PC-NRLF
m
i
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
PRESENTED BY
PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND
MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID
V*
^
A TREATISE
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION
Certain hinfa of Jfisjj,
DESCRIPTION AND HABITS OP SUCH KINDS AS ARE THE MOST
SUITABLE FOR PISCICULTURE,
BY THEODATUS QAJRLICK, M. D.,
Vice President of Cleveland Academy (yNatural Science.
GIVING THE AUTHOR'S FIRST EXPERIMENTS CONTAINED IN A PAPER READ
BEFORE THE CLEVELAND ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCE.
FOR THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODES OF ANGLING FOR SUCH KINDS OF
FISH AS ARE HEREIN DESCRIBED.
CLEVELAND:
THO. BROWN, PUBLISHER, OHIO FARMER OFFICE.
1857.
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1850,
BY TfiEODATUS GARLICK, M. !>.,
In the Clerk's Office of the Northern District of Ohio.
FRANK PINKKRTON,
Plain and Decorative Printer,
73 Superior Street, Cleveland, 0.
CONTENTS.
Introduction, PAGE.
Artificial Propagation of certain kinds of Fish, 17
Treatment of the Eggs after fecundation, 22
Transportation of the Eggs, 28
Transportation of Fish, 33
Report on Artificial Fish Culture, by M. Milne Edwards, 35
Report on Artificial Fish Culture, by M. Coeta, 55
Comment, 67
Growth of Fish, 70
The Construction of Ponds, 74
Brook, or Speckled Trout, 8*>
Grystes Nigricans ; or Black Bass, 105
Grystes Megastoma ; or, Large-Mouth Black Bass, .' 108
Lubrax Multilineatus — "White Bass, sometimes called White Perch .111
Centrarchus Hexacanthus — Grass Bass — Roach, 113
Centrarchus ^Eneus — Rock Bass, 116
Common Pickerel — Esox Reticulatus, 118
Perca Flavescens — Yellow Perch, 121
Pomotis Vulgaris — Sun Fish, 123
Anguilla Auctorum — Eel, : 125
Conclusion, . . 129
Appendix 135
PREFACE.
I WAS induced to prepare these articles on Fish Culture, for
the Ohio Farmer, with the ulterior object of publishing them
at some future time in a collected form, which I have now
done, believing that as yet there has not been any work
on this subject, that fully meets the wants of the American
public.
That there is a great interest felt in America on the
subject, I am satisfied, from the fact that I have received
numerous letters of inquiry from persons residing in almost
every State in the Union.
I have read with great satisfaction, a work edited and trans-
lated by "William H. Fry. The work is valuable for the rea-
son that it gives a detailed history of the progress that Fish
Culture has made in Europe ; besides much information
that is valuable in a practical point of view. I am of the
opinion, however, that whoever reads it, will agree with me,
that it is deficient in some important points, and is adapted,
rather to a European than to an American public. One objec-
tion, and in my opinion a very material one, is, that with the
exception of the Salmo Solar, the habits of not a single Ameri-
can fish are given.
I do not wish however to be understood, that the objections
mentioned, render the work valueless, but, on the contrary,
that it really possesses great merit, and I most cheerfully
recommend it to every one who feels an interest in this de-
partment of human knowledge.
6 PREFACE.
I shall endeavor in this volume to present the reader, with
not only a complete description of such American fishes, as are
best suited by their qualities and habits for artificial propaga-
tion and culture, but the best methods of propagating and rear-
ing them ; together with the most appropriate kinds of water,
for each kind described.
The writer hopes to aid in awakening a sufficient degree of
interest, to induce our Legislative bodies to enact such laws, as
will at least protect those who are desirous of engaging in thie
interesting branch of industry.
INTRODUCTION.
HEAD BEFORE THE CLEVELAND ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCE,
FEBRUARY 17TH, 1854,
BY THEODATUS GARLICK, M. D.
THE successful experiments of Messrs. Remy
and Gehin, of France, in the artificial re-pro-
duction of certain kinds of fish, will without
doubt, "be repeatedly made in this and other
countries, and with the same satisfactory re-
sults.
The immense advantages resulting from this
discovery, particularly, in countries abounding
with such a variety and extent of inland waters
as our own, can hardly be estimated.
Early in the spring of last year, Prof. H. A.
Ackley and myself determined to make the ex-
periment of artificially breeding fish. After
some deliberation, we .determined to select the
speckled trout, (Salmo fontinalis) for our first
experiment. Accordingly, in the month of Au-
gust last, I started for the Sault Ste. Marie,
with the purpose of obtaining the parent fish,
while Prof. Ackley was preparing a suitable
I
INTRODUCTION.
place for their reception, by building a dam
across a very fine, large spring of water on his
farm, some two miles from this city.
There was no difficulty in capturing as many
as I desired, but it was quite another kind of
sport to transport them alive a distance of near
six hundred miles. After various vexations,
among which was the loss of ' the first ship-
ment, we succeeded in getting down three lots,
in all about one hundred and fifty in fine con-
dition, and lodged them safely in their new
home, where they seemed as happy and as
sportive as they were in the beautiful blue
waters of Lake Superior.
In the month of September I made a trip
to Port Stanley, Canada, for another lot, and
succeeded in getting home about forty more
specimens, constituting certainly a very fair be-
ginning to our enterprise.
We did not, however, expect to rear any
young fish this season, for we supposed the
vicissitudes they were subjected to, such as
their transportation, etc., would prevent them
from depositing their eggs, but in this we were
most agreeably disappointed, for on the 15th of
November we discovered unmistakable evidences
that they were about to engage in this inter-
esting process.
INTRODUCTION. 9
/
Several male trout had proceeded up the
stream, and commenced preparing the beds in
which the eggs were to be deposited. This was
done by removing all the sediment and sand
from certain gravelly locations. These beds
were about one foot in diameter, consisting of
coarse and fine pebbles, the spaces or inter-
stices between which were to be the future
depository for the eggs. This peculiar con-
struction of their beds, or nests, is highly es-
sential to their preservation, as it protects them
from being washed away by freshets, also from
being devoured by small fish which are always
prowling about seeking them for food.
The male trout at this time was very beau-
tiful, being decked out in the most gaudy colors
imaginable, and his actions showed clearly enough
that he was quite vain of his personal appear-
ance.
In the course of five days, the females made
their appearance. They were not near so gaudy
in their dress, but had a most staid and ma-
tronly look.
The next step was choosing their mates.
After the usual amount of flattering attentions
to the females, with which they seemed highly
delighted, and some battles among the males,
this important matter was apparently settled to
10 INTRODUCTION.
the satisfaction of all parties. By what princi-
ples they were governed in making their selec-
tions I was unable to determine, but presume
in this respect they are like men, governed
more by fancy than judgment.
Our trout were from four to six weeks later
than their usual time in depositing their eggs,
owing, no doubt, to the vicissitudes incident to
transportation, change of water, etc.
On the 20th November they had fairly com-
menced operations, one pair of fish occupying
each bed : the male manifesting the utmost jeal-
ousy, and if any suspicious interloper approached,
he was instantaneously attacked and driven off.
On the 21st, I captured a pair by means of a
landing net, and placed them in a bucket of
water, and being provided with an earthen ves-
sel, I made my first attempt at artificially
spawning and impregnating the eggs. This was
accomplished as follows :
I partially filled the earthen vessel with
water, and taking the female in my left hand,
and making gentle pressure on her abdomen
with my right, the eggs were forced into the
earthen vessel containing the water ; the male
was treated in precisely the same manner, forc-
ing the spermatic fluid into the same vessel :
the appearance of the eggs was almost in-
INTRODUCTION. 11
stantly changed from their bright golden orange
color, to a pale transparent yellow ; they were
then placed in running water with the vessel
containing them.
On the 9th of January one of the eggs was
placed under one of Dr. Goadby's microscopes.
(The Dr. was at the time giving a course of
lectures in this city.) Its appearance delighted
the company of scientific gentlemen present, as
well as myself. The egg was filled with a
countless number of cells, of different sizes,
with traces of blood vessels ; the eyes also
being perceptible.
On the 22d of January we examined them
again, and to our joy, we found a young fish,
which had just left its narrow place of con-
finement, to try its new mode of existence ; it
was very lively in its motions, but could not
be considered an expert swimmer, owing to an
appendage to its abdomen, of nearly the size
of the egg, which in fact it was, and contained
the material for the further development of the
yet very imperfect fish ; this sack was filled
with a multitude of minute cells, whose ab-
sorption keeps pace with the development of
the fish. When the young fish leaves its egg,
it measures about half an inch in length. The
heart, with the principal blood vessels, and
12 INTRODUCTION.
the corpuscles of blood, are beautifully shown
with a microscope of moderate power. Their
external appearance is remarkable. The eyes
are large and quite well developed ; the pec-
toral fins are also in an advanced stage of de-
velopment, and in constant and rapid motion,
which I think, in the more advanced stage of
the fish, has something to do with its respira-
tion, as they are placed near the opening of
the gill covers. The other portions of the fish
are quite rudimentary, no other fins being per-
ceptible, but in their place there is an attenu-
ated margin, or finlike substance, as on the tail
of the tadpole, commencing where the dorsal
fin should be, and continuing uninterruptedly
around the caudal, and terminating with the
anal fin, or rather where it should be.
This finlike substance undergoes a constant
change as the fish grows older. At fourteen
days the dorsal, adipose, caudal and anal fins
are plainly seen, but as yet none of them have
rays, except the caudal, in which they are very
distinct. The rays of the caudal fin are first
apparent at the center, although the general
form of the rudimentary tail is very unsymmet-
rical, the superior lobe being the larger, and
the outline not unlike that of the tails of many
heterocercal fishes. At this age the fish has
INTRODUCTION. 13
more than doubled its former length, the mouth,
gills and abdominal viscera are visible, and it
manifests a desire to take food, by nibbling at
the unhatched eggs, and pieces of meat placed
in the vessel containing them. Its color is now
materially changed, being of darkish gray on its
back and upper portions of its side. The sack
suspended from the abdomen at this time be-
comes smaller, and less globular in form, being
more contracted anteriorly than posteriorly. The
habits of the little creature are also much
changed, as it now swims smartly, and endeav-
ors to hide itself when disturbed.
Owing to imperfections in our arrangements
where we placed the eggs for hatching, accumu-
lations of sediment buried them up, destroying
them by hundreds; this accumulation was much
more fatal when the embryo fish was nearly
ready to make its exit from the egg. To avoid
their further destruction, on the 26th of January
we brought the remaining eggs to our office,
and placed them in a glass jar, and supplied
them, and the young fish, daily with fresh water.
In this situation they have remained until the
present time, the young fish making their ap-
pearance from day to day, the last one ruptur-
ing its oval envelope on the 10th day of Feb-
ruary. I have seen as many as six make their
14
INTRODUCTION.
appearance in as many minutes. The tempera-
ture of the water at the spring was 42 ° Fah-
renheit. Since they were brought to the office
the water in which they have been kept has
varied from 42° to 50°.
This experiment has afforded us one of the
finest opportunities to be desired for the study
of embryology, but professional duties have
prevented us from making as minute observa-
tion as we could have wished. We have, how-
ever, repeatedly and distinctly seen the blood
corpuscles in the returning veins enter the
auricle of the heart and then pass into the
ventricle, and from thence into the aorta.
Altogether, it has afforded us one of the most
pleasing and instructive lessons in the early
stages of animal existence that we have ever
had, and I hope that some person of more
accurate powers of observation, and having more
leisure, will avail himself of these facilities
which are within the reach of every man, and
wive to the world a more extended statement
?")
of facts than I have been able to do.
Another fact, in which all are interested, has
been clearly demonstrated. Any one who may
be so fortunate as to possess a spring of water
of moderate size can rear this charming fish in
oreat numbers, and the streams that have been
INTRODUCTION. 15
depopulated by the untiring zeal of the angler,
can be replenished with little trouble and at a
small expense. Such streams as are not suited
to the trout can be stocked with other choice
varieties of fish with the same ease.
The number of eggs produced by a single
female trout in one season has been variously
stated by different writers, but it is a moderate
statement to say that it is many hundreds.
A word to those who wish to make the
experiment, and I have done. The attempt
should only be made when the eggs are mature ;
to be secure in this, it will be best for the
beginner to take the parent fish when they
are engaged in depositing the eggs. After the
eggs are forced into the vessel containing the
water, they should be stirred about a little, the
water poured off, and the vessel filled again
before the spermatic fluid is added, after which
the water should be a second time agitated, in
order that it may come in contact with all the
eggs; this is necessary to the impregnation of
all of them. They should then be placed
where they can have running water passing con-
stantly over them. This may be done by hav-
ing a series of boxes partly filled with coarse
sand and gravel, each placed below the other
in the form of a stairway, the water passing
16
INTRODUCTION.
from the first box to the second and so on.
It would also be well to have the bottoms of
the boxes pierced with small holes in order to
prevent the sediment from accumulating, which
is very destructive to the eggs.
These general rules, if followed, will be sure
to crown the effort with success.
CHAPTER I.
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF CERTAIN KINDS OF FISH.
SHORTLY after the discoveries of Messrs. Remy &
Gehen had been communicated to the French Acad-
emy of Sciences at Paris, by Dr. HsCxo, the French
Government, viewing the discoveries in a favorable
light, appropriated thirty thousand francs, ($6,000,)
and appointed a committee consisting of two per-
sons, namely Messrs. Berthot & Detzem — engineers
of the Rhine and Rhone canal — to erect a Govern-
ment establishment for the artificial culture of fish
at Huningen. The establishment did not go into
operation until 1852, some three years after the dis-
covery.
The establishment, during the first six months
of its operation, produced by artificial fecundation
over a million and a half of living fish, of which
about six hundred thousand were trout and salmon.
With these facts before us, it should not be sur-
prising that the subject is attracting the attention
of some of the best minds in our own country;
more especially when we consider the impoverished
condition of our rivers and streams, many of which
are susceptible of being inhabited by innumerable
salmon and trout, and since a replenishment is
now no longer problematical.
1
18 ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION
The following directions, if strictly adhered to.
will be crowned with success in the hands of any
one:
The eggs of fish are not sufficiently matured
to be successfully impregnated until the fish is en-
gaged in depositing the eggs; therefore no attempt
should be made to extrude the eggs artificially
until the fish has been seen or known to deposit
them; but they should be extruded as soon as pos-
sible after the fish has commenced depositing them,
for the reason that more eggs can be secured.
The parent fish should be taken with nets
while on their spawning beds ; the size of the nets
will, as a matter of course, depend upon the size of
the stream, or other waters, where the fish are
engaged in spawning — for small trout streams the
common landing net of the angler is sufficiently
large.
After one or more pairs of fish are thus taken,
they should be placed in a tub or bucket of water;
the female is then to be held in the left hand, and a
gentle pressure made with the right hand upon her
abdomen. At the time of the pressure, the right
hand should be carried downward; if the eggs are
mature, they will flow from the fish with a very
slight pressure, and are to be received in an earthen
vessel partly filled with clean water; then treat
the male fish in precipolv the same manner. The
OF CERTAIN KINDS OF FISH. 19
spermatic fluid from the male being received into
the vessel containing the water and eggs, the eggs
should then be stirred about very freely in the
water, and suffered to remain ten or fifteen minutes,
when the water should again be changed, and after
a short time this change should again be repeated.
It is thought by some persons, that the eggs should
be stirred or rinsed, and the water changed before
the spermatic fluid is added. The precaution, I
think is a good one, as it serves to remove any
mucus, with which the eggs are more or less,
covered, and which to some extent may prevent a
perfect contact of the sperm with them.
