to visit any portion of that section we should be 
very happy indeed to extend them a cordial Invitation, sivime 
them the necessary ticket: and ne doubt during the season they 
would meet some of us up there, and we should alwars be glad 
to extend them the right hand of fellowship in the good work 
that is going on 

I would particularly like to ask, Mr. President, through vou, 
any of the gentlemen a question in reference to, 1 might say, 
the dving out of fish. In Preston Pond. some twenty-five rears 
age, When |commenced going wo there. it was 4 commen practice 
with me te take fish that would weigh a pound and a half or twe 
pounds, and To have taken them that would weigh as histh as 


three pounds. the ordinary river trout: Tat in the lam five vears 


Navth Ananal Mecting 1a} 


iis an uncemmen thing te cateh a trout that would weigh oa 
pound. Powould dike te ask whether the cause of that lies been 
from ain excessive auneant oof fishing in the bake and net 
giving the fish cin opportunity to wrow. or whether it comes 


from their constantly breeding within themselves : and whether 


thet detertorates the tish sutoall. 1 would like te Kavow that. 
beeause we have been consulting somewhat about putting int 
new stock, and have muther hesitated doing it because the fish 
that we have in there ts what we eall the silver-trout..  Seldous, 
Woever, will vou find what | would call a red-bellicd trout, bet 
they are at long, slim trout, pertcethy silvery on their belly 2 cud 
we were under the impression that i we mixed aay other trout, 
not knowing what they were. we might injure the tish that we 
have in there > and PE would like to have any information given 
me upon that pomt, for if it is advisible to cross the breed, 
Mr. Green, whe lias just stepped out, has Kindly otlered to give 
us from 20,000 te 25,000 fish this spring, to be taken up cond 
putin there, Lam much obliged to vou, gentlemen, 

Mr. Pritiies: Mr President, Po owish the approval of the 
Association as to the nemination of an benerary member, 
When in Philadelphia we were signally indebted to a papanese 
fora great deal of courtesy and information in regard to fish in 
Japan. This person, whe was ene of the Tmperial Commission- 
ers, had his attention directed towards tish culture, and lie 
became inavery shert time very theroughty informed on these 
subjects, procured all the books. studied all the apparitus, aod 
inan inealculably short period became in teeta clever theoreti- 
eal fish cuiturist. Tle studied the idea with the intention of 
taking ittte Japan. TP think he would appreciate very much the 
compliment paid him if we were te make him one of our 
honorary members. The name of the Commissioner is) Mr. 


Sekizawa Alkelkio. LT have ne doubt that in time some very 


of Fish Culturtsts Assectatton. 


useful information could be had from that country in regard to 
the fish there.  L therefore have the honor of presenting the 
name of Mr. Sekizawa Alkelkio as a person fitting to become an 
honorary member of this Association. 

The motion being seconded, the question was put by the 
President, and carried. 

Mr. Witmor: Phave neglected up to this time conveying to 
this Association the compliments of the Minister of Marine and 
Fisheries of Canada, and of the Commissioner. [have received 
a letter touching upon the subject, and T think it my duty to 
read to you a portion of it, which shows the interest they take in 
this Association. [do so inorder to show the deep interest that 
has been expressed at all times by the Canadian Government in 
regard to the fisheries, and by the officials of that Government 


in aiding this Association : 


~ Referring to the circular notices of the Sixth Annual Meet- 
ing of the American Fish Culturists’ Association, to take place 
at the New York Aquarium on the ryth and sth instant, fam 
desired by the Minister to: say he regrets very much that, owing 
to the Canadian Parliament being now in session, it will be 
impossible for me to attend, but he desires me to authorize 


* % * 


your attendance. Please be good cnough to 


convey my most cordial respects to the fellow-members of the 
Association 2 and in mentioning to them my own regret at being 
thus obliged to forego the pleasure and profit of attending these 
meetings; do net omit to assure them of the warm interest | 
feel in all of their proceedings. 


Sea Sa rm WN fh al 1 Bae 


“= Commisstoner ef Fishertes 


I read this to vou to show the continued interest and good 
feeling which our Minister of Marine and Fisheries, and our 
Commissioner as well, take in this Association. 


The Preasurer’s report was then read and adopted, 


7) 


Sivth Annual Mertiig iz 


Prof. Misek offered a resolution prowrding 9 6 Dine otal 


zation of sections, which was relerred te a committee at three 


Mr. Enwe sos read letters trom David PL Rockbind. Salt: Lethe 


City, Utah, and BoB. Redding, San Preinetseo. Coliternis 


Mr. Tivtiee ks LP styppose the gentlemen care all tatigaed: and 
tired of a continuous session, and would like to we. but DP have 
gota litthe matter that Pweould like to present, following up this 
ideaas to the variety of fish-tood. and in relation te fish eultare 
During a residence in Canada of some vears, Poused to be vers 
fomdof fishing tor sea-trout, because bP thought they were mere 
gamey than other fish, and FP deveted naturally some little thie 
to cxamining their habits. Pb broweht the sabyeet up tere a vear 
or two age, perhaps oftener than TE should. as te the identities 
tion of the sea-trout, more particularly because | theouche it wats 
somuch more valuable than what bam plesased te call the sedi 
Jontinalis, VL thought if it was a distinet species, and its Tnabits 
should be carefully studied, it would enter very largely inte the 
notice of fish culturists, and they would pay mere attention to 
its propagation, because the time will come when it will stecre 
the fate of other fish, and be run out and extinguished 1 
suppose there is an impression prevailing generally thet thas 
lish was the same—the sedme fentinales, and what Tb suppose 
might be called the va/me Covardenses, and TL bave seme spes mens 
here that would like te show. That tellow in the par there ts 
what Tocall aovedme Canadeoss. Wis a specimen ot the trout 
caught tna particular river in Canada, They average tour or 
five pounds. This poor fellow eve has dest: his color sid 
shape > he has been in contact with alcohol, and taded out. tt ts 
very miutural with men, as with fish, if they come in contact with 
aleohol tog much, they change in that respeet. Bat perlirps the 