A very small portion of the spermatic fluid is
sufficient to impregnate the eggs of one female; in
fact, the sperm of one male is sufficient to impreg-
nate the eggs of half a dozen females.
I have recently read an extract from a foreign
journal, which stated that Dr. Robertson, of Dun-
keld, (Scotland, I suppose,) denies that the eggs
are impregnated after they are extruded from the
female, but contends that they are impregnated
previous to their development within the body of
the fish. If actual observation or experiment con-
firms this statement, there will be no necessity of
obtaining the sperm or milt of the male fish,
which at present is considered indispensable. I
cannot give my assent to this statement, for the
20 ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION
following reason, namely: If the ova, or eggs, are
impregnated previous to their development, why
is it that the spermatic fluid is so abundant in
the male just at the time of spawning, and not
at any other? At any other period than that of
spawning, this secretion is so limited that it can
be extracted only with great dificulty, even by
very hard pressure. In a series of experiments
with trout conducted last fall, by myself, I failed
to impregnate well developed eggs, which I knew
were mature, by using a premature male,
The above cut will convey a sufficiently correct
idea of the manner of extracting both the eggs, and
-spermatic fluid from the living fish.
OF CERTAIN KINDS OF FISH. 21
Prof. Ackley claims that the muscalonge actu-
ally copulates, and extrudes a limited number of
eggs after each copulation. Having never had an
opportunity of observing the habits of this fish,
while engaged in spawning, I am unable to give
an opinion respecting it.
.•' V" ,'s.-
CHAPTER II.
TREATMENT OF THE EGGS AFTER FECUNDATION.
AFTER the eggs, or ova, have been procured,
as described in the preceding chapter, they should
then at once be removed to a suitable place for
incubation. For this purpose, different plans have
been adopted, yet all of them are essentially the
same.
The plan adopted by Prof. Ackley and myself,
and which we find to answer the purpose in every
respect, is as follows :
At the head of a spring we built a house,
eight feet in width by twelve feet in length. We
placed a tank, made of two-inch plank, four feet
wide by eight feet long, and two feet deep, in
the end of the building nearest the bank. The
water from the spring enters the tank through a
hole near the top, and escapes through a similar
hole at the other end, from whence it is received
into a series of ten successive boxes. These
boxes are eighteen inches long, eight inches wide,
and six inches deep, and are so arranged that the
first is much higher in the series than the last
one. They must be filled with clean sand and
TREATMENT OF THE EGGS AFTER FECUNDATION. 23
gravel to the depth of about two inches, the sand
being placed at the bottom. The impregnated
eggs are to be scattered over and among the
gravel, care being taken not to have them in piles
or masses.
The boxes should be carefully examined every
few days after the eggs have been deposited in
them, and all the eggs which have lost their
vitality should at once be removed. This may be
effected with a pair of forceps made of wire, the
jaws of which should be flattened a little, in
order to seize the egg with greater facility. Txbe
eggs which have lost their vitality may very
readily be distinguished from the others by their
whiteness.
It is very desirable that pure, clear water
should be used, in order to avoid a deposition of
sediment, which is very destructive to the eggs,
especially toward the close of the term of incu-
bation. When sediment is found to be accumu-
lating, the water should be agitated with a goose-
quill, or soft brush, moving the quill or brush
briskly about in the water, and then suffer it to
run off. Repeat this process until the water is
free from sediment, and runs off clear; or, the
eggs may be removed into a vessel filled with
clean water, with a skimmer, there to remain
while the boxes are being cleansed.
2 TREATMENT OF THE EGGS
The hatching boxes should be grated on that
side from which the water escapes, with wire
cloth, the meshes of which should be sufficiently
fine to prevent the eggs, or the young fish, when
they make their appearance, from passing out.
A very neat and convenient hatching apparatus
is the flat wicker basket, the interstices of which
are fine enough to prevent the eggs from passing
through ; these baskets are TO be placed in run-
ning water. Care, however, must be taken, as well
as with all other apparatus for the same purpose,
thy.t.a place be selected where the current of the
water is not so rapid as to wash or pile the eggs
up in the end opposite to where the water enters.
Whenever the baskets become foul, by sediment
or vegetable matter, the eggs can be transferred
to a clean one, and the basket cleansed.
A conduit, or flume, must be constructed, of
plank or boards, to contain a sufficient depth of
water, in which the baskets are to be placed.
The utmost cleanliness is absolutely necessary,
during the whole time of incubation; it is one of
the essentials to insure success.
The method adopted by Gehen & Eemy was,
to place the eggs in zinc boxes, of about one foot
diameter, with a lid or cover on them, and the
sides of each box were pierced full of small holes,
care being taken to have the edges of the holes
AFTER FECUNDATION. 25
very smooth. These boxes were then partly filled
with sand and gravel, and placed in running
water. They partially buried the boxes in the
gravelly bottom of the streams, and there exam-
ined them from time to time. Fig. 1 represents
one of these boxes.
FIG. 1. REMY'S Box.
The plan adopted by M. Costa, at the College
of France is to arrange several parallel boxes, in
the form of steps, on each side of the principal
one, which is placed at the top of the series, from
which all the others are supplied with water, the
top one being supplied from a fountain, and the
supply of water being regulated by a stop-cock.
26 TREATMENT OF THE EGGS
In this case, the eggs are placed on willow hur-
dles, instead of gravel. Fig. 2 represents the
hatching apparatus adopted by Mr. Costa.
Fro. 2. '
M. COSTA'S HATCHING APPARATUS.
A, parallel boxes, in which are placed the willow hurdles, and
upon which latter the eggs are placed. B, stop-cock, from which
water is supplied.
Another, and yet more simple plan is shown
by Fig. 3. This apparatus may be set up in one's
house; the water being supplied to the reservoir
B from time to time. A cask, or barrel, or any-
thing which will answer the purpose of a reser-
voir. The box in which the eggs are placed is
represented at A. The waste water flows into a
tub or bucket C.
AFTER FECUNDATION,
27
Fio. 3.
Whatever plan may be adopted, great care and
watchfulness are essentially necessary to insure
success. A vegetable parasite, termed by natu-
ralists byssus, frequently attaches itself to the
eggs, and destroys them. The best way to remedy
this evil is to remove very carefully all the eggs
that are free from the parasite, and throw those
away which have been attacked, and at the same
time thoroughly cleanse the boxes or baskets.
CHAPTER III.
TRANSPORTATION OF THE EGGS.
COLLECTING and transporting fish eggs is at
present, and has been for centuries past, a dis-
tinct, as well as an important branch of commerce
in China.
This branch of industry was specially pro-
tected, and on an extensive scale, by the ancient
Eoman Government. Stocking rivers and lakes
with a great variety of fishes was regarded as a
measure of public utility.
The practicability of transporting the fecun-
dated eggs of fishes to great distances has been
amply proven by experience.
It is true that there are some kinds of fish
whose eggs hatch in so brief a period of time
that they cannot be kept many days in an unfa-
vorable condition, or one in which the process of
incubation would be arrested. The eggs of the
pike, for example, hatch in ten to twenty days;
but the eggs of all the different species of salmon
require such a comparatively great length of time
TRANSPORTATION OF THE EGGS. 29
to complete the process of incubation, that they
tiay be safely conveyed from one end of our
country to the other. I had intended to send
some eggs of the brook trout (salmo fontinalis) to
France last fall, and to obtain some European
species in exchange; unforeseen obstacles pre-
vented me from so doing, but this year I expect
to consummate this exchange.
Various methods have been adopted by dif-
ferent individuals for the transportation of the
fish eggs. Gehen & Eemy procured tin boxes,
pierced with small holes ; in these they put first
a layer ,of wet sand, about half an .inch deep,
then on this sand a layer of pebbles, about the
size of playing marbles; in the interstices of
these pebbles they placed the eggs; next they
put in another tier of pebbles, and again filled
the interstices with pebbles, and so on, until the
box was filled.
M. Costa, whose experience and observations
give great weight to his opinions, objects to this
method, for the reason that, in consequence of
the perforations, the box becomes dry, and while
the box is in transition from one place to another
it will necessarily be more or less jolted and
jarred, and the weight and motion of the pebbles
will crush and destroy the eggs. He advises the
following method, which, perhaps, is the best one
30 TRANSPORTATION OF THE EGGS.
known at present, and is the one which I have
adopted, namely:
Discard the pebbles altogether, and take clean,
fine, wet sand, in boxes devoid of holes. Spread
the sand on the bottom of the box; on this sand
place a layer of eggs, at the same time being very
careful not to permit the eggs to touch each
other; then over these eggs spread another layer
of sand, and then another layer of eggs, and so
on alternately until the box is filled, so that the
lid presses on the sand; this will prevent any
motion of the contents of the box. The box,
with the contents, but the lid removed, should
then be dipped in clean water, for the purpose of
having the sand thoroughly saturated; after this
has been accomplished, the lid may be fastened
down.
The boxes should be kept in a low tempera-
ture— not so low as the freezing point, however.
The boxes which I use are made of tin, and in
size are about five inches in length, the same in
breadth, and about four inches deep. The boxes
used by M. Costa are made of wood, and are
somewhat larger than those above described. The
boxes should not be much larger than those
which I use, for the reason that in larger ones
the weight of the sand would injure, if not de-
stroy the eggs.
TRANSPORTATION OF THE EGGS. 31
By tliis method, the eggs of the salmon family,
as well as many other species of fish, may be
kept for a month or more. M. Costa kept them
in this manner nearly two months.
Before removing them from the boxes, the box
should be dipped in clean water, and the sand
permitted to become thoroughly saturated, other-
wise the eggs might be injured during the process
of removal. In some instances, M. Costa found
the eggs, upon being removed from the sand, a
little shriveled; after being placed in the hatch-
ing apparatus, they soon regained their former
plumpness, and a very large proportion of them
gave birth to healthy young fish.
It is of the utmost importance that the eggs
be not packed in sand immediately after their
fecundation, but should be permitted to remain
quiet in pure water — running water, if possible —
for several days; in fact, if they could so remain
for two weeks it would be preferable.
M. Costa recommends that the embryo fish
should be so far developed that the eyes may be
perceived through the membraneous covering of
the eggs, looking like two little black specks.
The reason for this delay in packing the eggs is
simply this:
The vitality of the embryo is much more sen-
sitive— more liable to be destroyed at this early
32 TRANSPORTATION OF THE EGGS.
stage of existence than when more developed;
beside, when the eyes are perceptible, it is known
to a certainty that the eggs are fecundated.
Another method of shipping eggs, (and a very
good method it is, too,) is to place the eggs in a
box filled with aquatic plants, with a sufficient
umount of water to keep the whole wet. This is
an excellent method, in cases where the eggs are
to be kept but a short period of time.
Yet another method is recommended, which is,
to place the eggs between the folds of clean, wet-
cloth — thick blanketing is recommended — placed
in boxes in the same manner as the sand in M.
Costa's method — that is, in alternate layers — the
whole to be thoroughly saturated with the water.
The French Government, at the present time,
supplies, from its establishment at Huningen, eggs
of the most select varieties to every department
of Franoe, so that' in a very short period of time
the rivers, lakes, and even the bays of France
will be teeming with shoals of fish, where they
had become very scarce, and in many places, in
fact,, were none at all.
CHAPTER IV.
TRANSPORTATION OF FISH.
It sometimes so happens that it is desirable to
transport live fish from one location to another.
The transportation of live fish has always been
a laborious business to me, and hazardous to the
fish, until I hit upon the plan of conveying them
in water, made very cold by the addition of ice.
I carried four hundred and twenty trout a dis-
tance of twenty-eight miles without changing the
water once, in a barrel only three-fourths full of
water; the water was kept as cold as it possibly
could be by frequent additions of ice. I lost only
four or five of the fish, and these were killed* by
being jammed between the pieces of ice. They
were in the barrel fully eighteen hours without
the water having been once changed.
I feel very confident that they would not have
lived a single hour in the water, had it not been
for the extreme cold caused by the frequent addi-
tions of ice. The fish, however, were all small —
one-third of them, perhapsj were two years old;
the remainder were yearlings and young fry of six
months.
2
34 TRANSPORTATION OF FISH.
Very young fish can be transported much more
safely and with less care than older ones, but I
am unable to say whether they can endure as
great a degree of cold as older ones. I have
never made the experiment, but suppose the cold
would not prove injurious to even newly hatched
fish.
Another reason why young fish are much more
easily transported than older ones is, that they do
not exhaust the water so rapidly; but as eggs are
so much more easily conveyed from place to place
than the living fish, I would recommend to all
persons who wish to stock streams or ponds, to
procure the eggs by all means, as it is far more
convenient and less hazardous to transport them
than the living fish.
I have kept in my house, in a glass jar, the
capacity of which does not exceed two quarts, a
great number of newly hatched trout for weeks,
by changing the water no oftener than once a
day; and as far as I could discover, they did just
as well as though they had been put in running
water.
M. Costa has frequently kept young salmon and
trout in glass jars for a long time without chang-
oig water, by putting aquatic plants into the jar
immediately after the fish are hatched.
CHAPTER V.
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE,
And on Stocking Barren and Impoverished Rivers with Fish arti-
ficially hatched. Made to the Minister of Commerce by M.
MILXE EDWARDS, Member of the Institute.
IN 1850 the attention of the French Government
was called to the discovery of Messrs. Gehin and
Remy, and the Minister of Agriculture and Com-
merce appointed a member of the Academy, a dis-
tinguished savant, M. Milne-Edwards, to examine the
subject carefully and make a report.
The following is his report;
Sir : — Owing to the interest which you feel in all
discoveries calculated to increase the alimentary
resources of the country, you desired to form a cor-
rect opinion of the attempts which for some time
have been made, whether in France or in England,
to ensure the multiplication of fish in ponds and
rivers, and to augment the value of products of
fisheries.
You have done me the honor to submit thifr
question to my examination, and have charged me
most particularly to render a complete account of
the results obtained by two fishermen, who followed
36 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
their trade near the sources of the Moselle, and
who, by a process of artificial fecundation, have
established in the department of the Vosges, a
veritable fish factory. With pleasure I conformed
to your wishes, and I will be well pleased, Mr.
Minister, if the investigations I have made, can
aid you in endowing our rural industry with a
new source of wealth, the importance of which
will not be undervalued by physiologists or agri-
culturists. Fish is an article of food rich in nu-
tritive qualities, and to augment its abundance,
either on our coasts or in our streams, will be
a real benefit for all classes of population. River
fishing is generally little productive in France ;
but it is only necessary to cast one's eyes upon
the doings of our neighbors of other countries,
to comprehend what might be its value, if means
be found to stock with good fish our rivers and
ponds, as amply as nature has stocked those of
Scotland and Ireland, and as agriculturists stock
their fields with herbiverous animals equally des-
tined to serve our subsistence.
River-fishing has long been the objects of en-
actments favoring the reproduction of fish, and
protecting the development of the fry. The royal
ordinance of 1669 forms the basis of our legis-
lation on the subject, and contains many clauses
of incontestible utility.
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 37
Proprietors of ponds bestow ordinarily some
care upon stocking them, but all that relates to
reproduction of fish in our rivers is left to mere
chance, and while bitterly lamenting the constant
and rapid decrease of their products, we have not,
till now, given sufficient consideration to the reme-
dies for the evil.
Public attention was at last awakened to this
question by a lecture delivered two years since,
at the Academy of Science by one of our most
distinguished zoologists, M. de Quatrefages, for-
merly one of the Faculty of Science of Toulouse.
This learned and elegant writer, gave our agri-
culturists useful counsel on the art of. bringing
up fish, and strongly urged upon them the putting
in practice of a process of multiplying their num-
bers, long well known to physiologists, and often
experimentally employed in their cabinets, viz :
that of artificially fecundating the eggs. We know
by the labors of Spallanzani, and by the experi-
mental researches with which you, yourself, Mr.
Minister, and your ancient colleague, Prevost, (of
Geneva,) twenty-five years enriched science, that
all fecundation is the result of the action exer-
cised upon the egg at its state of maturity by
the living spermatozoa with which the semen
or milt is charged, that this action takes place
through the direct contact of those two repro-
38 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
ductive elements, and that the physiological puis-
sance of these same agents may be preserved
during a longer or shorter period after they have
been taken from the living bodies which have
given them existence.
With a great number of inferior animals, the
parents part in the work of reproduction, consists
only in the formation and emission of these two
generic elements; the egg is not impregnated till
after being spawned, it meets the spermatozoa,
the contact with which, necessary to endow it
with life, only takes place by the concurrence of
exterior causes, independent of the action of the
parents, for example, by the course of the cur-
rent in which the milt is deposited. The experi-
mentalist can, therefore^ determine at will this
physiological phenomenon, by mechanically mixing
the eggs and milt of these animals, and the same
result will be obtained by this process as by the
natural one.
The observation of zoologists show, too, that
in the general harmony' of nature, the fecundity
of animals is regulated not], only with regard to
the causes of destruction to which the young are
exposed before they become capable of reproduc-
ing their species, but also in view of the chances
of non-fecundation to which the eggs are submitted
as the contact of the eggs with the seminal fluid
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH CULTURE. 89
takes place after they have been spawned, and
depends more or less upon chance. Fish belong,
for the most part, to the category of animals
among which there is fno act of copulation for
reproduction, that being effected simply by the
ejection by the male of the milt, or semen upon
the eggs which have been. spawned by the female.
To procure the development of the embryo,
therefore, in the otherwise sterile eggs, the natu-
ralist, in the experiments of his labratory, has
only to imitate that which happens normally in
nature; that is to say, to bring them in contact
with water charged with milt; impregnation, then,
is soon effected; and to procure this milt, as well
as the eggs to be impregnated, all that is required
is a light pressure of the abdomen of the males
and females, whose products are matured and whose
lives will not be endangered by the operation; or
these products may even be procured by opening
the bodies of the newly dead subjects, for the eggs
and the milt preserve their vitality for some time
after the death of the bodies containing them, and
thus from two corpses may be brought forth a
numerous and strong generation.
This fact was fully established by Count de
Goldstein, about the middle of the last century
long before Spallanzani published his beautiful
researches upon generation. In 1758 this judi-
40 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
cious observer addressed to an ancestor of 'the
celebrated Fourcroy, a most interesting memoir
upon artificial fecundation of trouts' eggs, and
upon the application to stocking rivers, of which
the discovery was susceptible.
An extract from Goldstein's work, was inserted
in a work called Soirees Helvetiennes, and some
years later, in 1770, Duhamel du Monceau gave
a translation of it in the third volume of his
Traite generel des Peches, published under the sanc-
tion of the Academy of Sciences.
About the same period, a German naturalist,
Jacobi, published at Hamburg an equally interesting
letter upon the art of bringing up salmon and
trout, and on the production of these fish by
means of artificial fecundation. At a later date
analagous experiments were made in Scotland by
Dr. Knox, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Andrew Young. In
1835, Signor Rusconi, so well known among natu-
ralists by his work on the embryology of sala-
manders, published in the seventy-ninth volume
of the Bibliotheca Italiana, new observations on
the development of fish, and gives equally instruc-
tive details in artificial fecundation of the eggs
of the tench and the ablette. At my suggestion,
the translation of this memoir was inserted in
the Annales des Sciences Naturelles pour 1836.
I would add, too, that it was by recourse to
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH CULTURE. 41
this method of multiplication that 'Messrs. Agas-
siz and Voght procured all the embryos necessary
for their studies on the development of the
palee, a species of salmon of the Swiss lakes the
anatomical history of which these two naturalists
published in 1842. The philosophical fact, then,
upon which M. de Quatrefages relied to stimulate
agriculturists to the manufacturing- of fish, in the
-same way they produce grain or meats, offered
nothing new to zoologists, and to their remem-
brance M. de Quatrefages was the first to recall
the claim of Goldstein as the discoverer of arti-
ficial fecundation. But under our system of edu-
cation, truths well known by naturalists are
unknown by most other men, even the best
informed, and it was not unnecessary to call
public attention forcibly to this application of
science to rural industry, which not only had not
profited by the results of the discovery, but I
think I can safely affirm that there were then not
ten agricultural authors or teachers in all France,
who had the least idea of the service which
physiologists had so long before rendered them.
Under such circumstances we should not be
astonished to find in one of the most secluded
valleys of the chain of Vosges, two illiterate
fishermen, but endowed by nature with a rare
spirit of observation and a rarer perseverance,
42 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH CULTURE.
being ignorant of prior discoveries, and wishing
to find some remedy for the decrease and threat-
ened extinction of their trade, employing several
years of their time in laboriously making over
again the same experiments already niade by the
physiologist I have cited, and in rediscovering
what naturalists had been acquainted with for a
century.
But if these poor peasants of Bresse were
preceded in their researches by scientific men,
and if they have not enriched natural history
with fresh discoveries, their labors are no less
worthy of interest, and they have a claim upon
our consideration, for they seem to have been
the first among us to make practical application
of the discovery of artifical fecundation to the
rearing of the fish, and have thus the merit of
creating in France a new branch of industry.
The first essays of Messrs. Gehin and Remy
were made in 1842. Having by a long course of
observation become acquainted with the mode of
reproduction practised by trout, and being assured
of the possibility of artificially fecundating its
eggs, they applied themselves to the production
of quantities of these fish to stock the streams
of the canton. Success crowned their efforts,
and notwithstanding their feeble resources, and
the difficulties of all sorts they had to en-
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 43
counter, they still obtained considerable results.
They were enabled to stock, with young trout
artificially hatched, two ponds near their village
of Bresse, one of which furnished last year 1200
trout of two years old.
Gehin and Remy estimate at about 50,000 the
number of young fish they have put in the
Moselotte, a little river of Bresse, which empties
into the Moselle, near Remiremont; they have
put in practice their mode of stocking in several
other localities of the same center, as appears
by documents furnished by the authorities of
Saulxres, of Cornimont, and of Gerardmer. Be-
sides these, M. Kienzi, mayor of Waldenstein,
in the department of Haut Rhin, deputed them
to restock the water courses of his commune,
and this intelligent official gives assurance that
they perfectly succeeded.
I would add also, that, wishing to render the
discovery of the widest public utility, our fish-
ermen never made any secret of their processes,
but, on the contrary, t readily initated any one
who desired to undertake similar work. All who
have ever had occasion to witness the labors
of Gehin and Remy, bestow on them the highest
praise.
I visited their establishment and witnessed
some of their experiments. The Society of Emu-
44 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
lation took up and fully investigated the subject,
and bestowed on each of these worthy men an
honorary medal. The work they proposed it seems
to me they fully succeeded in, and to render
their country great service they only need the
means to extend their operations. I do not judge
solely by the results obtained by Gehin and Remy,
but also by similar ones on a large scale, which
I found to have been obtained for several years
past in Great Britain, and which had excited
there considerable interest.
In fact, M. Boccius, a civil engineer of Ham-
mersmith, has practised artificial fecundation in
stocking several rivers in Great Britain, and
seems to have had complete success.
In 1841 he worked in the streams belonging
to Mr. Drummond, in the neighborhood of Ux-
bridge, and he estimates at 120,000 the number
of trout he there brought up. The following
years he put in practice the same processes on
the magnificent domain of the Duke of Devon-
shire, at Chotsworth ; then for Mr. Gurnie, at
Carsolton; and Mr. Hilbert, of Chatford; finally,
the Anglers' Club put under his charge the
important fishing grounds of Ansval-Magna, in
the county of Hertford, and M. Boccius assured
me that he had already artificially hatched there
at least 2,000,000 trout. He has published a
REPORT ON" ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 45
book upon his method of stocking streams, and
it seems that a society is about to be formed
under the patronage of Sir H. Labouchere, with
a view of attempting to stock the Thames with
salmon.
The process employed by Gehin and Remy is
simple and easily practised; it hardly differs
from that adopted by Boccius, and equally re-
sembles the method described by Jacobi, nearly
a century ago.
Trout-breeding takes place in December, and
in order to have eggs for artificial hatching, it
suffices to press lightly, before and behind, the
abdomen of a female fish ready to hatch; and
her eggs, in falling, should be caught in a vessel
with water, and afterwards sprinkled with milt
obtained in the same manner and diluted.
If the eggs have not arrived at their term
when operations are commenced, they will only
be run out with a strong pressure, and in such
case the fish should be left in a preserve during
some days before this forced birth is adopted,
for neither the eggs nor the milt can be usefully
employed in a state of immaturity, and the life
of the parent fish would be endangered by rough
handling.
On coming in contact with the spermatised
water, the eggs change color — before fecundation
46 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
they are transparent and yellow — so fecundated!
they become whitish or rather opaline. A trout,
aged some two years, and weighing about 125
grammes, can furnish about 600 eggs ; a trout
of three years, 700 to 800; and it is also to be
noticed that the milt of one male is enough to
fecundate the eggs of half a dozen females, or
even more.
Messrs. Gehin and Remy placed the eggs so
fecundated in a tin box pierced with holes on a
gravel bed: these boxes 'are about fifteen centi-
metres in diameter, and eight deep, and can
contain each a thousand eggs.
They are then to be placed in some stream-
let of which the waters are pure and lively
but not deep: in this they are partially buried,
and so disposed that the water in the boxes is
rapidly renewed, for the agitation of it is neces-
sary to insure the respiration of the embryos,
and also to hinder the development of confer-
vas, which will not be slow to catch and destroy
the eggs if the water be stagnant. The develop-
ment of these embryos lasts four months, and it
is generally towards the end of March or in April
that the hatching takes place ; during six weeks
more the new-born trout carry under the abdo-
men the umbilical vesicle which holds the re-
mains of the nutritive matter, analagous to the
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 47
yelk of a bird's egg, and at first, by means of
this substance the minnows are nourished; but
when - absorption takes place, the young fish have
need of other nutriment, and should then be driven
out of the box in which they are cradled, and
permitted to swim freely in the streamlet which
they are to stock.
In fine, to procure for these little fish suit-
able and abundant nourishment, it is only neces-
sary to leave or put in the water some frogs,
whose spawn they will greedily eat, while the
tadpoles afford excellent food for the older trout.
When the young trout so brought up are des-
tined to stock a river, they should be placed in
streams tributary to it, and water selected which
rushes over pebbles or rocks.
In proportion as these fish grow, they descend
spontaneously to the deep water, whither they
arrive only when they are sufficiently agile to
protect themselves against the enemies which
they may encounter ; while if they are at once
placed in the midst ,'of other voracious fish, they
will have but a small chance of escaping death.
When they are so raised in streamlets or ponds,
precaution must be taken to seperate the product
of each year from the former one, as the big
trout will otherwise eat up the little ones ; and
to avoid this the young fish in the same circle
should be of one age.
48 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
To establish after a regular fashion this
branch of production, there should be at least
three streamlets or brooks, for the fish to be
changed during three years, new ones being
placed in them as fast as exhausted.
Unhappily Messrs. Gehin and Remy have riot
at their disposal the necessary funds to com-
plete this work. They have obtained the grant
of a fish-pond for this purpose, and bought an-
other for 800 francs; but now their pecuniary
means are gone, and if sir, under your kind pro-
tection, they do not get some help from Gov-
ernment, I fear it will be impossible for them
to pursue the trials so satisfactorily commenced.
The labors of Messrs. Gehin &. Remy appear
to me the more worthy of encouragement, as
success can afford but little profit to such devo-
ted and active men, but will contribute to increase
the alimentary resources commanded by people on
the banks of streams. Only in considering fishe-
ries as works of public utility, and causing them
to be executed by the State, can we hope to
give real importance to our river fisheries; but
in applying a small sum to this end, we will
arrive, I have no doubt, at important results for
the country.
If the fish-breeding practiced by Messrs. Gehin
& Remy were only applicable to trout and to
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 49
other fish of limited supply, I would not attach
as much interest to it as I do; but it may be
applied to salmon, and I am convinced that H
would be easy thus to restore to the rivers of
Brittany icthyological riches which are now dis-
appearing, and even to acclimate salmon in rivers
which, up to this time, have not been frequented
by that £sh.
Nothing is easier than to transport eggs just
laid, or living salmon of which the abdomen is
filled either with eggs or milt; and even when
these die on the road, the hatching of their eggs
can be attained. In placing the eggs so acquired
in streamlets properly chosen, the young salmon
will grow as though spawned there by their par-
ents ; they will emigrate as usual to the ocean,
and in its depths they in turn will spawn, and
will not fail to return in great numbers to the
stream whence they proceeded, and in following
its course seek a proper place for the growth of
their progeny.
We know, in fact by experiments already old,
made in Brittany by Delandes, and by observa-
tions of the same kind, repeated in our day in
Scotland by the Duke of Athol, Sir W. Jardine,
Mr. Baigrie, Mr. Hayshan and Mr. Young, the
Director of the fisheries of the Duke of Suther-
land, that guided by a singular instinct comparable
' 3
50 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
to migratory swallows, the salmon after having
emigrated far into the sea, returns ordinarily to
the water where it was spawned, and the indvidu-
als of v the same species are so perpetuated in
certain rivers without mixing with those of strange
waters.
It seems to me consequently indubitable, that
in the space of a few years it would not only
be possible greatly to multiply salmon in all the
waters natural to them, but to introduce and
acclimate this large and valuable fish in many of
our streams hitherto without them. For the sal-
mon and the trout also, as well as for many
other kinds, the method of Gehin and Eemy
appears to be the surest method of stocking
rivers ; but we cannot have recourse to the
artificial fecundation of eggs to stock fresh wa-
ters of certain kinds, of which the introduction,
however, would be of great utility in certain locali-
ties. Thus, eels are never caught at maturity
with milt or eggs, and these fish seem to be only
produced in the depths of the sea, whence just
spawned they go in legions innumerable every
year Jto occupy rivers, where they are known by
our fishermen under the name of montee.
To supply brooks and streams needing them,
such spawn must be transported, and the opera-
tion renewed ?r; • ii: iHv ; and M. Costa has
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH CULTURE. 51
shown that this transportation can be easily ef-
fected, even to considerable distances.
For this purpose it is sufficient to place the
young eels in grass kept wet. The experiments
which M. Costa is now pursuing at Paris in the
laboratory of the College of France, proves that
young eels* can be fed at small expense, so that
they will grow rapidly, and it seems to me that
in many marshy places, raising eels would be pro-
fitable.
If I had to treat here of marine fishing, I
would ask of you, sir, permission to call your
attention to several matters touching the treat-
ment of our oyster beds, and the means of
favoring the multiplication of these mollusks. A
manufacturer of charente. M. Carbonnel, has con-
versed with the Academy of Sciences several
times laterly, and thinks it would be easy to
establish on our coast at different "points such
artificial oyster beds. M. de Quatrefages has
also requested the naturalists on coasts to try
the artificial fecundation of oysters, and I am
persuaded that in studying experimentally all
that relates to the generation of these mollusks,
we shall arrive at results extremely interesting for
industry as well as science. But in the actual
state of our knowledge relative to the physiolo-
gy of these animals, we cannot pronounce on the
52 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
value of the mode of multiplication which the
authors I have just cited propose to employ.