characteristics of this fish are sufficiently marked te make it 


106 Fish Culturtsts Assectation. 


appear different from the other, although T must say that when 
they came to me fresh, I could scarcely determine the difference 
between those river-fish, which are caught only at) certain 
seasons, and those yonder, which are the brook-trout which have 
gone down into the salt water, and have been taken in salt 
water. Now in regard to my opinion : those who are Canadians 
know that the advent of the sea-trout is looked for by fishermen, 
with some interest; that in the middle of June the fish come up 
the rivers where we are fishing for the ordinary brook-trout— 
where we take salmon sometimes—and that they are so different 
in their appearance and in their shape and quality that they are 
very much preferred by the fishermen as commercial fish. 
When in drawing the seines the other fish are tuken with these, 
those fish are thrown out as insipid and valueless for market, 
while these fish are carefully preserved and sent) away by 
hundreds of barrels and salted. [ maintain, from the fact that 
in this Nouvelle River, where these fish run—thev are large, 
uniformly large—that it would indicate that they are a species 
peculiar to that river, precisely as there are certain: salmon 
peculiar to certain rivers, as salmon-men all Know, from the facet 
of their running occupying a period of only six weeks, after 
which they would disappear: and that would serve to indicate a 
dissimilarity of habits between that and the other fish. [do not 
care much for the color. There are a great many children of 
one family that have a different shade in their color, Another 
point: Tam very rambling, Mr. President. and not much given 
to consecutiveness. At the mouth of the Saguenay River, early 
in the season of these fish, in June, vou will find on the bar 
outside, five miles from the shore, the tshermen there expect 
to find the fish then, and subsequently they work themselves up 
ten or fifteen miles, where there is another bar, and they are 


found there. Hlaving been caught awhile, they disappear, 


Srath Annual Meeting. 107 


which would seem to indicate also that they were a seed-tish, 
secking, as the salmon does, a certain river, or parts of the 
river, for spawning. Now if that be the fact. and the fish are 
preferable in quality to the sadme featinalss, it is certainty worth 
the attention of the fish culturists that they may be induced to 
cultivate these fish equally with those inland fresh-water trout, 
In all the rivers and streams having aceess to the salt water 
containing brook-trout, FE find that those river and brook trout 
will vo to the salt water for change of dict and tor better nmour- 
ishment, but [do not think that it follows from that that they 
are identical with the sea-trout. The point TP owint to make is 
simply this, that if they are better than the brook-trout, we 


ought to pay more attention to their preservation. 


Mr. Hattock offered a resolution thanking the proprictors of 


the New York Aquarium. 


Mr. Buxckrorko: In scconding the motion, Mr President, | 
feel that I ought to saya litthe more than is expressed in the 
resolution : that, as the resolution expresses tt. this Assochition 
had the honor of first calling attention to the meeessity of an 
Aquarium in New York city, and it was hoped that a public 
enterprise might be started which would be a tree, public resort, 
somewhere tn the neighborhood of Central Park > but as the 
time Was net propitious fer such an establishment, our trrened, 
Mr. Coup. resolved to start an enterprise on his awn respeotst 
bilitv. While, ot course. he seeks te mmtke the Aquecriai 
remunerative te himself as an investment, vet in doing that he 
has manifested seo omuch public spirit, and se much liberty 
towords educating the people ot Chis city up tea proper cppre- 
clation of the studv oof tethvelows and oof ish culture. that I 
think we ought te take otfieiiul aetion om this cescluttem, came 


recommend the Aquariim te the hearty suppert ot the peyple 


108 Fish Culturtsts Assoctation 


of New York and vicinity, and that they should give it every 
encouragement in their power. Mr. Coup has very kindly 
placed these rooms at our disposal for this, our annual meeting, 
and given usa free entrance to his magnificent Aquarium, and 
entertained us so magnificently last night, that I feel we cannot 
make the resolution too strong in recognition of his kindness 
and his public spirit. 

Mr. Cove: 1 think you are altogether too complimentary, 
Mr. Blackford. I am already under obligations to yourself and 
others, as | acknowledged last night. Of course in the begin- 
ning of the Aquarium we knew that there were a great many 
difficulties to overcome, and in fact we found more than we had 
at first anticipated. A great portion of the material had to be 
brought from the other side, and the collections have been far 
more expensive than we had at first anticipated. However, I 
‘have had several flattering letters, and among the rest one from 
Mr. Lloyd, who is the originator of the Aquarium in London, 
saving, that from our catalogue it compares Very favorably with 
that of the English Aquarium. In fact we have a great many 
specimens here that they have not been able to procure there 
yet. Of course they have some that we have not. The expense 
of building the Aquarium here was, of Course, very great, and 
I am glad to say the public seem to appreciate It since its 
opening ; and if we had had ordinarily good luck in our collec- 
tion, it would have been certainly an established success at the 
present time.  T hope it will be now, and that we can succeed 
in keeping the collections alive that have been brought, ata very 
great eXpense, so far. TP want again to acknowledge my indebt- 
edness to vou, gentlemen, for your assistance, and TP hope vou 
will have vour annual meetings in this reom if the Aquarium 
does succeed, and we intend to use every effort to Keep it asa 


first-class institution. 


Stvth Annual Mectras 109 


The resolution offered by Mr Tlallock was uosanimeusty 


adopted. 


Tue Prestoene: There is an advantage about the Aquarium 
that Mr. Coup might not regard precisely as an advantage from 
his stand-point, but itis so te the public at large. and that is the 
very fact of the changing character of it. The fish do die off 
more rapidly than Po wish they did, for his sake: at the same 
time, so farias the public are concerned—and that isa matter 
that ought to be brought to their attention—it is comtinually 
changing. The fish that are on exhibition here are replaced by 
others, new ones obtained continually > amd To heave been sur- 
prised, coming here as To hiave, to see whit a vast variety of fish 
have been presented here from: time to time, some ot them net 
living very long, and they being replaced by others of ditterent 
kinds, and so showing a great number ot species and varteties 
of fish: and it is a matter that the public do not tally under- 
stand, | think, that the exhibition is one that is continually 
changing and continually presenting novelties that are interest- 
ing. 