Whatever it he, after the entire results of
which I render you an account, and after exper-
iments analagous to those of Messrs. Gehin and
Remy, made hy M. Lefehre, of Yaugorard, it
seems clear that with perseverance, we can, with
little expense, ameliorate the icthyological hreed
of France, and also for our territory covered with
water, a revenue much more considerable than
that now derived.
This would he for the whole country an in-
crease of riches, and trials of this kind appear
to me all the more important, as several circum-
stances tend to diminish the alimentary resource
of our rivers. The increasing variety of fish in a
good number of our rivers does not arise solely
from the manner in which fishing has been pur-
sued, but from other causes, among which is the
extension of manufacturing industry. Thus, the
toll gates established in such numbers for the
service of hydraulic motors, are so many obstac-
les to the production of various fish, which re-
quire to ascend the rivers to their head waters
to find fit spawning spots, and single propogators
arriving in small numbers in the streamlets, the
fish interests of the river suffer, for the eggs
" OO
are not in a condition favorable to the develop-
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 53
ment of the young, and the means of recruiting
the entire species is rapidly lessened. If, as in
Scotland, and even in England, there existed in
France many rich proprietors who possessed water
courses of considerable extent, we could leave to
the care of private individuals all matters relat-
ing to improved river fishing, for to whomever
one of these streams belonged, he would be in-
terested in increasing its products. But with us
it is altogether otherwise, and the individual who
would occupy himself with stocking a stream with
fish, could hardly hope to reap personal profit
therefrom ; he would augment the alimentary re-
source of his fellow citizens, and thus render his
country solid service, but he alone would enjoy
but a small .interest in the benefit so diffused,
and ordinarly would want the stimulus, to under-
take the labor.
The stocking of rivers, then, should be con-
sidered a matter of public utility, and it seems
to me that it is the business of the State to look
after 'it.
Trials of this kind made on a grand scale,
and prudently conducted, and confided to intelli-
gent men, would not involve heavy expenses to
lead to important results. If you judge proper
to have them executed, you will find in the two
fishermen in question, capable agents, and I would
54 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
add that the charge of such work would be the
least recompense the government could make them.
For the rest such an enterprise would neces-
sitate serious preliminary studies, and give rise
to several questions, for whose solution the opin-
ion of the administration of waters and forests
would be necessary, as well as the light of natu-
ralists, and it would perhaps be necessary to have
a mixed commission. To sum up — we perceive
that the stocking of fresh waters with artificial
methods was long since thought of, but it was
only tried in France lately: that Messrs. Gehin
& Remy appear to have been the first to put
the method in practice among us, and that for
their part they have arrived at results analagous
to those obtained at the same period in England
by Mr. Boccius: that the labors of these two
fishermen are worthy of attention, and that in
applying to the reproduction of salmon the means
they have successfully used to rear trout, we
shall be enabled largely to increase the interests
of our river fisheries.
I have the honor, &c.
MILNE-EDWARDS.
CHAPTER VI.
IN addition to the Report of M. Milne-Edwards,
we present to the reader the Report of M. Costa,
a gentleman of rare attainments, and filling a
Professorship in the College of France with dis-
tinguished ability. These two documents ought
to go far in removing any doubts in the minds
of those who are prone to scepticism on the
subject of fish-culture.
REPORT
On the means of Stocking all the Streams of France with Fish,
addressed to the Minister of the Interior of Agriculture and
Commerce.
PARIS, JULY 12, 185'2.
SIR : — In your letter of the 30th of June, you
asked me to visit the fish-breeding establishment
at Mulhouse, of Messrs. Berthol and Detzem, en-
gineers of the Rhone and Rhine canal, and to
suggest to' you measures so that their works can
be made to stock all the streams of France. Ac-
cordingly I now put you in possession of the
result of this mission.
The discovery of artificial fish-breeding was
long hidden in the laboratories of science, where
56 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
it remained confined to physiological experiment';
"but lately it has been practically set forth by the
Count de Goldstein, by Boccius, and above all by
the two fishermen of Bresse, and sober inquiry
and trial have been adopted to attain to the
precision of pure method in regard to it.
I have shown for my part, with the assistance
of Messrs. Berthol & Detzem, that not only the
eggs of fish brought from very distant waters,
preserve all their native powers of conception,
but that by means of machinery extremely sim-
ple, they can be hatched^much more quickly and
certainly than as the female ordinarily lays them,
so that two sets are obtained in the ordinary
time of one.
This double result, that of carrying without
injury eggs to a great distance, and their rapid
fecundation, leads to the possibility of restocking
all the streams of France in a single season; so
that it will cost nothing to the State save the
necessary advances to organize an establishment
wherein the spawn accumulated from all points
where they are easily secured, should be confided
to the care of canal keepers. I say it will cost
the State nothing, because the advances can be
readily more than repaid by a contribution, volun-
tarily self-imposed by the proprietors in exchange
for the precious gifts made them, whether in the
form of eggs or young fish.
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 57
The more I reflect on the means of realizing
this useful enterprise, the more I consider it our
duty to insist that France shall take the lead
in giving a practical example of this great scien-
tific discovery which can so increase public wealth
hy creating an inexhaustible means of production.
It is a wish I express with all confidence, because
I have visited the spots where the project has
already received an impetus under the auspices
of two engineers, who, notwithstanding their lim-
ited resources, have raised this year a million
of trout, salmon and mongrels, the greater portion
of which they showed me scattered through the
ponds which they have dug along the Rhone and
Rhine canal.
It only remains to profit by the experience
and devotion of which they have, during two
years, given so many proofs, and to place in their
hands sufficient means to transform the precarious
arrangements due to their perseverance into a ver-
itable establishment where, as in the best regula-
ted manufactories, the working details are ample
and ready,
The locality which they have chosen is admi-
rably well adapted to their purpose ; a stream of
fresh water, clear as crystal, runs from the foot
of a sheltering hillock on a common of several
acres, and then branches off into smaller streams.
58 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH CULTURE.
This is so well fitted to fish hatching, especially
of trout and salmon, it could he easily turned
into a vast breeding establishment. It would be
only necessary to substitute for the sieve-boxes
hitherto used, (which offer obstructions and be-
come less and less permeable,) simple plates
placed longitudinally in parallel positions, which
will divide the stream into narrow drains more
or less numerous, through which the water will
flow with some degree of rapidity. These drains,
intended to receive the eggs, will be cut at in-
tervals so as to form a succession of falls, in
order to hasten the course and give an airing
to the water, and produce conditions most favor-
able to the end in view. Each one of these
drains should be extended in a meadow, without
being confounded with the others, and finish by
enlargement in a spacious basin, where the water
in question alone has access, and whither will
come the young fish when hatched, another place
of destination being in store for them.
When this stream will have been so trans-
formed into a vast establishment made after the
plan I have indicated, it should be covered with
a glass roof like a green house, admitting the
light, and formed of moveable panes turning round
so that the air may be readily admitted when
deemed necessary.
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH CULTURE. 59
To this should be added a little house to
protect the workmen, where a workshop of all
the necessary implements would be, and also a
register of the results of each day's observations.
The natural history of fish so obtained, would
offer invaluable details. When this establishment
would be ready, the problem would be reduced,
simply procuring eggs sufficient to fill it, and
then stocking all the streams of France. This
would not be difficult to realize.
Being on the frontiers of Germany, Messrs.
Berthol & Detzen are in communication with the
fishermen of the river and great lakes, where are
fish the most esteemed.
These fishermen have undertaken to give them
all kinds of eggs. Messrs. Berthol & Detzem have
already taken from Lake Federsee thirty-six gigan-
tic fish, which so transferred I have seen in their
basins. They are waiting now for a supply of
young fish of this kind which bear the journey
so easily, that I obtained three for the College
of France, by simply putting them under the
care of the conductor of. the dilligence, who kept
them two days and a night in a vase. These fish
hatch even in turf pits ; so that they can be easily
propagated in those of Piccardy, and in the least
favorable waters. Their importation, then, will be
a service rendered in fish-breeding.
60 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
In hatching fish in new waters, trials of their
acclimation can be successfully made. I may give
here striking examples rn citing my experiments
at the College of France, under circumstances
where I did not promise myself success. Young
salmon hatched in my laboratory, and placed af-
terwards in an artificial pond fed by a single
stream of the water of the Arcueil, grew as well
as if they had lived in the Rhine, as I was able
to satisfy myself by a comparison. They are
hardly four months old, and already their length
is sixty millemetres, of which they have gained
twelve during the last twenty-four days, a remark-
able growth which may be attributed, without
doubt, to the particular nourishment they receive,
of which they show themselves greedy.
But to return to our hatching apparatus and
the eggs which are in progress of development.
Here a second problem is presented: what becomes
after birth of the young fish hatched by millions
in the narrow drains where the eggs are depo-
sited? This second problem will not be more
difficult to answer than ^the first. The arrange-
ment of the locality will answer for all exigen-
cies. As soon as the newly-hatched fish are strong
enough to swim, they will follow the course of
the stream, which will draw them to the meadow
by the extremity of the glass house, through
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 61
which the current passes and leave them in the
basin. There they will grow, but their number
increasing every day, they cannot be long kept in
this narrow reservoir. Larger basins then must
be provided, where they can grow with proper
nourishment. The depeneencies of the Rhine and
Rhone canal will fulfil this office, and on a scale
so vast that there will be a crop greater than
one would suppose room could there be found
for. Thus: the government has on the bor-
ders of the canal, on the right and left, land
in length 117,730 metres, and breadth 15 metres.
Already there they have dug a c'ertain number
of ponds, well supplied with water. These ponds
may be multiplied indefinitely, and connected by
gratings, so as to prevent the admixture of the
different kinds of fish, and stopped off occasion-
ally in order to admit of being severally emp-
tied, so that the young fish can be taken from
them. But the ponds already dug on one side
of the canal, are in the same part of the meadow
with the receiving baisins, into each of which
the hatching trenches will carry a particular spe-
cies; and it results from this, that to transfer the
young ofx this species from the establishment
where they were hatched to the ponds where they
are to be converted into larger growths, there
is almost nothing to do. The operation will be
62 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
self-accomplished so to speak; and from the sin-
gle circumstance of a happy distribution of the
different waters which run from one side to the
other.
When the spawn have arrived at the growth
of young fish suitable for stocking streams, the
Rhone and the Rhine canal which runs between
the two long lines of ponds where these fish are
kept in reserve, will itself be the natural means
to conduct them into all the waters of France
by means of their intercommunications. To attain
to this object, a jointed raft should be made of
pieces of wood transversely placed, and connected
by iron rings, and in the interstices of this raft
should be fastened casks sufficient to hold the en-
tire supply of fish. These casks should be pro-
vided with gratings, so as to be permeable, and
contain water plants so that the young fish are
not injuriously crowded.
The convoy so disposed should stop succes-
sively before each pond, and right and left the
workmen attached to the ordinary service of the
canal will empty into it the fish drawn from
these drains ; then, the cargo completed, the raft
will be set in motion, and the casks, with their
bottoms knocked out from time to time, will sow
the fish as a plow would sow seed, if capable
of doing thus as fast as it made furrows.
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 63
When the convoy will pass the point of junc-
tion of another water-course one of its sections
as they are fastened by rings, could be detached
as a wagon is from a train, and given to the
engineers of the country traversed by this stream
of water; these engineers will take the portion
of the convoy in question, in order to empty it
in the localities which appear to them the fittest
to the purpose, and so ascertained beforehand,
and then will return it to the point of departure,
so that on its arrival thither, the great convoy
may unite all the detached fragments, and render
them to the establishment in order to take a
fresh- load, if the first has been insufficient, or
to wait until a second crop requires a new journey.
The restocking of all the waters of France will
be accomplished then easily, since, on the one
hand the officers of the roads and bridges will
answer for the requirements of the service, and
on the other, the organization of the entire es-
tablishment, will require but a first expenditure
of 22,000 francs, necessary for the construction
of the shed, the guard-house, the digging of the
ponds, the purchase of tools, and of twenty acres
of ground to be enclosed in the common already
given by the municipal council of the locality.
The first expenditure, or an annual credit of
8,000 francs, will suffice to commence the work,
64 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
to procure the species most valued, meet the cost
of the daily labor, and give the production an
infinite extension.
It will be perceived,- therefore, that this sum
is the smallest trifle, compared with the riches
it will produce, for here nothing less is aimed
at than to keep the supply of food up to the
increased consumption, according to the duty im-
posed on governments; hesitation in such case is
allowable only when an adequate trial renders
success doubtful; but here experience has already
furnished such positive results, that there can-
not be the least doubt of the success of the
operation.
Time presses, sir, and there are only three
months before we come to the breeding season
of salmon and trout. If at that time the appa-
ratus is wanting we loose the most interesting
part of the required work. I trust, then, you will
give me the order for a credit of 30,000 francs,
immediately open to the engineers of the Rhone
and Rhine Canal, and I shall be happy to offer
you my assistance for the organization of an es-
tablishment so founded and to take my part in
the responsibility of an enterprise which will be
a signal honor to the administration.
I cannot terminate this Report, sir, without
speaking to you of the propagation of fresh-water
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 65
\
shell-fish; experiments which I have made under
the hope of applying them to salt water shell-
fish, whose multiplication would not be difficult
to secure. Here, then, is an account of these
experiments: — I placed at the College of France,
in a basin, like that wherein my young salmon
live, fed by a rivulet, a certain number of female
craw-fish, all carrying under their tail their eggs.
At the end of twenty-five days all these eggs
were hatched, and the basin was usurped by a
myriad of young craw-fish, which grew percepti-
bly. This result proves how easy it is to restock
all running streams which an abuse of fishing
has devastated, as though they had never been
supplied. The question is reduced simply to
setting apart at the breeding season, in the
reservoirs in the form of little brooks commu-
nicating with creeks or rivers, all the females
who have their eggs attached to the appendices
of the tail, and not to allow their consumption
until their offspring is hatched. This offspring,
retained afterwards for a period in propagating
streams, would, not be allowed v to swim through
the gratings until capable of taking care of
themselves.
As to salt water shell-fish, France possesses
on the Mediterranean shore, immense salt marshes,
where the females of these animals could also
4
66 REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE.
be retained till the moment of hatching their
eggs, as they carry them under the tail like the
craw-fish. If the experiment succeed, and these
spawn increase on the spot sufficiently fast, they
may be fattened in these vast receptacles. If on
the contrary, the conditions are unfavorable, they
should be at liberty to go at large to seek an-
other spot and stock our coasts.
But this is not the only use to "which these
marshes can be put. The sea-fish are too much
liked not to suggest the means of multiplying
them, either by artificial fecundation, or by
transporting the young fish of certain kinds. In
favoring the realization of such an enterprise,
the state will have created in a few years, ponds
much richer than the artificial piscines which
were dug at so great an expense by the .Romans,
by the Gulf of Naples ; piscines among which,
however, those of Lucullus produced no less
than four million sesterces, at a sale where pre-
sided Cato of Utica, in quality of tutor to the
son of this famous epicurean. The care of these
immense reservoirs would be confided to the
custom officers of the coast, and would not in-
volve, consequently expense beyond that of fish-
ing in the waters.