Mr. Witwor: Tean, in a most happy way to myself, indorse 
the sentiments that have been expressed in regard to this 
Aquarium. Seo far as Tam persomiully concerned, Po must: say 
that [have received a vast amount of information, and DT only 
regret that L cannot stay here a week or ten days that Pmight sit 
Opposite these aquaria and watch the working of the fish, and 
by that means, Tain satisfied, | should obtain much intormias- 
tion that [odo not now possess. Prot Coup may rely upon 
one thing, and that is that when TE return to my countrymen, and 
Tam in conversation with any person whe is coming to the City 
of New York, TE shall tell them by all means to visit Prot. Coup’s 


Aquarium, and they will receive a vast amount of information 


110 fish Culturists Assectattien. 


by doing so. L think Prof. Coup is entitled to everything that 
is in the resolution, because he has done a vast amount of good, 
not only to the City of New York, but to the whole continent, 
in getting up this Aquarium.  - think he is entitled to all the 
thanks and to all the culogium vou can give him for having 
started this: and although it may have been, in the first phice, 


of a private nature, vet it ts doing a vast amount of public good. 


On motion of Mr. Phillips it was voted that when the Con- 
vention adjourn, they adjourn te meet at the Aquarium on the 


second Wednesday of February, 1875. 


Mr. Marurve: | wishto sava few words with reference to the 
Lransportition of fish. We have in the tanks now some half a 
dozen whitefish which were brought from the Detroit River. 
The whitetish has been regarded as one of those tshes that it is 
impossible to transport any great distance. | never attempted 
it before, but T know of many others that have. To was up on 
the river a short time age, and we got some. Thinking that it 
would be impossible, under ordinary circumstinces, to transport 
them and get them here, | managed it in this manner: My 
assistant, whom - left there, P instructed to fill cans with snow— 
alter the proper amount of Water was put in—to put in the 
snow so thick as te chill them. and partly stupi'y them, and the 
snow would also act as a sert of cushton by which the scales 
would be kept trom rubbing off: and they have been brought 
here successtully. Lb wish to make the process Known for the 
benefit of future transporters of whitefish. 

Mr. Porter: TP have frequently carried trout tn snow, and 
[ think it is a good way to carry them A fisherman with 
snow can carry trout almost any distance > whereas, if vou have 
ice ever so fine, vou cannot carry them. T have never lost any 


scarcely when TP carred them in snow, 


Stvth Anunal Merting. tit 


Mr. Phavti: TE Datm net trespassing tee mich pen the tine 
of the gentlemen, | wish to say that there las been seme informa: 
tion given me sinee PE ohave been sitting here in regard te the 
specimens of trout that we hiave bere upon the table bw Mr. 
Wilmot, and TP think it might be interesting te the gentlemen, 
and bE know it would be so to myself. if Miro Wiltmot would 
state the facts that he las in reference to it. 

Mr. Hivtice a: Eo beg Mero Wilmot’. pardon ter mot asking 
him to sav something upon the sabjeet 

Mr. Witwer: fo am almost beyinning te tec! that f liave 
Monepolized too much of the tine of this meeting > buat P come 
from Canada, and P have come tor the purpose of qaining tnfer- 
mation, and, if possible, giving some Tb know very well the 
mecting is far advanced, and many gentlemen desirtous of going 
home, but at the same time bthink Ho anvthing can be learned 
we shoule endeavor lu yet Possession ol all tbrcat Wwe possibly Cah Sh. 
Pam onet prepared to savy that Pam going to give any Knowledge 
In referenee to this fish. but the eeuticommin Who tatrodmeed at 
upon the table said) he thought it should be cultivated “In an 
artificial way, and Powill state thet we are engaged in that way 
now. The establishment on the Sagimaw River has a large 
number of sea-trout ove now hatehing out T have been in the 
habit of catching these fish very numercusty every vear, and 
though Po have come in collision in niny instances with gwen- 
tlemen whe have different: ideas on the subject of these fish, vet 
Tam of the opinton.that this fish, er the sedme Canadeusts as it is 
termed by Mr. Pballock, isone and the same as the speckled- 
trout, or salme fentiaads. Valways had that beliet. He says they 
are only caught for about six weeks incertain places. That can 
be easily accounted tor, There is but a short period of time in 
which the leases are given by our Government to the salmon- 


fishermen. They come up these rivers with actly, and are there 


112 Fish Culturtsts’ Assectation. 


but a short time; and during that short time, in many instances, 
is the very period when this fish is migrating from the sea to 
pass up the river for the purpose of depositing its eggs. He 
says they are prized more than other trout on account of their 
fine qualities. That is so; salmon fishermen prefer to take them 
for their food, but it is to be accounted for in this way, that they 
come directly from the sea from their feeding-grounds, and they 
are fat and in fine condition ; and when they get up to where the 
salmon fisheries are they are in the best possible condition they 
could be. After three or four weeks they are not so delicate. 
These fish pass by and disappear and are not heard from for 
some time. It is because they pass by the river where these 
salmon fisheries are and pass to the upper branches where the 
salmon fishermen do not go. They go there and deposit their 
eggs and then return to the sea and put on fatness again for 
another migration another vear. The color of all these tish in 
the sea, the salmonoid family, is different from what it is in 
fresh water. He isa bright, brilliant tish when he comes from 
the sea, and he gets darker as he goes up the river ; and when 
the month of November comes around he is a black, dirty, 
uncouth looking fish. So it is with this specimen ; when that 
fish came from the sea he was a bright, beautiful fish. As he 
passed up the stream he began to get discolored and get to be 
black. Therefore, the opinion that exists among gentlemen who 
go fishing upon our rivers in Canada in regard to that fish, is 
not altogether the correct one, from the fact that they do not sce 
him only in a certain season when he is ina prime condition, 
Now there is a fish upon the wall which was caught in 
proper season, If that fish were caught in October or Novem- 
ber, instead of being caucht in July. as that was, no person in 
this room, [ think, who had been engaged in fishing all his life- 


time, but would say it was a distinetly different fish altogether. 


NSivth Annual Moerting. 113 


IT have specimens in my cabinet now, in Canada, where they are 
put side by side, and gentlemen will look at them and say they 
are not the same fish at all The change is so wondertul and 
great that it is almost impossible for any man te believe it 
unless he has seen the fish during the whole period of the vear. 
They become transformed in shape. The male would become 
black as ink almost, and would lewe a projection an its lower 
jaw of an inch or an inch and a half long: therefore many 
people, whe are not cognizant of the nature of the fish, say, dt 
cannet be the same kind of a fish that TP eaught in June base” 
It is the same way with all our fish that are migratory. The 
migratory fish all change wondertully in there appearance and 
in their nature. Vhat fish, therefore. ino my estituation, is a 
salme fontinalts, or a sea-trout, if vou choose. or a sala Cand- 
densis. VL have caught them, buodreds and liindreds, along the 
sea-coust, and Pohave canght them again away up in the sind 
tributaries, perhaps roo er iso miles up the river. and they are 
just as different as vou could possibly imagine two fish te be, 
but vet Tam satistied they are the identical tish. But tn order 
to more tully peove this question, Pinstracted: my assistant te 
gather a large number of ovaof sea-trout. and he bas collected 
300,000 or 400.000, wnd the bist report E heard trom him wars threat 
they were gust being hatehed oat LT have alse brought some te 
Ontario, and Tam going te put them inte some of the Lukes of 
Ontario, My theory ts. when thew are hatched out they will 
become what is catled the speckled-trout there > and, on the 
contrary, tho owe take the eyus of our speekled-trout in the 
mountiins, and hateh them and turn them: inte the sea he will 
become that same fish, because de his a Lorgwer area cond: mere 
fowl Tf vow take at stream in the counter that ts frequented by 


these Litthe trout tive or sin tnehes Tong. and we te werk and 


~ 
. 


coustruet aodium covering twe oor three aeres. ima few vears 


114 Fish Culturists’ Asseciation. 


afterwards vou will have trout weighing two or three pounds 
in that pond. It is because there is a larger body of water, and 
a larger amount of food than in the little stream of water. It 
is a matter of food altogether that produces the difference in 
size, and it is a matter of temperature of water to a great extent 
that gives the fish the variety of hues that we have present at 
certain seasens of the vear. Therefore [ feel it my duty— 
although, perhaps, my views do not coincide with my esteemed 
friend, Mr. Hallock, but I always feel it my duty to express my 
opinion or belief quite independent of whether it affects others 
or not—I do candidly believe, and I think the gentlemen of 
this Association almost generally indorse this opinion, that I 
express in regard to the sea-trout. I go so far as to believe that 
all the different kinds of salmen-trout—those that we catch in 
our great inland seas, salmon-trout weighing fifty, sixty, or 
seventy pounds, sometimes caught in Lake Hluron and Lake 
Superior—were originally the salmon of the sea, and by some 
yoleanic eruption and upheaval of the earth they have been at 
some very remote date thrown up by these eruptions into some 
of the lakes that were formed by the eruption inland, where 
they could not get out again, and they became transformed, after 
many years, to the different fishes that we now have frequenting 
these lakes. We know them all to be of the salmonoid family. 
And so it is, vou can change any of the salmonoid family at 
your pleasure, if yeu will only devote sufficient time ta carry 
out the experiment. Now that fish) vender: its) father or 
grandfather or great-grandfather came from the sea, but Tam 
contident that Ze never went te the sea. We had in’ Lake 
Huron, and a portion of the Georgian Bay, salmon which were 
planted there, the eggs of which were hatched in my establish- 
ment, and put inte the rivers running into Lake Huron, Some 


fish have been caught there the last vear which the fishermen 


Sevth Ananal Merctime. nS 


Were not acquainted with, We never could get specimens of 
them because the people take little interest in the matter, but 
from the descriptions that have been given to me Pam confident 
those are the same fish as that one new upon the wall And if 
you can do that in one instance vou can de it in’ another. 
Therefore | hold that the sea-trout, the sa/me fentrmeles, and the 
little speckled-trout, are one and the same thing. 

Mr. Hattock: | have no doubt the ventlemen here will all 
be very much obliged to Mr. Wilmot for the information which 
he has given, and [ am very glad to know that Mr. Wilmot 
speaks from facts, on investigation, and that what he has 
advanced has been based upon experiments; and while | de 
not wish at all to appear pedantic in oppesition to a gentleman 
who has made this a study, | would like to state two facts to 
substantiate my opinion. These sea-trout are caught all down 
through the Se. Lawrence River and down the coast of Nowa 
Scotia, and Ido not Know that [ have ever seen what I call sea- 
trout caught outside of the maritime provinces. Plow is it that 
we do not wait in the waters of Long Island and in the waters 
of Cape Cod, as they do in Canada, for the coming of these sea- 
trout? Another point: | have gone upon the Nova Seotia 
rivers. Those rivers are all short, generally they do net run 
mere than three or four miles, sometimes they will run fifteen, 
and then they get to be brooklets.  [ have been there fishing, 
and generally at the mouths of brooks that run inte those rivers 
Lhave fished and caught what are called the sa/me fontinalis— 
similar exactly to these mountain trout—dark mottled salmon, 
bright crimson, and blue spets upen them distinct cnough—but 
the general hue of the fish was. as Mr. Wilmot expressed it, dark : 
but that was early inthe season. The Indians would say, * Now 
this is small fry, we will wait mow for awhile and we will see 


the sea-trout come in, and then we will lave some sport” I 


116 Fish Culturtsts Assoctation. 


have been fishing two weeks and caught these brook-trout every 
day, and then I would catch sea-trout. I have been fishing all 
the time and caught the same kind of fish, and up comes another 
kind as different as a black sheep is from a white one. I have 
continued fishing, and caught no more of these bright fish, but 
caught the dark ones until the fall. That, in my mind, seems to 
establish the fact that this fish is distinct and separate from the 
other. 

Mr. Wirmot: May I ask you whether the fish that you were 
catching at the mouth of these little streams were not invariably 
small fish ? 

Mr. Hatrtock: They would weigh from a pound to a pound 
and a half. 

Mr. Witmot: The others would weigh three or four pounds ? 

Mr’ MiarkocK:> Wes, sir: 

Mr. Witmor: But a large majority that vou caught at the 
mouths of these streams were small ones ? 

Mr. Harrock: I will stand corrected, and never rise again 
on this floor if Mr. Wilmot will tell me why those fish don't 
come together. 