While these measures were taken to secure the
multiplication of salt-water fish, it would natu-
REPORT ON ARTIFICIAL FISH-CULTURE. 67
rally lead to the means of selling them for con-
sumption at a price so moderate, that districts
farthest off from their production could com-
pete for having a supply of such alimentation
for the laboring classes. You will find, sir, on
this question materials for documents of great
importance in practical details, from time im-
memorial, on the marshes of Commachio, whose
waters are constantly changed by the flux and
reflux of the Adriatic. There a population of
about four hundred men, disciplined as if aboard
ship, is occupied the year round, in fishing and
preparing fish for all parts of Italy, with which
they have a large commerce. It would be use-
ful, then, to know the procedures by which they
arrive at this last point.
Accept, Sir, the assurance of my most dis-
tinguished consideration, »
COSTA.
I should perhaps, in justice to the two fish-
erman of Bresse, mention here that Dr. Haxo
claims that they have had great injustice done
them, both by M. Edwards and M. Costa. He
insists that they are the original discoverers, that
their discovery has been stolen from them by
naturalists, who claim it as theirs, or as belonging
to discoveries of a past century.
68 COMMENT.
In refering to M. Edwards' report he says :
"After, reading it, who would not be led to he-
live, that the processes of artificial fecundation
were not perfectly known, at least hy Savants ?
But notwithstanding this, M. de Quatrefages says
not a word of them in the memoir he presen-
ted to the Institute in 1848; while on the other
hand, when the letter which I addressed to that
learned body on the 2nd March, 1849, was read
by M. Flourens, it was received according to the
testimony of Abbe Moigno, who was present at
the meeting, with the most unequivocal demon-
strations of surprise and satisfaction on the part
of all the members of the Academy of Sciences.
M. Milne-Edwards was then immediately appoin-
ted as one of the commission to examine my
report in conjunction with Messrs. Dumeril arid
Valenciennes. How does it happen that he did
not then inform his colleagues that the matter
had been long before known? How was it that
he did not then and there announce that not
only the processes of artificial fecundation had
been very many years before described by Gold-
steit, by Duhamel du Monceau, and by Jacobi, but
that they had been successfully practiced in
Scotland? Why did he wait before making any
such statements, until he was officially charged
by the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce,
COMMENT. 69
to go to the place and examine the results of the
labors of the two Vosgian fishermen 1 We leave all
such reflections as these to the sense of the
reader."
With this quarrel we are not directly inter-
ested; yet we may be allowed to express the
opinion, that neither M. Edwards nor M. Costa
would knowingly rob two humble fishermen of a
single laurel. And yet there does appear to be
something not quite right on the part of those
naturalists who claim the discovery as theirs. It
does seem a little singular that among so many
claimants for the honor of the discovery, noth-
ing had been said about it, until after Dr. Hax'o
presented it to the notice of the Academy of
Sciences. That Gehin and Reiny made the dis-
covery there can be no doubt whatever, and to
them belongs the credit of any valuable appli-
cation.
C HAPTER VII.
GROWTH OF FISH.
We have seen by the Reports of M. Milne-
Edwards and M. Costa, as well as from other
sources, what the French Government have done,
and are continuing to do for the recreation of
Fisheries, by making large appropriations of money
and appointing competent persons to conduct and
superintend them.
The question naturally arises whether the
enterprise justifies the amount of care, time, at-
tention and money which the French Government
is devoting to it. For the benefit of those who
may regard the project as more Utopian than
practical or beneficial, I will subjoin facts well
authenticated. The following are the results of
experiments made in Scotland with the Salmo
Salar known by the common name of Salmon.
In November and December 1853 about 300,000
eggs were deposited in hatching boxes at Stor-
montfield, near Perth. In April and May, 1854
the hatching took place, and on the 15th of
April the young fish were first observed at large
in the troughs. In June 1854 the young fish hav-
GROWTH OF FISH. 71
ing attained a length of about one and a half
inches were introduced to the larger sphere of
the pond, where they were carefully fed and
attended for twelve months. In May and June
1855, the young fry having attained the size of
what is familarly known as smolts, were marked
by cutting off the adipose fin; about one in a
hundred only were thus marked and liberated.
Some of the young fish remained in the pond
but a large majority proceeded to the sea.
The largest of -the smolts which left the
place of their nativity in May and June meas-
ured no more than about seven inches in length
and weighed from one half to two ounces only. In
August 1855 a portion of them returned from
the sea, after an absence of about two months
only. The marked ones were weighed, and the
smallest one was found to weigh 3J pounds, ano-
ther weighed 5 pounds, one 5-J- pounds, one of 5f
pounds, one of 7-J- pounds, and one of 9-J pounds.
This latter one measured over two and a half
feet in length. The whole number that left the
pond as smolts were above 200,000.
Such an increase of growth is almost incredi-
ble, especially when we consider that they received
no attention whatever. It is reasonable to sup-
pose that one-half of the 200,000 returned, in fact
it would be no exaggeration to state that three-
72 GROWTH OF FISH.
fourths of the whole returned. Such an increase
in actual wealth, is without a parallel in any
other branch of human industry with which I
am acquainted.
With proper care and suitable waters, other
varieties of fish will increase in growth with a
rapidity almost equaling that of the Salmon.
Near Brussels, in the waters of the Boitsford
successful experiments have been made with the
Pike. In October 1852 about 2,000 Pike were
placed in these waters and left as stock — none
of which weighed over two pounds. Sixteen
months afterwards, these fish were taken with
the rod and line, many of them weighing six
pounds and over. All of them were indigenous
to those waters ; but it was found that fish not
indigenous increased much more rapidly in weight
than the indigenous ones. Another Pike from
neighboring waters placed in those near Brussels
was found to have increased from 3^- to 8$
pounds in eleven months. I could add numerous
cases of well authenticated facts, if I deemed it
necessary to prove the rapid growth of fish.
From the above statement of facts, every re-
flecting mind must be convinced that the course
pursued by the French Government is a wise
one as far as political economy is concerned, and
most unquestionably humanitarian so far as the
social interest is concerned.
GROWTH OF FISH. 73
Our state and National Governments would
confer a lasting benefit on the citizens of the
State and Union, were they to follow the example
of the French Government in this respect. .
CHAPTER VIII.
THK CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS,
Iff.
THIS cut will convey to the reader an idea
of the plan adopted by Prof. Ackley and myself.
The cut is not intended to represent the shape
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS. 75
of the ponds but merely the plan. These ponds
are situated in a deep ravine, of about one hun-
dred and twenty rods in length, the water being
supplied from numerous large springs along the
whole course of the ravine. The lower pond is
much the largest, being some fifty rods or more
in length, four or five rods in breadth, and some
twenty feet deep. The middle one is about half
the size of the lower one ; the upper one is still
smaller. It -will be observed that the distance
between the two lower ponds is much greater
than it is between the two upper ones, and the
distance that the water has to pass is greatly
increased by putting in a flume zig zaged in the
manner shown in the cut. This flume or aque-
duct is constructed of plank, and is about three
feet wide and near two feet deep, and has parti-
tions placed in it every six feet through its entire
length. These partitions are merely plank placed
edgewise across the flume, and are ten inches
broad. A notch is cut in the middle of the upper
edge of each plank, of a V shape, for the pur-
pose of directing the water through at one point,
in order that the trout may the more easily pass
up and down the flume. By means of this flume
and its partitions (which are in fact a succession
of little dams,) we convert a small stream of
water into one of quite respectable magnitude.
76 THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS.
The whole floor of the flume is to be cov-
ered with fine and coarse gravel, and when com-
pleted the water will be about six inches in
depth, making as nice a place for them to deposit
their eggs as the most fastidious trout could
desire.
I may remark here that although we do not
intend to propagate trout by the natural process,
yet it is absolutely necessary that they have all
the facilities for depositing their eggs, or we
should fail altogether in propagating either na-
turally or artificially, as trout must have shallow,
running water to deposit their eggs, or they will
cease spawning altogether. A great many kinds
of fish require nothing more than a simple pond
for breeding purposes, all of which will be de-
scribed in the proper place.
For trout it is very desirable to have a suc-
cession of ponds, in order to keep the different
broods separate, or the young fish will be de-
voured by the older ones. I have seen a two
year old trout swallow a yearling. This may
look, to persons unacquainted with the habits of
this fish, a little fishy, but it is true nevertheless.
The points in the cut marked A, are springs,
the heads of which are formed into pools of
about thirty feet in diameter, and eighteen inches
deep, the bottoms being overlaid with gravel. B
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS. 77
is the hatching-house described in a former chapter.
After the young trout attain to the size of
about an inch or little over in length, or are old
enough to take food, they should be transferred
from the hatching-house to these pools where
they are to remain for a year; they are then to
be transferred to the upper pond where they re-
main another 3rear; on the following year they
are let into the middle pond by means of a
spout or conductor, with a gate at the upper end ;
this conductor should be made of durable ma-
terial, and be laid sufficiently low in the dam
to let the water together with the fish run from
the upper into the middle pond.
The same arrangement is made in the mid-
dle dam, and the fish after remaining in the
middle pond a year, are let into the lower pond.
The pools and the two upper ponds are to be
supplied from year to year by successive crops
so that none of them are empty.
When springs have not sufficient length for
such a succession of ponds, or perhaps only one
dam, the young trout may be kept for a year
in tanks or a pool, the water being supplied by
a spring, and then transferred to the pond, where
they must run their chance of being devoured;
if, however, the old fish are well fed, the pro-
bability is, a great proportion of the young fry
would escape.
78 THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS
The spill, or place where the water makes
its exit when the ponds are full, must be pro-
tected by wire screens to prevent the escape of
the fish.
I would observe here, that the foregoing ar-
rangement of ponds and spawning grounds are
essential to the rearing of trout, only ; for all
other kinds of fish mentioned in this work, no
such arrangement for spawning purposes is needed,
but simply gravelly shoals near the margins of
the pond will be sufficient.
In a great majority of cases, fish ponds can
be so arranged as to serve the double purpose of
a fish-pond, and at the same time greatly beautify
the grounds. The size of the pond should be
proportionate to the supply of water, or the wa-
ter may become too stagnant to have healthy
fish. The quality of the water is however greatly
improved by introducing aquatic plants, which
also adds much to its beauty. Among the most
suitable plants for this purpose, I would men-
tion the white water Lily, Nymphsea Odorata,
Egyptian Lilly, Calla Ethiopica, Arrowhead, Sagit-
taria Sagittifolia — for small ponds, but for large
ones to these might be added the Sacred Bean,
Nelumbium, Speciosum, which is a large lily with
pink flowers, N. Luteum with yellow flowers; the
latter is indigenous to the Southern States. The
THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS. 79
shores of ponds may be planted with various
species of the more aquatic Iris, or sword-leaf
lilies. All of the former should be planted in
the water near the margin. These are all beau-
tiful flowering plants, and will flourish in such
situations.
Great care should be had in constructing
dams, with reference to strength and durability.
There should be an ample spill in case of floods,
with strong wire screens to prevent the escape
of the fish; these screens may be made of iron
wire of J inch diameter, cut in pieces of a
length equal to the depth of the spill; this may
be one foot or more ; these rods should then be
set at equal distances from each other in a frame
of wood, and close enough to prevent the pas-
sage of the fish ; this frame is then to be se-
curely fastened at the outlet or spill. Screens
for young fish when they are quite small, may be
made of wire cloth such as is used for seives, the
meshes of which should be small enough to pre-
vent their escape.
CHAPTER IX.
BROOK, OR SPECKLED TROUT.
This fish belongs to the family Salmonidce, of
Naturalists, some of the characteristics of which
are, body more or less scaly, two dorsal fins, the
first articulated rays, the second adipose, or fatty.
The different species inhabiting fresh and salt
water.
The Brook Trout, then, belongs to the genus
Salmo, species Salmo Fontinalis. Its beautiful
figure, its gay colors, and the gracefulness of its
motions, must be seen to be appreciated. No de-
scription that has ever been given, does him
justice. His haunts are among the wildest and
most picturesque scenery imaginable. The fol-
lowing cut represents a female Trout, which we
have in our pond, and which has become very
tame.
It is found from our most northern States,
as far south as Virginia — rarely in the western
States. In a few streams in north-eastern Ohio
they were found in abundance, thirty or forty
years since, and a few are yet to be fbund on
the head waters of the Chagrin river ; but ' in a
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 83
very short period of time, they must become
extinct, unless measures are taken for their re-
production.
This charming fish is equally the delight of
the sportsman, and the epicure. It stands un-
rivaled as a game fish, and for the table is
thought to have no superior, particularly when
In its highest condition, which is just before the
spawning season,
They are found in their highest perfection in
the tributaries of Lake Superior, and its outlet
particularly at the Saut Ste. Marie. In these
immense rapids are taken the finest trout that
are found in the American waters. Very large
trout are taken in Lake Superior, near the
mouths of trout streams, where the shores are
rocky, and among its numerous islands, particu-
larly Isle Royals
The -body of this fish is covered with small
scales, hardly observable to the naked eye in
small specimens; the upper part of the body
and head are most beautifully mottled like tor-
toise shell, the colors being greenish brown with
yellow; colors more brilliant on the sides with
the addition of very bright vermillion spots, in
irregular rows, above and below the lateral line.
A portion of the belly and sides, being tinted
with carmine, the pectoral and ventral fins or-
5
84 BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
ange, inclining to red, with a dark margin; anal
fin red, with white margin, and a black streak
between the white and red; caudal fin darkish
red, inclining to brown; first dorsal fin yellowish,
barred or spotted irregularly with black.
All these colors are greatly heightened at the
spawning season, particularly in the male. At
this time, he has projecting from the tip of the
lower jaw, a conical knob, which is received in
a corresponding groove in the upper jaw. Its
great brilliancy of color at this season, together
with this peculiarity of the jaws, has led De Kay
into the error of describing it as a distinct species,
under the name of salmo Erythrogaster, or red-
bellied trout. He has also described another
fish, under the name of spotted troutlet, Baione
Fontinalis, which is nothing more than the young
of the brook trout, thus making three distinct
species out of one. The cut at the head of this
article, gives a correct idea of the form of the
speckled trout ; it was drawn from a living fish,
the Naiad Queen, one of the parent fishes ex-
hibited at the Cuyahoga County Fair, in 1854.
In size, the brook trout varies a good deal ;
a few have been caught weighing ten pounds,
though they rarely attain to this size, five pounds
being considered a very large fish.
The Brook Trout inhabits noiie but the pur-
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 85
est waters, such as mountain streams, spring
brooks, and lakelets, in which the water is pure
and cold. Their growth depends much upon the
size of the stream they occupy ; if in a small
spring brook, they would rarely exceed from
four to six ounces in weight ; but if placed in
a large river, or lakelet, they may attain to
as many pounds, or even more.
Their food consists of aquatic insects, and
small fishes. They are remarkably shy and
wary, but when domesticated, will become so
tame and gentle, as to take food from the
hand. Of all fish, this is the most desirable
for fish culture, and should be selected in pre-
ference to any other, provided the quality of the
water will be congenial to its wants.
SPAWNING.
The spawning season commences about the first
of October, and continues nearly two months, but
a majority are through by the loth or 20th of the
month. They invariably seek very shoal, gravelly
rapids for depositing their eggs, and .prepare their
beds by digging a cavity of vfrom one to two feet
in diameter, and two or three inches in depth; by
agitating the water in these beds, the fine sand
and earthy matter is got clear of, leaving the bot-
tom of the bed covered with clean, coarse gravel.
86
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
In this the eggs are deposited, together with the
milt, one pair of fish always occupying one bed;
several pairs of trout may, however; occupy the
same rapids or ripple. You will rarely find them
occupying a rapid, unless there is a deep hole
or hiding place close at hand and above the ripple.