Mr. Witmor: It is upon the same principle precisely that 
little children do not want to associate with men. These little 
fish can get all the food they want for their sustenance at the 
outlets of these little streams, and when they begin to get larger 
the requirements of their nature demand a larger supply of 
food, and they drop down the river until they get to the larger 
bodies where they get a larger amount of food, but they are 
compelled to return to the streams by instinct, to produce their 
young. Nature teaches them to go to their breeding-grounds. 
They pass by these little fish on their route upwards to the 


branches of the river, while these little fish as they grow larger 


NSovth Annual Meeting, m7 


carry out the same routine, namely, cot down to the larger 
bodies of water to weta hirger amount of teood 

Mr. Ebavtnock : Why do not these same habits and conditions 
apply to these different streams on Long Isband ? 

Mr. Witwer: Teannot tell vou, 

The Prestoenn : They do. bo can confirm Mr Wilmet in 
that. It is a matter which presented itsell to my mind, and I 
wrote a book on the subject some twelve or fourteen vears age 
It is the same opinion that) Mr. Wilmot: tiis expressed here. 
You ask why do not all the trout go tothe sea? Simply becuuse 
they do not want to.  Seme are migratory in their netions and 
some are not. Eo have a pond on long Island, and some of my 
trout go to the sea and a great many do not. - live a fish-way, 
and every trout can leave my pond and go to the seas but they 
deo not do it. Some do. Last vear there were as beautiful sea- 


trout caught below my pond as anywhere on Long Isha. 


re 

Mr. Uvtioek : Those fish were caught in salt water ? 

The Presipenr: Yes, sirg We used te cateh trout on the 
north side, in the salt water where they were coming right in 
from the salt water, bright, beautiful trout. but mot quite se 
handsome as the sea-trout.  - liave followed the sea-trout right 
upthe river, You speak of the Saginaw River, catching them 
at the mouth > and vou catch them later when they have moved 
up; and vou go away up inthe hiead-waters and find them there. 
The first time Ewent with Mr, Witcher, which was a great many 
years age, L visited the Nouvelle River and the sea-trout were 
very abundant. We struck the sea-trout at the mouth of thet 
river, and we took them along up with us. and we found tooa 
mixture of the sea-trout and the other trout: we found them in 
all conditions, changing from one tothe other, We would go 
te a pool and catch the brilliant, bright sea-trout, and in the 


same pool we would eatch the older tish that were darker, and 


118 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


then we would take the dark ones that had evidently not gone 
to the sea at all. We would see in one day a tremendous school 
of fish come up in one of those pools, a school larger than 
would cross this entire room, solid, and they would pass around 
this pool making up their minds whether they would go up or 
not. We would see them pass in front of our camp, go up, go 
around, go back, go up. IT would cast over them once ina while 
and raise one; and they would staya day or two, and they would 
make up their minds to go up, and they were gone. Another 
thing confirms Mr. Wilmot’s views concerning their visiting the 
larger lakes. I do not know whether he has investigated the 
upper part of Canada, the western part of Canada adjoining 
Lake Superior. I have spent some time there; TI took in Lake 
Superior and Detroit, and there were some sea-trout ; you could 
lay them alongside of one another—a trout that had never seen 
salt water—a magnificent, great sea-trout, and as brilliant as 
anything you ever saw, and as brilliant as any ever taken in the 
St. Lawrence River. We would take them right in the great 
lake where you could not see across, precisely the same thing as 
I have taken in the Nouvelle River and in the Saginaw and St. 
Lawrence. J followed those up in the same way. There was 
more rapid change of color there because the water is rather 
dark, flowing from swamps, ete.  f caught trout there so dark 
that they were almost black. You look at them and at first vou 
would say, * Phat never can be a trout ; itis a black fish of some 
kind.” L have taken below Carman’s Point sea-trout that were 
exceedingly brilliant, and more so than anywhere else on Long 
Island, and I have observed the same thing tn relation to these 
trout. 

Mr. Wirmor: When my friend Hallock visits our Provinces, 
T hope he will go up the Dartmouth River, which ts leased by a 


gentleman living in Boston. All the distance he can go up will 


Sivth Annual Meeting. 119 


be with a canoe, twelve miles. There is a matural fall, an 
impassable barrier. Ele will find at the foot of that fall little 
speckled-trout an inch or two inches long, and he will find 
them running from that up to three and four pounds in weight; 
and if he goes about three vards below this deep pool, he will 
some morning see these sea-trout—the bright, brilliant ones— 
coming up, and he will catch them very readily. Then go up 
to the deep pool under the rock, and he will catch all these 
kinds, one with red tins, another with black : and if he Stays 
there as late as October or November, all these bright ones will 
become bhack-sided and red-finned. They cannot) get out. 
They all come up from the sea. The litthe ones lie off of 
the little streams, but in their migration they all congregate in 
this stream, and when October comes they drop down to the 
rapids below to lay their cxgs. 

Mr. Hateock: TP would like to say, if To have formed wrong 
conclusions, it has been net from lack of observation and 
opportunity, for TP have fished every part of the waters that Mr. 
Roosevelt speaks of and that Mr. Wilmot speaks of in the 
lower Provinces, Lake Superior, ete. Lam quite aware that the 
color of trout changes with the water, that swampy water 
produces dark color, and erce rerse. 

Mr. Witwer: Tf my triend, Mr. Piallock, could give me any 
data for the foundation of his arguments which would in any 
Wav upset the views which To entertain, of course Lo should 
gladly receive theni, because my object is to seek information : 
but, from the experience To ohave have had in regard te this 
matter, it must be conclusive that they are one and the same 
thing, and Pam corroborated by our esteemed President. 

Mr. Pivakes: This ts really a revival of the old question that 
was settled back ten. twelve, thirteen, or fourteen, vears ago, A 


- - . ¢ - 
number of the fishermen that used to go up into the waters of 


120 Fish Culturists’ Assectation 


Maine to fish, and up to the waters of the St. Lawrence, and up 
those rivers that come into it, had a good many discussions on 
the subject of whether these larger trout, that were caught in 
the lakes of Maine, and trout coming from the salt water, the 
sea-trout, were the sa/me fentinalis. Some of them, able men, 
some of them men of mind, men of discretion, men that could 
observe, maintained that they were not the same fish, that they 
were entirely different fish from the se/me foutinalts > so that the 
matter was put into the hands of Prof. Agassiz to determine, 
and he maintained that they were one and the same fish, whether 
they went to the salt water or the fresh-water seas. 