When frightened, they immediately run to their
hiding place ; but if not further disturbed, will
in a few moments return to their bed.
ARTIFICIAL BREEDING.
In order to procure eggs for artificial breed-
ing, the parent fish must always be taken on the
spawning beds, and after they have commenced
depositing their eggs, or they will be premature
and useless, as they cannot be impregnated. If
the eggs are mature, they will flow from the
female trout, with a very slight pressure, as the
cellular tissue will have been absorbed, and the
eggs lie loosely in the ovaduct.
HOW TO CATCH THEM.
The parent fish must be taken by means of
nets, as they will not touch any kind of bait
while engaged in spawning. A common landing
net does well for this purpose, where they are
in a very small stream. A very excellent net,
is one that is made after the fashion of a seine.
It should be three or four feet long, by two
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 87
and a half feet wide ; the lower, or lead line,
mounted with sinkers, and the ends mounted
with a couple of sticks, or handles, ( termed by
fishermen brails.) These handles should be about
four feet long. Each end of the lead line is fast-
ened to the lower end of the handles; the up-
per, or cork line, is to be fastened the width of
the net above where the lead line is fastened.
By taking hold of the two handles, you can spread
the net out before you; standing between the
handles, in this way, it can be slipped under
banks, where they hide, or in holes, and not un-
frequently they can be dipped up while running
from their beds, if you are standing in the stream
above them.
HOW TO EXTRUDE THE EGGS.
The manner of extruding the eggs, has been
given in a previous chapter; also their manage-
ment.
INCUBATION.
Their term of incubation will depend some-
what upon the temperature of the water in which
they are placed. With us the young trout begin
to make their appearance in eight weeks, the water
'being 42° Fahrenheit; but some will not make
their apperance until two or three week later.
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG FISH.
After the young fry leave their eggs, they
may be suffered to remain for a few days, in the
hatching boxes, or they may be removed at once
into small tanks, or boxes, having fresh water
running through them ; the place where the water
enters, and where it makes its exit, being guard-
ed by wire cloth, to prevent the escape of the
fish. A box three feet long, by two feet broad,
and one foot deep, would be sufficiently large to
hold one or two thousand. "When about two
months old, they should be placed in larger
tanks, or what would be still better, a pool of
water, fed by a good spring. It would be well
to have a nice, clean, gravelly bottom, with some
large stones thrown in, which would afford them
hiding places. If the pool could be shaded from
the rays of the sun, it would be much better,
as the water would be cooler, during the hot
days of summer.
FOOD.
The young fish need no feeding, for about
one month after they leave the egg. As they
draw, or receive their nutriment from the um-
bilical vesicle, or bladder, which is shown in the
cut, when this bladder, is absorbed, they will need
feeding, but only in small quantities, as the
surplus falls to the bottom, and decomposes,
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 89
contaminating the water and rendering the fish
unhealthy. It has been ascertained that the lean
flesh of animals, when boiled, is an excellent
article of food for young fish, or even old ones.
As the young fish are very small, it is neces-
sary, to hash it up into very fine particles, or
they will not be able to swallow it; in fact, it
should be pounded or grated very fine, but as
they increase in size, it may be given in coarser
particles. The flesh of other kinds of fishes,
where they are plenty, would be van excellent
substitute for the flesh of animals, either cooked
or uncooked ; I think this kind of food, preferable
to any other.
PONDS.
It would be well to keep the young fry in
small pools, or tanks, until they are a year old,
before removing them into the pond, or stream,
as you can have them under your immediate
observation and inspection, which is of a good
deal importance, at this tender age. After they are
of a suitable age to be turned into the pond
or stream, as the case may be, if very numerous,
they will still need to be fed, occasionally, once
per week at least, but if fed all they will eat,
it would be still better and far more profitable.
MORE ABOUT FEEDING.
It is perfectly astonishing how rapidly they grow
90 BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT*
after the first year, particularly if well fed; and
as a lean and poor conditioned fish, though a
trout, is one of the most miserable of dishes
,ever set upon the table, the fish intended for usey
should be taken from the pond, selecting the
largest ones, and put into a tank or pool, three
weeks or more before killing, and fed all they
can eat; in a word, they should be stall fed.
This may seem a little fanciful, but I can
assure any one who will try the experiment, that
he will find his account in so doing. In order
to be able at any time to take a quantity of
fish from your pond, it is only necessary to
have uniform places of feeding, and they will
generally stay at or near these particular loca-
tions, where they can be taken either with a
rod or a net.
BEST METHODS OF ANGLING FOR TROUT.
There is no fish of its size, that affords such
excellent sport as the Brook Trout. It is con-
sidered a prize worthy the most accomplished
angler, and a dainty always welcome to the most
fastidious epicure. Among the patrons of this
captivating sport, have been found persons of the
highest attainments. Statesmen, Divines, Poets,
and in fact, persons from all classes of society,
have been zealous patrons of what has been not
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 91
unaptly termed the gentle art. It has been the
theme of some of the most brilliant poets of
modern times. No angler can read the following
lines from Thompson without feeling a thrill of
delight :
"Just in the dubious point, where with the pool,
Is mix'd the trembling stream, or where it boils
Around the stone, or from the hollow'd bank
Reverted, plays in undulating flow;
There throw nice-judging, the delusive fly;
And as you lead it round in artful curve/
"With eye attentive mark the springing game.
Straight as above the surface of the flood
They wanton rise, or urged by hunger leap,
Then fix with gentle twitch, the barbed hook;
Some, lightly tossing to the grassy bank,
And to the shelving shore, slow dragging some,
With various hand, proportioned to their force,
If yet too young, and easily deceived,
A worthless prey scarce bends your pliant rod,
Him, piteous of his youth and the short space
He has enjoyed the vital light of Heaven,
Soft disengage and back into the stream
The speckled captive throw. But should you lure
From his dark haunt beneath the tangled roots
Of pendant trees, the monarch of the brook
Behooves you then to ply your finest art.
Long time he, following cautious, scans the fly;
And oft attempts to seize it, but as oft
The dimpled water speaks his jealous fear.
At last, while haply o'er the shaded sun
Passes a cloud, he desperate takes the death
"With sullen plunge. At once he darts along,
Deep struck, and runs out all the lengthened line;
Then seeks the farthest ooze, the sheltering weed,
The cavern'd bank, his old secure abode ,
And flies aloft and flounces round the pool
Indignant of the guile With yielding hand,
92 BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
That feels him still, yet to his furious course
Gives way, you, now retiring, following now,.
Across the stream, exhaust his idle rage ;
Till floating broad upon his breathless side,
And to his fate abandoned, to the shore
You gaily drag your unresisting prize."
FISHING TACKLE.
The implements for trout fishing are a rod
eleven or twelve feet long, if for a single-hand-
ed rod; if for both hands, or two-handed rod,
it should be sixteen or seventeen feet in length.
A landing net and kreel, or basket for carrying
your captured fish. Near the lower end of the
rod should be attached a reel capable of holding
one or two hundred feet of line ; the line may
be of silk, hair and silk twisted together, or hair
alone, or even linen makes a good line. For
myself, I prefer a silk line. To the end of the
line is attached about nine or ten feet of silk-
worm gut ; at the end of the gut is attached an
artificial fly, three feet above this is attached
another, and three feet above this, still another.
These are all that is necessary for fly fishing,
which affords by far the prettiest sport. The
very best of fishing tackle of every variety, can
be procured of Mr. Conroy, New York. His rods
are unequalled, and so I may say of all his
fishing tackle. Very many rods are sold as
Conroy's which are not of his make. I would
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 93
therefore advise persons wishing good rods and
tackle, to make their purchase of Mr. Conroy
himself, and they will not be disappointed.
ARTIFICIAL FLY.
Very little can be said, by way of directing
the new beginner how to use the artificial fly,
as it can only be learned by practice. I will say,
however, that the new beginner should commence
with one fly, or two at most ; nor should he at-
tempt to make a long cast at first. After he
gets sufficiently dextrous to throw his fly at a
short distance, to a given point, he may practice
his hand at longer distances, and when sufficiently
expert, he may add the second and third fly. In
lakes or broad rivers, when the water is clear,
it is necessary to make long casts, as the trout
are so very shy, they will not rise close to you,
particularly the larger ones. When making a
cast, the flies should be dropped very gentle on
the surface of the water, and should not be suf-
fered to remain stationary at one place, but is
to be drawn along by a trembling motion com-
municated to the rod, by means of the hand ;
great care should also be taken, not to let the
line drop on the water, but simply the flies, and
a portion of silk gut leader, and these so gently
as not to create suspicion.
94 BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
DROP FISHING.
Another method of taking trout, is that which
is termed drop fishing, which is merely using a
haited hook, attached to the end of the line,
having a sinker placed upon the line, ahout one
foot ahove the hook. The most common hait,
by far, is the angle worm, too well known to
need a description. Grasshoppers are also ex-
cellent hait, and may he used on the surface of
the water, or sunk heneath it. Small fish are
sometimes used with great success, particularly
when fishing for large trout.
DON'T FRIGHTEN THE FISH.
Too much care cannot he taken, to avoid be-
ing seen hy the fish, for if once frightened no
kind of hait will tempt them to bite.
The six following cuts were taken from mi-
croscopic drawings, made by myself with great
care. Fig. 1 represents the spermatozoa of the
male trout: one drop of the sperm was put in
six ounces of water, and one drop of this diluted
sperm, between two peices of plate-glass, was
placed under the microscope with a high power.
Countless numbers of spermatozoids were seen
moving rapidly in every direction ; they were
simply ovoid bodies, having no caudal appendage.
The cut conveys a good idea of their appearance.
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 95
They continued to move about with less and
less vigor for about an half hour, when all motion
ceased, owing no doubt to loss of vitality.
Fig. 2 represents the egg of the trout as it
appears when just extruded from the female,
magnified about sixteen diameters. The egg is
filled with a multitude of cells of various dimen-
sions as shown in the cut.
Fig. 3 gives the appearance of the egg eight
days after impregnation. The principal change
observable is that the cells are all congregated
to one side of the egg. When the egg was agi-
tated sufficiently to scatter the cells they were
immediately attracted together as before.
Fig., 4 represents the appearance of the egg
at twenty-five days after impregnation. The whole
length of the embryo fish is easily traced; the
head and eyes are however by far the most dis-
tinct. Blood vessels are distinctly seen running
in various directions, the aorta in particular be-
ing strongly shown.
Fig., 5 represents the egg at thirty-five days
.after impregnation. It will be seen that quite
a change has taken place in the last ten days :
Its vascularity is increased immensely; the ves-
sels given off from the aorta being much longer,
their ramifications much more extensive, and the
outlines of the embryo fish more distinctly mar-
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
ked than in the preceding cut : The cells have
also decreased in size, their substance having
been taken in part into the circulation.
Fig,, 6 shows the appearance of the young
trout when it leaves the egg, highly magnified.
Nothing could be more beautiful than every part
of the fish when placed under the microscope .
its transparency affording to the observer a per-
fect view of the circulation in every part; the
corpuscles of blood being not only shown in the
arteries and veins, but also in both cavities of
-the heart.
In the tail and some other parts of the fish
the circulation may be seen making the entire
circuit. The cells by this time have become
much reduced in size, and appear in clusters ow-
ing to their absorption in the more immediate
vicinity of the vessels. At the time of its birth
the only fins developed are the pectorals — a
natural size of the egg — b natural size of the
the trout when it leaves the egg.
MICROSCOPIC VIEWS HOW OBTAINED.
In order to get a good microscopic view of the
living young fish, or eggs, during the process of
incubation, they should be placed in a glass cell,
made sufficiently tight to hold water. By this
means the young fish may be kept alive for quite
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 97
a length of time, by changing the water occa-
sionally.
This cell is made by taking two pieces of
thin plate glass of about three inches in length
by one inch in width, and between these is
placed a piece of cork or wood about the same
size, and about one-eighth of an inch in thick-
ness. These three pieces are to be cemented
together by means of gum shellac dissolved in
alcohol. Before cementing them together, how-
ever, the cork or wood, whichever it may be,
should all be cut away, except enough to close
the two ends and one edge of the two pieces of
glass, thus forming a cell, the two sides of wfyich
is formed of the plate glass, and the ends and
bottom are formed of cork or wood. The cell
stands upon its edge and is to be filled with
water, into which is placed the young fish or
the eggs to be examined. The microscope, of
course, must be placed in a horizontal position,
with a strong gas or lamp light in front of the
cell containing the fish or eggs, and the view
will be most satisfactory.
I made some very interesting experiments by
means of the foregoing fixtures, on young trout.
After wounding the fish in some part, he was
placed before the microscope in the cell, and the
recuperative process could be plainly seen, from
98
BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT.
time to time, until the recovery was complete,
The above arrangement of cells, is also a
most convenient one for examining many kinds
ot aquatic insects and animalcule.
FI62
FIG 4
CHAPTER X.
GRYSTES NIGRICANS; OR, BLACK BASS.
THIS noble fish has been described by De Kay
under the name of Centrarchus Fascialus, and by
Agassiz, under the name of Grystes Nigricans.
DESCRIPTION.
"The body is compressed, oval, back arched ; of
a dusky greenish color, often with transverse
bands, with three oblique stripes on the preo-
perculum, or cheek." The cut, (which is a good
representation,) and the description, are both
taken from Prof. Kirtland's description of the
fishes of Ohio. The Black Bass, when full-grown,
measures from twelve to eighteen inches in
6
106
BLACK BASS.
length. The largest one, by far, that I have
ever seen, was caught last summer by Prof.
Ackley, in the Cuyahoga river, its length was a
little over twenty-two inches, and must have
weighed eight pounds, or more.
WHERE FOUND.
This fish is found from the St. Lawrence to
the tributaries of the Ohio, and perhaps still
farther south; is quite common in all the rivers
and lakes of Ohio, and all the Western States.
He is a bold biter, and when hooked, fights
with the most determined fury to the very last,
affording the best of sport to the angler, and is
excelled but by a very few fish when placed
upon the table.
The Black Bass is among the best of fishes
to rear in artificial ponds. It is not, however,
so well suited for small ponds, it being a large
fish. I should not think it advisable to intro-
duce it into a pond that covers less than half
an acre. It would be well to place in the same
pond, the fish known as the Chub, as they are
very prolific, and would afford an abundance of
food for the Bass.
BREEDING.
The Black Bass deposits its eggs in the
months of April and May, in shoal water, digging
BLACK BASS. 107
holes, or nests, like the brook trout. Their eggs
may be procured in the same manner as that
of the trout, and the same rules will apply, in
the treatment of the eggs, and the young fish,
as with the trout; or they may be suffered to
deposit their eggs, and leave them to chance,
when you do not wish to rear them in great
numbers.
Their term of incubation is brief, as is the
case with most of fishes that deposit their eggs
in the spring of the year, not being over two or
three weeks.
BEST METHODS OF ANGLING.
The best bait, by far, is the live minnow ; he
will, however, take a dead one, if played about
lively, or when used on a trolling line ; he also
takes the common angle worm, but it is by no
means as tempting as the minnow; he will also
rise to the artificial fly, mornings and evenings;
a large gaudy salmon fly being the most likely
to attract his attention.
CHAPTER XI.
GRYSTES MEGASTOMA J OR, LARGE-MOUTH BLACK BASS.
This fish has been identified with the com-
mon Black Bass, (Grystes Fasdatus]) but is by no
means the same fish, differing in many respects,
both in its habits and physical structure, and
has not been described in any work on American
fishes, so far as I can learn.