Mr. Wiuwor: But there is one thing that [ would recom- 
mend to all gentlemen about stocking their ponds, and that is 
to get a stock of eggs from the largest trout they can get, 
because on the well-known principle that Hke begets like, you 
are more apt to have a large class of fish from breeding from 


large fish than from breeding from small ones. 


Prof. Mitxer, from the Committee appointed ino regard to 


forming sections, presented a report, Which was adopted. 


Mr. Evaris: In order to return the courtesy of our cousins 
over the line—Mr. Wilmot appearing here himself, and Mr. 
Witcher having sent his comptiments—[ move that we, as a 
body, return these compliments through Mr. Wilmot to Mr. 
Witcher. 

The Prestpene: Mr Witcher is known to many of us and 
toy myself, personally, very well, and there has nobody been 
more active, nobody exhibits more cnergy, nobody exhibits 
more interest in the subject that we all have at heart than he ; 


and the results that he has achieved bear the highest testimony 


to his capacity. Mr. Wilmot we all know, and we can almost 
repeat the same Linguage in regard to him. Ele has originated 


many new suggestions in the matter of fish culture, has been 


Savth Annual Mecting. 121 


very successful himself, has been present at many of our micet- 
ings, and has always been a welcome addition, 

The motion offered by Mr. Evarts was adopted. 

Mr. Witmwor: Lin behalf of Mr. Witcher and myself I 
return you sincere thanks for the compliment vou have paid us 
in expressing those handsome sentiments in regard to ourselves. 
I thank you cordially for the manner in which vou lave ten- 
dered it. 

Mr. Marner: If there is no subject under discussion now | 
should like to call the attention of the Society to an item that I 
saw In a newspaper about a week age, perhaps, but which | have 
unfortunately lost, and cannot even tell what paper it was in. 
It was to the effect that certain parties in the vicinity of Miwk- 
inaw were about to place the first seal there, for the purpose of 
breeding, and if any gentleman wants to know what effect that 
will have upon the fisheries of that place, he can very easily see 
by observing the habits of the seal in the Aquarium. [tis not 
what the seal eats so much as it is what he destroys. You can 
feed them all they will cat, which is an enormous quantity of 
fish, and then if they can get live fish they will play with them 
as kittens will kill mice. They are very quick in the water, and 
they will catch fish and come up and toss them from one to 
another, and then go down and catch another and kill it, and 
for every pound they actually cat they will kill owenty in play ; 
and if there is such a movement on foot, | think this Association 
ought to enter a protest against it in some wity. 

Mr. Epwenxvs: We have recently seen seals in Lake Cham- 
plain, and the question was whether they had been carried there 
from some menagerie, or escaped from two different gentlemen 
who have some inthe state; and [ have from correspondence 


with parties in Montreal learned that they are being caught in 


122 Fish Culturtsts’ clssectatien. 


the St. Lawrence, and that they come up the Richelieu into Lake 
Champlain, net in great abundance, however. 

Mr. Witmer: This matter brings up another that is closely 
connected with it. The object of Mr. Mather is that we should 
by some means protest against the introduction of an animal 
that would be injurious to the fishing interests of the country. 
That can be carried out in another way, so far as fish are con- 
cerned. Lam inclined to think that many of us are inclined to 
satisfy our faney in introducing fish which are injurious. On 
the Detroit River, which is frequented almost wholly by white- 
fish, and where fishing has been carried on from time imme- 
morial almost on an extended scale, it has of late vears been 
very much diminished. The Government of Canada, now aided 
by that of the State of Michigan, have erected upon the east 
shore of the river ao large whitelish breeding-establishment. 
The breeding of whitefish, of course, ceases about the rst 
of April: that is, they generally hatch out about that time, and 
they are turned out, and the building, of course, would then go 
into disuse until the season again approaches in October or 
November for laving down the eggs. “The fishermen—tishermen 
are generally greedy and very selfish—said, “ Now, since you 
put this establishment up here, we want you to go to work 
and breed another kind of fish and put them into the Detroit 
River.” They made an application to our Government that I 
should send my assistant and my employees to Dake Tluron, 
and there collect large quantites of the eggs of what we term 
the pickerel, one of the most voracious and destructive fish that 
we have in our waters. The Government referred the matter to 
me, and asked my opinion. LT reported adversely to it, and said : 
“Tthink vou will be doing a great injustice to the fishermen 
themselves if vou introduce into the same waters the bitterest 


and the most rapactous cnemy of the whitefish. [ft would be, in 


Sith Annual Mectiineg 12 


~~ 


my estimation, just like putting tate the same told the wolt cod 
the lamb. Whitelish are most tamocent ta their mature, mot fish 
of prey, not prediaccous tnauny way, snd to pout pickerel inte the 
same streams, with an immense mrouth aod teeth. and jaws 
indicative of predaccous and rapictous habits, P think would be 
doing a very great wrong; therclore, if we were to satistv the 
wish and the greed of these fishermen, we would perhaps turn 
out millions of this same kind of fish tute the sane waters 
Where we are breeding whitelish” Tain pleased te state that 
the Gaovernment did not acknowledge the petithon that was sent 
in; that they togk the adviee of mysclt and did not do se. 
Therefore, as the subject has been brought up by Mr Mather 
that we should not put in animals that are destructive of fish, 
the same argument holds good that vou should net put ig fish 
that are destructive of other fish Greentlemen are too desirous 
of introducing some new thing or some new kind of fish inte 


the waters. As another illustration, the St. Jelm River was 
formerly a magnificent river for salmon, but ot Late wears has 
become almost depleted of them, sand it ts said te lave resulted 
partly from the fact of American gentlemen having, a number 
of vears age, put inte one of the branches of it. pickerel The 
consequence is that the young of the salmon are destroved by 
this predactous fish Se TP think it should be just as much a 
study with vou to prevent, if possible, the introduction of 
voracious and predacious fish which are mot as food fish for 
food Lthink the whims of individuals should not be carried 
out that way. One man omay think it is a nice thing to have 
wolves, and he may want te breed wolves. Tsay the law should 
protest against it, In Canada we de not allow ao man to breed a 
wolf, We contend that in order to carry out aquaculture, as we 
do agriculture, he should endeavor to preserve the better kinds 


of fish. I only make these remarks to show in my humble war 


124 Fish Culturists’ Assoctation. 


my interest, and to prevent, if possible, the introduction of the 
horrid fishes, if [may so speak, among the better and innocent 
kind. 

The Presipenr: Mr. Blackford has given a great deal of 
attention to the results of all our efforts ; that is, the quantity of 
fish that come into the market. [I believe he is not thoroughly 
prepared with accurate statistics, being a good deal pressed by 
the necessities of this meeting, the weight of which fell very 
largely upon him, but [ think he can give us in a rough way 
what will be interesting to us. 

Mr. Brackrorp: Mr. President, it was intimated to me 
previous to the meeting that it would be the pleasure of the 
Association to hear some facts In connection with the marketing 
of fish, but as the President says To was pressed with the 
necessities of this meeting just at that time, and had to devote 
my time to other matters, T thought Po might say a few words, 
however, in reference to the supply of the various kinds of 
choice fish in our market, and T will speak first of the pompano. 
In the latter part of 1876 we received large quantities of 
pompano from Pensacola. They were shipped here by express 
in such quantities that the price which had) previous to that 
time been from one to two dollars a pound, dropped right down 
to twenty-five or thirty cents. 9 Ina few months after that we 
received liurge consignments of pompano from Baltimore that 
were caught in the vicinity of Chesapeake Bay. They were 
caught in such quantities that the market became olutted with 
them there and they were shipped all over the country, a large 
portion of them to New York, and the price deciitned to ten 
cents per pound, Now the pompano is really worth more 
money, mn comparison with other fish, than that: and the low 
price may be attributed to the rgnorance of the people, generally, 


of the merits of the pompang. Probably there area number of 


Sarvth Annual Mecting. t2 


“we 


gentlemen here now who really have never tasted a pomypxine 
If people. generally, in New York knew the merits of the pom- 
pane the price would hold up fully te twenty-five cents a 
pound. Speaking of quantities, they would probably not exceed 
1,000 to 1,500 4 day for several days; and Lowill sugevest right 
here to our esteemed Commissioner, Mr Ferguson, as he is from 
that locality, that if a litthe inquiry is made inte the habits of 
the pompane and the manner of catching them, thus bringing 
them inte public notice, Lthink it would have a marked etfeect 
on the business. 

Our friend, Mr. Wilmot, was) speaking of the  salmen, 
Probably the tnereased supply of salmon in’ New York during 
1876 was more marked than at any tome within my recollection, 
owing to the extension of the inter-colontal milway system, se 
that To think there is a branch conning trom Montreal down 
through the Restigouche region. and soon down te St. Jolin’s, 
alse taking in Bathurst The opening of this resad im 1876 
epencd anew territory for fresh salmon for the market. and [ 
was called upon by Mr Mowat, from the department of Mr 
Wilmot, whe. on behalt of the fishermen there. wished te market 
thetr fresh salmon, And, by the wav. while speaking of that d 
made seme inquiries as te the production of the rover — tornd 
that some ten vears age the salmen were very scarce in the 
Restigeche River, but owing te the efforts made by the Canadian 
Commission in hatching and protecting the salmon and te their 
preteetive Laws, the iaerease bad been weondertal : so mach se, 
that the preduetion of the estuary fish ademe aireunts te tron 
250,090 J+ 509.000 proms, TE tlemk Phiis chees et take in the 
production et the tishertes in the vietmity of Boathaerst 

Mr) War xten - Vheat is simply the reported quoantittes Phere 
isa bareee coment besiches 


Mr Bie kien: Eno the latter partoof Pune hirge quantifies 


126 Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


of salmon were shipped to New York from Bathurst, and the 
price declined until the retail price in the New York market was 
ten cents per pound. Only think of it, salmon, one of the 
choicest fish we have! [| had the curiosity to inquire of Mr. 
Mowat to what he attributed mostly this great increase, whether 
to fish hatching, or the protective laws, which was entitled to the 
most credit, and he answered unhesitatingly, “1 think that it 
was the protective laws that were entitled to the greatest share 
of credit ; that although fish hatching and propagating supplied 
to a great degree the waste.” Yet the protective laws, he 
thought, were more efficacious in increasing the supply. I 
speak of that here because I think that in New York, if the laws 
were more stringent in regard to our shad, we should find a 
very much more marked increase in the siipply. 

The increase of shad in the market has not been so great as 
we had reason to expect from the vast quantity of eggs that are 
hatched and turned loose, but owing to the persistent fishing of 
the waters all the time, Sundays included, the fish have no 
chance to get up the river, but, with one day’s rest: for the fish, 
it would probably greatly increase the supply. 

The terrapin has had some attention paid to it, in regard to 
seeing whether it should be cultivated, and the supply increased 
in our waters, through the enterprise of a dealer in our market, 
Mr. Benjamin West. He established a pen on the New Jersey 
shore, in the vicinity of Long Branch, in which, during the 
summer months, when terrapin are not im season here—folks do 
not call for them, they are not marketable—large quantities are 
shipped to New York from Texas and the Southern States; so 
that the price, which in the terrapin season is usually from 
S12 to S15 a dozen, in the summer time iIs,.as low as 
$2 50 and 83. They purchase a large quantity of terrapin 


during the summer, and place them in these pens and feed 


Sath Aanual Mecvting 12 


bal 


them, and carry them over through the winter months, and 
put them upon the market, but their suceess in caring for 
the terrapin has not been very marked, owing to some reason 
or other, not understanding fully the kind of food that they 
require, the terrapin does not possess the delicate tHhaveor which 
the genuine diamond-back “Chesapeake” las. The general 
criticism ts that they are fishy. That is perhaps owing to the 
amount of fish that is fed to them, and not having their natural 
food. These terrapin were tound te hiv their eves quite plen- 
tifully, From these egys the voung were hatched out in the 
sand, and they made their escape to the sea through the 
interstices of the pen. PE think, perliaps, ina few vears we shall 
have quite an inerease from this cause in the nuniber of terrapin 


caught in this vietity. 


Mr. Eowenps introduced a resolution in memory of the death 


of members of the A\ssoctition. 