The great distinguishing feature of this Bass,
is its immense mouth, which has induced me
to call it Grystes Megastoma, or large-mouthed
Bass.
In its general form, it resembles the common
Black Bass, though somewhat thicker. The head
is much larger in. proportion to its size, and if
a vertical line be drawn, passing through the
center of the eye, we shall find that the end
LARGE-MOUTH BLACK BASS. 109
of the upper jaw projects back, or behind the
line quite a distance ; whereas, in the common
Bass, the jaw will not reach as far back as the
line. The scales are much larger, and thickly set
over the gill covers. Back, of a dark, greenish,
olive color, fading gradually to white underneath.
If found in dark-colored water, the white will be
tinged with a pinkish hue. A darkish mottled
band, of about half an inch in width, embracing
the lateral line, traverses the whole length of the
body.
Br., rays 6; Dor. 23, Spinous 9, Soft 14; A
14, Spinous 3, Soft 11, C 20 ; V 6, Spinous 1,
Soft 5, P. 13:
The cut is a good representation of this fish,
and when full-grown, measures from twelve to
twenty-four inches in length, weighing from four
to ten pounds, being a much larger fish than the
common Black Bass.
V
WHERE FOUND.
They are found in the bays of Lake Erie,
and the mouths of some of its rivers. The little
lakelets, lying twenty or thirty miles south of
this city, abound with them. Great numbers
are sold in the Cleveland market, brought from
Toledo and Sandusky, at which places they are
called the Cove Bass.
110 LARGE-MOUTH BLACK BASS.
The places here mentioned are the only ones
that I have a personal knowledge in which they
are found ; but I have no doubt they are abun-
dant in the lakelets of Michigan and Wisconsin,
and probably many other locations, though it has
not so general a distribution as the common Bass.
This fish would do well in artificial ponds,
provided the ponds were of good size. It is not,
however, as well-flavored as the common Bass,
nor does it afford as good sport to the angler,
being less active, and not holding out near as
long. Bites freely the live or dead minnow, also
the spoon and squid. Habits in spawning in all
respects as the common Bass. The eggs and
young fish may be treated in the same manner as
the Black Bass.
CHAPTER XII.
LAB RAX MULTILINEATUS. WHITE BASS, SOMETIMES
CALLED WHITE PERCH.
This is a beautiful fish, and is very abundant
in Lake Erie, and many of its tributaries. It is
not so large as the preceding species, rarely
weighing over two pounds. As an article of
food, it has but very few superiors, and gives
fine sport to the angler.
The cut is a good representation of this fish
which is so well known as hardly to need a
description.
Its color is light olive on its head and back,
sides silvery white, traversed by numerous inter-
rupted dark lines, the number varying in different
specimens.
112 WHITE BASS, SOMETIMES CALLED WHITE PERCH.
This fish would thrive well in artificial ponds
of moderate size. They would not require treat-
ment differing in any particular from the two
preceding species. I would remark here, that
there should be in some part of the pond a shoal,
gravelly bottom for them to deposit their eggs
in. This arrangement is necessary for all the
fishes described by me in this series, excepting
the Brook Trout. It would also be well to place
in the same pond with these voracious fishes,
the fish known as the chub or dace, which are
prolific, their offspring affording an abundance of
food for the large fish.
The White Bass spawns in the month of May,
The treatment of their eggs and young fish, should
be the same as in the preceding species.
THE BEST METHODS OF ANGLING.
Very little skill is required in taking this fish.
He is a greedy biter, taking the live or dead
minnow eagerly, and at certain seasons will take
the artificial fly, or even a piece of red and
white rag fastened to the hook.
CHAPTER XIII.
CENTRARCHUS HEXACANTHUS GRASS BASS ROACH.
THIS fish, for beauty is hardly excelled by any
other species of the Bass ; and, as a pan fish, is
thought by many to equal the best. It is per-
fectly adapted to artificial ponds, as it prefers
sluggish to running waters.
WHERE FOUND.
It is found in great abundance in the bays of
Lake Erie, and in the mouths of its tributaries ;
also in the little lakelets lying south of the
lake. I presume it is distributed throughout
our entire Western country. Wherever I have
114 GRASS BASS ROACH.
found the large-mouth Bass, I have invariably
found this fish.
DESCRIPTION.
Forehead and back maculated and variegated
with dusky spots, on a ground of sea green. Simi-
lar spots extend downwards, upon the upper half
of the body in irregular bands, on a ground color
of light green or yellow. The sides of the head
and body are silvery and irredescent; below of
a delicate white. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins
bordered with a series of irregular dusky spots
more distinct in old than in young specimens.
Pectoral and ventral fins, ferruginous, or yellowish.
Length, six to ten inches.
The cut is taken from a living specimen which
I have at the present time, and will convey to
the reader a good idea of its appearance. This
fish is a small feeder. In this respect it differs
from the Bass family. It will be perceived by
looking at the cut, that the anus is situated but
a little distance posterior to the ventral fins.
The anal fin being very long, the abdomen is,
therefore, remarkably small, embracing a very
limited space. It is a hardy fish, and very tena-
cious of life. The specimen from which the
drawing was taken, was wrapped in a piece of
paper when taken from the water, and carried in
GRASS BASS: — ROACH 115
my coat pocket for over four hours, and when
placed in a bucket of water soon revived, and
seems at the pr^fent time to enjoy excellent
health. In warm weather, however, it would not,
in all probability, survive so severe a test of its
vital powers.
It is a little smaller iish than the White
Bass, weighing from one to two pounds when
full grown. Spawns in the month of May. Their
management the same in all respects as the pre-
ceding species.
BEST METHODS OF ANGLING.
A small minnow is the best bait by far for
this fish, though it will bite very readily the
angle worm, and I have frequently taken them
with the squid.
CHAPTER XIV.
CENTRARCHUS JENEUS ROCK BASS.
THIS is one of the very best of fishes for the
table ; and, for its size, can hardly be beaten as
a game fish. It is, however, a small fish, rarely
reaching a pound in weight. Nevertheless, it
would be a very valuable fish to introduce into
artificial ponds, being hardy, and well suited every
way for this purpose.
The cut is a very perfect representation of
this Bass.
It has a wide-spread distribution, being found
from the State of New York through the entire
Western country. Spawns in the month of May
on gravelly shoals. Treatment of eggs and young
fish same as in the preceding chapter.
ROCK BASS. 117
BEST METHODS OF ANGLING.
The Rock Bass, like all other species of Bass,
is a bold biter, taking freely the live or dead
minnow, or even the angle worm does very well
where minnows cannot be had.
T-his embraces all the fresh water Bass with
which I am acquainted. There is, however, a
fish in the Southern and Southwestern States,
known by a variety of names — Carolina Weak Fish,
White Salmon, Trout and Growler — which is un-
doubtedly a true Bass, and has been described
by some one, under the name of Grystes Salmo-
nides. It is said to be an excellent table fish,
and I have no doubt would be every way suit-
able to introduce into artificial ponds.
CHAPTER XV.
COMMON PICKEREL ESOX RETICULATUS.
THIS is a common fish throughout the United
States, except, perhaps, the Southern. We have,
indeed, three or four species of this fish, but it
is only the smaller species that I would recom-
mend as suitable for fish culture, and these only
when we can avail ourselves of large ponds. I
- will except however from this statement the fish
termed "Long Island pickerel" which rarely ex-
ceeds one pound in weight, and has been named
by Dr. De Kay Esox Fasciatus.
I will remark here that every species of the
pickerel, including the Esox Estor, or Mascalonge,
the Esox Ohioensis, or the Pike of the Ohio river
and its tributaries, all belong to the Pike family,
and the fish commonly known by the name of
Pike, found in our great lakes, and the fish found
COMMON PICKEREL, 119
in the Ohio and its tributaries, known by the
name of Salmon belong to a genus of fish termed
by naturalists Ludoperca and are a true perch,
none of which I would recommend as a suitable
fish for cultivation, except the Perca Flavescen*
or yellow perch.
The common pickerel is so well known that
I need not give a particular description of it
It is one of our most voracious fish weighing
from three to fifteen pounds : is considered by
many an excellent fish for the table and by
some as an inferior one. The truth is, certain
seasons of the year it would form a feast for
i
an epicure while at other seasons it is not so
good. This, however, is no characteristic of the
pickerel but in more less degree is common to
all fish.
The cut conveys a very correct idea of the
appearance of this fish, as it does in fact of the
whole family. It is among our 'most beautiful
fish, and is a bold biter, giving excellent sport
to the angler.
It spawns early in the spring, seeking the
marshy edges of sluggish water to deposit its
eggs. The same rules in relation to procuring
their ova and their treatment that apply to the
trout are proper in this instance, excepting that
120 COMMON PICKEREL.
the eggs need not be placed in cold running
water.
The best method of angling for them is to
use the live or dead minnow, though they rea-
dily take the spoon or squid.
CHAPTER XVI.
PERCA FLAVESCENS YELLOW PERCH.
THIS is one of the most beautiful of our fresh
water fish. Its qualities as a table fish rank
very fair, particularly in winter and spring.
It is a hardy fish, and being perfectly adapted
'to sluggish waters, would be among the very best
to introduce into artificial ponds.
When full grown it weighs from one to three
pounds, being a very suitable size for fish culture.
It is widely diffused throughout our country,
being found as far North as 47° to my certain
knowledge, and South to 38° N. Latitude. In Mr.
Herberts work on American fish, he says this fish
has made its way to the waters of the Ohio,
through the Ohio Canal. Now I will venture the
assertion "that the memory of man runneth not
7
122 YELLOW PERCH.
to the contrary" when they were not abundant
in very many of the tributaries of the Ohio : yet
I have no doubt many have passed through in the
manner mentioned by Mr. Herbert, as has been
the case with many other kinds of fish.
The cut conveys a good idea -of its figure :
its sides are yellow varying from greenish to a
golden hue : its back and sides are banded with
seven or eight dark, vertical bars : Pectoral, ven-
tral, and anal fins are of a deep golden orange
hue : its dorsal and caudal fins are of a greenish
brown color.
Spawns in the month of May : is a bold biter,
and gives good sport, tugging away at the line
like a little hero, for a number of minutes, before
giving up. Takes the live or dead minnow eagerly
and it also will take the angle WOKHI very well.
Its treatment, or that of its eggs and young,
need in no particular, differ from the preceding
species.
CHAPTER XVII.
POM OTIS VULGARI S S U N F I S H.
THIS beautiful little fish has a wide geograph-
ical range, being found in almost every part of
the United States. There are several species of
them but I think there is no preference in the
kind to be selected, though perhaps the red eared
sun fish, will attain to the greatest size, and is
rather the handsomest fish. They are all rather
small, but large enough for what are termed "Pan
Fish:" rarely weighing over half a pound: they
are however a fair flavored fish and well adapted
to introduce into artificial ponds, being strictly
a pond fish.
This fish together with the Grass Bass, and
yellow Perch, might all be put together in the
124 SUN FISH.
same pond, as their habits and wants are pre-
cisely the same. It spawns in the month of May
seeking shoal water, with a gravelly bottom.
The treatment of the eggs and young fish
may be the same as in the preceding fish.
It is a greedy biter, affording great sport to
lady and juvenile anglers, and prefers the com-
mon angle worm to any other kind of bait.
I
CHAPTER XVIII.
ANGUIL.LA AUCTORUM EEL.
THIS most singular fish is deemed by most
persons who have eaten it, as one of the very best
for the table.
It belongs to the soft finned fish, and has no
ventral fins, the dorsal, caudal and anal, being
one continuous fin; its body is long and slender
without scales : has no gill covers, but simply
openings which are small and lie a little below
the insertion of the pectoral fins. Its color is
brown or greenish brown above, fading into a
dirty white below.
Its size varies from a few ounces to several
i
126 THE EEL.
pounds. Its skin is remarkably tough and strong,
and should be removed before cooking the fish,
It has a general distribution in the northern,
eastern, arid southern States. I have seen a few
taken in the tributaries of the Ohio river, though
I believe them to be of a different species from
the former.. One was caught last year in the
Cuyahoga river, which had undoubtedly found its
way from Lake Ontario by the Welland Canal,
and it will not be surprising if in the course of
time they should become quite plenty in the
upper lakes and their tributaries. In the months
of August and September I am told they are very
abundant at the Niagara Falls, crawling over the
wet stones1 in the spray of the falling water,
where they can be easily taken in great numbers.
They are very tenacious of life, and will live
several hours out of water, and can be trans-
ported great distances, by placing them in wet
grass ; this mode would probably be the best
way of transporting them alive.
I am not informed as to their time or habits
in spawning. They are very prolific however, and
are well suited for culture, thriving well either
in still or running water.
It readily bites the common angle worm, which
is perhaps the best bait for capturing it, and
may be taken either in the night or day time.
THE EEL. 127
This closes the list of what I deem the most
suitable fish for cultivation, although there are
some others, which may be considered by some
persons as worthy a place in such a work, among
which might be ranked the different species of
PimelodMs or cat-fish, and perhaps some others,
but enough has been said in the preceding
chapters to guide any one wishing to make ex-
periments with other kinds of fish, than those
described.
I have also omitted many kinds of valuable
fish, such as the Salmon, the White-fish, the
Shad, and many others, for the reason, that
strictly speaking they are not suited to what
may be termed domestic culture.
Should this little volume meet with the ap-
proval of the public, I intend to publish a second
edition, which shall embrace all the valuable
kinds of fish in the United States, with illus-
trations taken from Photographic drawings, aad
otherwise handsomely embellished with views
of some of our most picturesque scenery, also con-
taining statistics of our important fisheries
showing the extent of their deterioration, and
the remedy.
Any information relating to our fisheries, such
us statistics of their products in different years,
embracing as long a period of time as possible,
128 THE EEL.
showing their increase or decrease &c., or any
other information relating to the subjects em-
braced in this work will be thankfully received
and due credit given.
CONCLUSION.
GENTLE reader we have now brought our lit-
tle volume nearly to a close. I most sincerely wish
it had been undertaken by a more abls pen, and
my apology for such an undertaking is that I
have been solicited by persons from every part
of our country for information on the subject t>f
fish-culture. In fact the letters received became
so numerous that it was quite a tax on my time
to answer them, and I concluded the cheapest
way to get out of the difficulty would be to
write this little work.
My experiments for the last three years have
been so satisfactory, that I can with great con-
fidence recommend any one having suitable waters,
to engage to some extent at least in this inter-
esting branch of human industry. Dr. Ackley and
myself have at the present time, a large number
of young trout which have hatched this season,
and all 'are doing well. We exhibited at the
State Fair held in this city last fall, nearly one
hundred live trout, from six years old, down to
the little troutlet, and all from three years old
and under were bred by artificial impregnation.
130 CONCLUSION.
For the purpose of removing doubts with the
skeptical, I here insert a notice of our exhibi-
tion by a visitor of the Fair Grounds, also a
notice of our fish ponds and nursery by the tal-
ented and gentlemanly editor of the Louisville
Courier.
THE TROUT.
" ONE of the most interesting novelties on the
Fair ground, was a glass reservoir, containing a
number of young trout, artificially reared by Dr.
Garlick. The Doctor himself was there, apparen-
tly much satisfied with his pets, and explaining
the process of rearing them to those who had
not been so fortunate as to read his communi-
cations in the Ohio Farmer. The scaly strangers
were really beautiful creatures, sparkling, and
changing their hues with every motion of their
graceful bodies, leaping, diving, and chasing each
other in the very spirit of frolic. Some had at-
tained the respectable age of three years ; others
were mere flakes of gold and silver, darting about
like minnows, yet I saw no indications of a can-
nibal nature on the part of the largest. Perhaps,
after all, "big fishes" do not always eat " little
ones!"
Dr. G. has given complete proof of his suc-
cess in the branch of science to which he is
devoted, and deserves the thanks of the com-
munity, not only for the instruction, but the
gratification aiforded by this interesting spectacle."
A VISITOR.
CONCLUSION. 131
"The artificial reproduction and cultivation of
fish, have for some time been practiced in some
parts of Europe. In France it is now carried on
to considerable extent, and the produce of some of
the streams and ponds yields large profits. The
subject is now attracting some attention in the
United States. The New York State Agricultural
Society, in their last premium list, have offered
a prize of $100 for the best essay on the
Production and Preservation of Domestic Fish for
Ponds.
Drs. Garlick and Ackley, known as distinguish-
ed surgeons of Cleveland Ohio, were the first, we
believe, to introduce the artificial spawning aid
domestication of fish in the United States. Dr.
Garlick being an enthusiastic amateur in this line
commenced the business in connection with his
associate Dr. Ackley upon the farm of the latter
two or three years ago. They made several
trips to Lake Superior and Port Stanley in Can-
ada, to procure trout for stocking their streams
and in every instance were successful except the
first, when they lost a large number of fish in
transportation. After this, with personal attention
they found that by reducing the temperature of
the water in the vessels containing the fish to
32 degrees by the application of ice, the respira-
tion and circulation in the fish was so reduced
that they experienced no difficulty in transport-
ing them any distance with perfect success. In
this way they have procured at different times
150 full grown trout. Feeling an interest in the
132 CONCLUSION.
success of this enterprize, and while visiting
Cleveland a short time since, we called on Drs.
Ackley and Garlick who very kindly conveyed us
to the farm and fish nursery, situated about three
miles from the city. The farm contains 100
acres, through the timbered portion of it, runs
a ravine abundantly supplied with never failing
springs of water. Across this ravine, dams have
been built so as to form three ponds, connected
by sluce-ways between them. In the upper pond
the young trout are confined by netting across
the sluice. The second pond designed for the
fish two years old, and the lower one for the
fish after they become so large as to be able to
protect themselves from the voracious appetite of
the older fish of their race.
At the head of a large spring and near the
upper pond is situated the hatching house. In
this house is a tank four feet wide by eight feet
long, two feet deep. The water is received from
the spring into this tank, and is discharged from
a pipe near the top into the hatching boxes,
ten in number, and so arranged that the first is
higher in the series than the last, so that there
is a constant stream of water passing from the
tank above through the ten hatching boxes. In
this tank we saw the old pet fish "Naiad Queen?
the prolific mother of thousands. Her mate "Tn-
ton" like those of his sex sometimes in other
departments of animated nature, had become
somewhat unruly, and had been assigned his abode,
for the time being, in one of the ponds with the
CONCLUSION. 133
family at large. Our friends have so educated
and trained the old queen, that she has hecome
as tame as a tame chicken, and eat minnows from
our fingers readily. This fish was taken from
the tank and placed in a pan for our inspection.
She is like all this family, truly beautiful. She
measures about seventeen inches in length. Her
weight we now forget, but with careful feeding
can be increased with astonishing rapidity. We
were presented by the gentlemanly proprietors
with a most beautiful engraving of her.
It is the intention of these gentlemen to have
some of the old and a number of the young fish
on exhibition at the Ohio State Fair the coming
fall. The display of domesticated Salmon and
Trout, it is said, constituted a most interesting
feature at the great National exhibition recently
closed in France.
Dr. Garlick is now engaged in writing a series
of articles on the " Artificial Reproduction of
Fish, " which appears in the Ohio Farmer. They
will be finally published in book form, and will
no doubt prove of immense value to farmers
and others who own streams and ponds in this
country.
In every State in the Union, and in almost
every county, there are numerous springs and
streams that with comparatively little labor may
be turned to profitable account for the produc-
tion of fish. Where brisk, cool springs are not to
be found suited for trout, ponds exist adapted
to various kinds of fish that delight in still
134 CONCLUSION.
water. In a day's ride through some sections of
the country, we have frequently met with a dozen
springs and streams that might be profitably
employed in this way. In France and other
countries of Europe, not only trout and many. kinds
of still water fish are propagated to a great ex-
tent, but Salmon by thousands are reared to full
size in a very short time. In the northern and
eastern sections of our country, but more par-
ticularly near the Northern Pacific coasts, nume-
rous places abound, most admirably adapted to
Salmon. It is said that a thousand pounds of
fish in proper places can be produced at a tithe
of the cost of raising an *equal quantity of meat."
Louisville Courier.
Wishing the reader much pleasure every way,
but more particularly in his experiments in Pis-
ciculture, I bid him a kind farewell.
CLEVELAND, OHIO, Jan. 20th, 1857.
APPENDIX.
I append the following review of Dr. Bach-
man's paper, principally for the purpose of guard-
ing persons from making experiments in that
loose and uncertain manner detailed in the Dr's.
paper. However well it may have succeeded with
him. I am sure it would fail with me in every
instance.
REVIEW OF DR. BACHMAN'S EXPERIMENTS.
LURLIE BERG, near Cleveland.
March 10th, 1856.
EDITOR OHIO FARMER — Dear Sir: In looking over
the January No., of the Southern Cultivator, I
find that the editor claims for the Rev. JOHX
BACHMAN, D. D. of Charleston, S. C., the credit of
successfully hreeding fish, from artificially im-
pregnated eggs, more than half a century ago.
The editor draws his conclusions from a paper
read by Dr. Bachman, before the State Agricul-
tural Society, of South Carolina, at Columbia, in
1855. In an editorial note, he calls my attention
to Dr. Bachman's experiments, for the> purpose
of correcting an erroneous impression that he
136
APPENDIX.
supposed I was laboring underpin believing that
I was the first, in this country, to breed fish
from artificially impregnated eggs, and desired
an early response.
The reason why I did not reply at an earlier
period, is that I did not see the December and
January No's., of the Cultivator, until to day, and
shall therefore, for the present, confine myself
to a few brief strictures, on Dr. Bachman's paper.
It matters but little who was the first in this
country, to breed fish artificially, and I am not
disposed to have a controversy with any person, be
he clergyman or layman, for all the credit there
is in being the first successful experimentor, in
artificial fish culture, in this country.
I may, however, be permitted with a good
many others, to express my surprise, that Dr.
Bachman's experiments and discoveries, never
found their way before the public, until after
the lapse of full half a century after they were
made. I .trust, I shall be pardoned for saying,
that I have very little confidence in the genuine-
ness of all claims for discoveries, made over a
half a century since, and for the first time giv-
en to the public last fall, particularly when they
are of such vast importance as Dr. Bachman
claims this to be, and it is very strange, that it
did not appear to be of more consequence to the
APPENDIX. 137
Dr. until after some one 'else had made the same
experiments over fifty years afterwards, and given
them to the public.
I have read Dr. Bachman's paper carefully,
and I am astonished at very many of his state-
ments. The Dr.. made his first experiments in
1804, when a school boy, and at the time, did
not know that any book had been written on
fish, and succeeded in hatching five or six thou-
sand young fish, from the ova of some fish known
as the 'Corporal,' the parent fish having been dead
several hours. With a commendable zeal, and an
ardor, rarely met with, except in youthful minds,
he made his next essay upon the Salmo Fontin-
alis, brook trout, and here his success was more
marvelous, than with his Corporal, for he suc-
ceeded in vitalizing their ova, at least one month
before tJiey were mature. We will give the Dr's.
own words for the benefit of those who may not
have had the pleasure of reading his essay.
'A cold spring, used for drinking purposes,
poured its stream from the sides of an adjacent
hill, at the distance of about an hundred yards.
This we conducted to the pond in zig zag lines
by which the distance was increased. By dint
of digging, we formed shelving banks, arid dam-
ming up the stream in some twenty places with
ro£ks, we were provided with so many ponds of
138 APPENDIX.
from 6 inches to 2 or 3 feet deep. The water
was very clear, and, after filling the ponds, it
ran with a gentle murmer from one little pool
to the other, until it finally entered into the
pond. It was late in summer before the work
was completed. A single day ' was only left us
in our school vacation, the following day being
the first of September, we had to leave for an
Academy in a neighboring State. We determined,
if possible, to stock our stream with Trout on
that day. Our servant had to pass through the
woods to the Trout brook, and carried no other
vessels but two tin kettles. He was very suc-
cessful in taking with a hook, about twenty-
large Trout; but he had been too greedy
for numbers. The day was warm, and, notwith-
standing his having changed the water several
times, the Trout were all dead. The females were
full of eggs, ready to be deposited, all the true
Trout family spawning in autumn instead of the
spring. We again resorted to the spawn, and at
this time, with more than a faint hope of suc-
cess. We separated the eggs and placed them
together with the milt, in all the different holes
of the newly formed Trout brook, giving strict
orders, that the eggs and their young, during
our nine months absence, should remain undis-
turbed. We expected the eggs to hatch in a
APPENDIX. 139
month, as had been the case with our Corporals.
We heard weekly from home, but were always
informed that our present experiment had proved
a failure. The winter came with its snows, for-
ming ice in our pond two and a half feet thick;
but our cold trout stream was scarcely ever frozen
over to the thickness of half an inch. On the
following April, however, we received the agree-
able intelligence, that many hundreds of our
young Trout had made their appearance, and
were swarming in every trout hole in the stream.
We had a trout breakfast from our brook, greet-
ing us on the day of our return, on the following
autumn. The fish were not large, but, for their
age, well grown and delicious.'
Again, we have young fish hatched from the
ova of dead fishes, and that too, at least one month
prior to their maturity, the eggs being obtained
on the last day of August. I desire the reader
to bear in mind, that no fishes eggs, can by any
possible known me&ns, be impregnated or vitaliz-
ed, until they are mature, and this is never the
case, until the parent fish are engaged in de-
positing their eggs.
I am well acquainted with the habits of the
brook trout, and have been from my boyhood,
and for the last three spawing seasons, have arti-
ficially spawned and impregnated the eggs, from
140 APPENDIX.
a great number of trout, and can, therefore,
speak with a certainty, as to their time of
spawning. I have never known the brook trout,
even to commence making their spawning beds in
the month of September. In the early part of
October, a few only, commence spawning; by the
middle of the month, a majority are through, and
begin to leave the beds ; there will, however, be
trout running up for the . purpose of spawning,
until in November, and I have spawned them, as
late as the twentieth of that month.
Admitting the parent fish were on their
spawning beds, when taken by the Dr.'s servant,
it is no less a mystery to me, how he took them
with a hook ; with the little skill I possess,
as an angler, I never could induce a trout to
take any kind of bait, while engaged in spawning;
and the best anglers I have ever seen, tell me
the same ; but perhaps, if we had sent our
servant, we might have got twenty, or more.
But let us pass on. In the following
autumn, the Dr. returns from the academy, and
on the day of his return, is greeted with a
breakfast of the young fry. He says they were
not large, but well grown for their age, and
delicious. Gentle reader, do not call this a fish
story, for I will not, but I will say, jf the lad
APPENDIX. 141
was even a tolerable feeder, and most school
boys are a!pt to be, he must have devoured at
least two hundred trout at that breakfast. I think,
Mr. Editor, you must distinctly remember the
size of trout at that age, as you saw those we
exhibited at our County Fair, one year ago last
•fall, but as all your readers may not know the
size of trout at that age, I will give their di-
mensions : the largest ones are about two and
a half inches long ; their circumference a little
over that of a common sized goose quill.
The Dr.'s experiments did not end with his
breakfast. In 1806, he procured some of the
spawn of the yellow perch, and after drying
them for ten days, he placed them in water, the
product of which was a considerable number of
young fish, the Dr. has not told us for what
purpose he dried the eggs, and then hatched
them, but I suppose he was endeavoring to hit
upon some method of transporting them, from
one part of ,the country to another, for the
benefit of those who might wish to engage in
fish culture ; but unfortunately, he never made
this interesting experiment known for half a
century.
I will close, by assuring such of your read-
ers, as may wish to engage in fish culture, they
must pursue a course widely different from Dr.
142 APPENDIX.
Bachman's experiments, or certain failure will
he the result. .
Wishing the Doctor great joy with his hard
laurels, for the x present, I hid him adieu.
THEODATUS GARLICK.
THE OHIO FARMER.
NEW HEAD, NEW TYPE, NEW FORM.
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this excellent agricultural journal, and while we direct their attention to its pros-
pectus in our advertising columns, we also take pleasure in fully endorsing the
following commendatory notice of it, whick we find in the Cleveland Herald. — Louis-
mile (Ky.) Courier.
THE OHIO FARMER. — This paper has become one of the permanent institutions of
the State. It will soon be found in the hands of every farmer in Ohio, who prides him-
self in excelling in his profession. The new volume is out in new dress, and looks
neat as a new married couple. As an agricultural paper we wish it unbounded
success. — Cleveland Daily Plain Dealer.
THE Ohio Farmer, published at Cleveland, by THOMAS BROWN, Esq., is one of the
very best and ablest agricultural papers ^published in the whole country. We
always open it with pleasure, and never rise from its perusal without profit. It is
not only devoted to farming matters, but contains a judicious selection of news, lite-
rary and miscellaneous matter. We are glad to hear that it has a large and grow-
ing circulation'in Kentucky. — Louisville, Ky. Daily Courier.
THERE is no paper upon our exchange list which we read with more pleasure and
profit than the Ohio Farmer, published in Cleveland. It is conducted with marked
ability, and is invaluable to agriculturalists. Every week its columns are filled
with information of useful character, and we regard the selections and articles upon
different topics, the suggestions for improvement, the reports of the experiments of
others, and proceedings of organized bodies, whose object is the advancement
of agricultural science, as features of the greatest importance . It is ve ry neatly pri nted
and well worth many times the price of the subscription. — Burlington^ Vt. Sentinel,
edited by the poet, John G. Saxe.
THE OHIO FARMER. — There are few, if any papers in our country, that have gained
a more permanent and enviable refutation than the OhioFarmer, edited and pub-
lished in this city by THOMAS^BROWN. To the agriculturist it is a weekly messen-
ger of intelligence and information, bearing to him the news of important discoveries
and improvements, and the result of successful experiments in the "noblest, because
the natural employment of man." The. stock grower will find in its columns able
essays and discussions from distinguished gentlemen, who, for a long series of
years, have given attention to the raising of horses, cattle, hogs and swine, and
from the valuable suggestions of these writers he will learn much about flocks and
herds, by which to improve his own. The Horticulturist and the Gardener, will find
in its valuable and well filled columns very much to guide them in the selection of
apples, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, berries, and the great variety of
esculent vegetables so valuable to the family and for the market. The lover and
the student of Nature, Art, Science, Literature, History, Poetry, Biography, Political
and Domestic Economy, of the Field, the Forest and the Garden, will find very much,
to instruct, to please, to gratify, and they will learn that the taste of all are cared for
by judicious selections, and by able andoriginal contributions from valuable corres-
pondents. The Ohio Farmer is well worthy of a place in every " home," in our
land, for while it teaches and insti'ucts the Farmer, in relation to his soil, and crops,
and flocks, and fruits, it also cultivates a taste for polite literature and the love of
art, in the mind of'every member of his household. We commend the Ohio Farmer
to all who desire a good family newspaper. — Cleveland Daily Herald.
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