On motion of Mr. Mature it was ordered that the Asse- 
ciation purchase a book-case to Keep the records, books, and 
papers, in, to be placed in the reading-room of the Aquarium 


building. 


On motion of Mr. Pritts the Convention adjourned. 


CONSTITUTION. 


ARTICLE L—NamMe axnp Orseers, 

The name oof this Society shall be The American Fish 
Culturists’ Association.” Its objects shall be to promote the 
ease oof Fish Culture: to gather and ditfuse information bear- 
Inge pen its practical sucess ¢ the interchange of friendly 
fecling and intercourse amone the members of the Association ; 
the uniting and encouraging of the individual interests of Fish 
Culturists. 

ARTICLE T1—Memnebers. 

Any person shall, upon a two-thirds vote of the Society, and 
a opavimnent of three dollars. be considered a member of the 
Association, after signing the Constitution, The annual dues 
hall be 83.00. 

ARTICLE [1h —Orticers, 

Phe officers of the Assoctation shall be a President, a Vice- 
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and Exccutive Committee 
of three members, and shall be clected annually by a miagjority 
of votes: vacancies occurring during the vear may be filled by 
the President. 

ARTICLE T¥.——MEERIANCS: 

The rewular meetings of the Association shall be held once 
aovear, the time and place being decided upon at the previous 
meeting 

AR TICEE. -V..—CuAsNO ISG THE fost iri 

The Constiution of the Society may be amended, altered, or 

repealed, by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any 


recithur meeting. 


MEMBERS OF THE 


American fish {| ulturists [ssociation. 
qu 7-4 paperne es 


Ambler, Andrew S., Danbury, Conn, 

Anderson, A. AL, Bloomsbury, Nod 

Baird, Spencer PL. U.S. Commissioner of Fish amd Figheries, 
Washington, DOC. 

Betteman, C. G2. Greenville, N. J. 

Blackford, Eo Go. New York City. 

jorrdansan, ER Gy. 

Boyer, Bo Frank, Reading, Pa. 

Bradley, Richards, Brattleboro, Va 

Brewer, J, D2. Muncey, Pa. 

Srideman, J. D., Bellows Palls. V¢. 

Sureces, Arnold, West Meriden. Conn 

Bush, John T.. Nineara Falls, Cand. 


Chandler, F. J.. Alstead, No EL 
Chrysler, Gilford Wo, Kinderhook, N.Y. 


Chrysler, Mo HEL, Kinderhook, N.Y. 
Clift, William, Mystic Bridze. Conn, 
Colburn, Charles S.. Pittsford. Vt. 
Collins, AJ S., Caledonia. No Y- 
Coup, WLC. New York City. 
Crocker, A. Bo. Norway, Maine. 
Edinunds, Mo C2. Weston. Vie 
Evarts, Chartes B. Windsor, Vt. 
Farnham, ©. PL Milton, N.Y, 
Farrar, Benjamin, St. Louis, Mo. 
Ferstson, T. Bo. Annapolis, Mal. 
Gill. Theodore. Washington, D.C. 


Good, G@. Brown, Washington, D.C. 


Fish Culturtsts’ Assoctation. 


Green, Seth, Rochester, N.Y. 

Hallock, Charles, New York City. 
Hessel, Rudolph, Offenburg, Germany. 
Heywood, Levi, Gardner, Mass. 

Holley, W. P. Katonah, N.Y. 

Hooper, H. HL. Charleston, N. TH. 

Hunt, J. Daggett, Summit, N. J. 

Hunt, N. W., 70 Lee Avenuc, Williamsburg, L. [. 
Hunt, Luther B. 

Huntington, Dr.. Watertown, N.Y. 
Hutchinson, Chas., Utica, N.Y. 
Jerome, George H., Niles, Mich. 

Jewett, George, Fitchburg, Mass. 

Kent, Alexander, Baltimore, Md. 
Kingsbury, ©. A. Dr, L119 Walnut St., Philadelphia. 
Lamberton, Alexander B., Rochester. N.Y. 
Ledyard, L W., Cazenovia, N.Y. 

Lees, Edward M., Westport, Conn. 
Lowrey, G. P., Tarrytown, N.Y. 
Lyman, Theodore. 

Macinnis, Arthur, Stanhope, Pa. 
Maleomson, A. Bell. Jr. New York City. 
Mann, J. Fo. Lewiston, Pa. 

Mather, Fred. N.Y. 

Milner, James W., Washington, D.C. 
McGovern, TL D2, Brooklyn, N.Y. 
Neidlinger, Phil., New York City. 
Newell, W. TE. San Franciseo. Cal 

Pave, George S.. New York City. 

Parker, Wilbur FL. Meriden, Conn. 
Paxton, BE. Bo, Detroit, Mich. 

Phillips, B.. Brooklyn, N.Y. 

Porter. Bo B.. Colorado, 

Price, Rodiman Mo. N..T. 

Redding. BL Bo, San Francisco, Cal. 
Redding, George HL. Stamford, Conn 


Reeder, rhe | = Kaston, Pi. 


Members. 


Richmond, W. EL Seranton. Pa, 
Robinson, Ro FB. 

Rockford, A. PL, Salt Lake City, Utah 
Roosevelt, Robert Bo Ton, New York City 
Saltus, Nicholas, New York City. 

Shultz, Theodore, New York City, 

Smith, Greene, Pelerboro, Va. 

Sprout, AL D.. Muneev, Pa. 

Merling. E., Cleveland. Ohio. 

Stone, Livingston, Charleston, N. 2, 
Stoughton, EO Wo. Windsor Vt. 

Tass, Henry, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Thomas, TE TL. Randolph, NOY. 
Tileston, W. Mo. New York City. 

Van Cleve, Joseph, Newark, NJ. 

Van Wyek, J. To. New York City 

Ward, George E.. New York City. 
Whiteher, Wo FL. Ottawa. Ontario. Canada 
Whitcomb, To. Springtield, Vt. 

Whitin, Edward, Whitinsville, Mass 
Wilmot, Samuel, Neweasthe, Ontario. Crus 
Worrall, James, Horristurech. Pa. 

Dr. Yarrow, IE ©), US AL. Washington. 2D 


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SH American Fisheries 
L Society 

A5 Transactions 
1877 
B iological 
& Medical 
Serials 


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UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY