erro ‘PROCEEDINGS

*rials

OF THE

American Fish fulturists Association,

——$—$—$<—————

ORGANIZED DECEMBER 20, 1870.

ALBANY:
THE ARGUS COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1872.

ayy yee
i” f }
pitted o

(SEA |

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

AMERICAN FISH CULTURISTS ASSOCIATION

Report oF THE Mererinc: oF ORGANIZATION.
New York Crry, December 20, 1870.

A meeting of practical fish culturists was held in this city to-day,
in compliance with a call issued November Ist by W.. Clitt, A. S.
Collins, J. H. Slack, F. Mather and L. Stone.

The original place of meeting was subsequently changed to the
rooms of the New York Poultry Socigty,te which society the dele-
yates are much indebted, both for the use of the rooms and. for
various other courtesies extended to them during the day.

The delegates having assembled, a temporary organization was
formed, with Rev. W. Clift as chairman and, Mr. L. Stone as secre-
tary. It was then unanimously resolved to form a permanent organi-
zation of tish culturists, and Dr. Edmonds and Mr. Stone were
appointed a committee to draft a constitution for such an organiza-
tion, to report when ready. On the presentation of their report, the
following constitution was adopted, viz. :

Constitution,

Art. I. Name and Ohjects—The ame of this society shall be
“The American Fish Culturists’ Association.” [ts objects shall be
to promote the cause of fish culture; to gather and diffuse informa-
tion bearing upon its practical success; the interchange of friendly
feeling and intercourse among the members of the association : the
uniting and encouraging of the individual interests of fish culturists.

Art. TT. Weihers—All tish culturists shall, upon a two-thirds vote
of the society and a payment of three dollars, be considered members

_of the assuciation, after signing the constitution. The commissioners

2

of the various States shall be honorary members of the association,
ex officio.

Art. III. Officers—The officers of the association shall be a presi-
dent, a secretary and a treasurer, and shall be elected annually by a
majority vote. Vacancies occurring during the year may be filled by
the president.

Art. IV. Meetings—The regular meetings of the association shall
be held once a year, the time and place being decided upon at the
previous meeting.

Arr. V. Changing the Constitution—The constitution of the society
may be amended, altered or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the
members present at any regular mecting.

The constitution having been adopted, the following officers were
chosen for the ensuing year: W. Clift, Mystic Bridge, Ct., president ;
L. Stone, Charlestown, N. H., secretary; B. F. Bowles, Springfield,
Mass., treasurer.

It was then resolved that an effort be made to secure an exhibition
of live fish at the next meeting, and that the folowing gentlemen be
requested to prepare papers, to be read at the next meeting, on the
subjects annexed to their names :

A. S. Collins—On “Spawning Races and the Impregnation of
Eggs.”

J. UH. Slack—On “ The Culture of Black Bass.”

W. Clitt—On “The Culture of Shad.”

Dr. Edmonds—On “The Introduction of Salmon into American
Rivers.”

b. F. Bowles—On “ Land-locked Salmon.”

Dr. Huntington—On “ Fish in the North Woods of New York.”

L. Stone—On “ The Culture of Trout.”

It was decided to hold the next meeting and exhibition in con-
nection with the New York Poultry Show next year. It was voted
to send a report of the meeting for publication to the New York
Citizen and Round Table, the New York Tribune, the Springfield
Republican, the New York Poultry Bnlletin and other papers at dis-
cretion; and the secretary was instructed to mail the published
reports of the meeting to fish culturists generally.

Crecutation or Last YEaAr’s Report.
In order that this movement of the fish culturists, the first in the
way of organization in this country, might be generally known, a
copy of the report of the meeting, which was just read, was sent to

5

all the leading newspapers in New England and New York, and
to some farther west and south, and also to nearly 200 practical
fish culturists in various parts of the country.

Iam happy to say that the newspapers, in almost every instance,
printed the report in full, or noticed it im some way.

Tue Acassiz Crecutars.

For some time previous to the meeting of organization [ had
held a correspondence with Prof. Agassiz, en topics relating to fish
culture, in the course of which the professor mentioned a labor, in
which he is now engaged, of preparing an illustrated work of all the
salmonide of this continent, showing the variations of age, sex,
locality and the like; and after the formation of the association, he
suggested that the association should use its influence in furnishing
material for this work.

It appeared to me so desirable a thing to have a work which would
enable us to tell at a glance, at all seasons, the sex, age or locality of
any specimen of the salmonidie, and also so appropriate a matter tor
the association to take up, that, exceeding the ordinary powers of my
office, I took the responsibility of having circulars printed in accord-
ance with Mr. Agassiz’s suggestion, and very widely distributed
throughout the country.

A copy was sent to all the tish culturists and fishermen, whose
names were accessible, and was published in most of the leading
papers in this section.

In a subsequent interview with Professor Agassiz, at his museum
at Cambridge, I learned that he had been materially benefited by the
aid that this effort had called out, although he remarked that not
nearly so many fish had been sent in as he needed.

I consequently take the liberty here to remind you that this is a
most valuable work which Prof. Agassiz is undertaking, and one
which will be unsurpassed by anything of its kind in the world, and
I warmly commend it to the attention and interest of the members
of this association.

Mr. Agassiz cannot finish his work unless the requisite material is
furnished him, and the members of this association, and all interested,
eannot do the distinguished naturalist a greater kindness, nor the
cause of fish culture a better service, than by sending him, as oppor-
tunity permits, specimens of the various individuals of the salmon
family.

The entire expense of printing and cirenlating the Agassiz circu-

6

lars was but 88. Mr. Agassiz requested me to send him the bill for
payment, but it seemed to me se becoming a service for the associa-
tion to bear the expense, and so creditable to its record to be iden-
tified at this stage in its history with se good a work, that I witheld
the bill from the protessur, and beg permission to recommend to the
association to pay it from their own funds.

Sr. Lawrence CorresPONDENCE,

During the session of the * High Joint Commission” at Washing-
ton, last spring, T received a letter from Ton. Stephen TL. Ainsworth,
asking Ine, as secretary of the ussociation, to request our State con-
gressional delegation to use their influence with the Comission to
adopt some measures towards removing the obstructions in the river
St. Lawrence which prevent the salmon from ascending its tributaries.
I accordingly wrote to our New [Hampshire senators and representa-
tives, and the following is the correspondence which was elicited :

‘MARLESTOWN, N. IL, February 27, 1871.
HIon. Samuen, M. Berri:

Dear Str. —I beg leave to call your attention to a matter of very
considerable magnitude, and ene which the circumstance of the con-
vening of the High Joint Commission, now in session at Washington,
renders of urgent importance at the present time. I refer to the
opening of the tributaries of the St. Lawrence river to the entrance
and yearly migration of silmon, Which are now prevented from reach-
ing these streams by the obstructions and implements for their capture
in the main river.

These tributaries form the natural routes of these valuable fish, and
also contain their natural spawning grounds; and covering, as they
do, thousands of miles of river channel, their tisheries would furnish
annually, if the salmon were allowed to traverse these streams, returns
compared with which the number now caught in the main river are
very insigniticant. Furthermore, the salmon of these upper streams,
in many instances running through a populous country, would, from
their local demand and proximity to a market, represent a money value
many fold greater than the same tish caught in the uninhabited regions
near the mouth of the river.

This is a matter largely affecting the interests of the communities
inhabiting the basins of the tributaries in question, and it enlls for
especial attention at this juncture, from the thet that an opportunity
is afforded by the meeting of the commission referred to for reaching
a satisfactory adjustment of the difficulties —an opportunity which
may not return for a long term of years.

It should be remembered that, in pressing this matter, we are not
asking favors from Canada, as the Canadians on either side of the St.

7

Lawrence will be as much benefited by the change proposed as the
Americans on this side of the river.

[ am informed that the ILlon. Hamilton Fish is in possession of the
facts required by the comunission to take the necessary steps in this
Inatter.

I beg leave, as a representative of the American Fish Culturists’
Association, to request you to Use vour Influence with the comnutssion
to accomplish this important cud of restoring the salmon to the tribu-
taries of the St. Lawrence; which, both from its intrinsic magnitude
and the importance of its results, seems to be deserving of thei atten-
tion.

T have the honor to be,
Your obedient servant,
LIN INGSLONE STONES
Sec y Aw. Fish Cult. Ass'n.

Craremont, N. HH. Jlay 13th, 1871.
Mr. Lrvincston STONE:

Dear Sre.— Inclosed find a communication from the Secretary of
State Department. Your communication, directed to the iN? «Li
delegation at Washington, was duly received and laid before the
ITon. Hamilton Fish, with a request on our part that the matter
receive attention. After my return from Washington, Mr. Hibbard
received the inclosed.

Yours truly,

HOW. PARE:

DevarrmMeNt oF STATE, )
W asuincrox, April 20, 1871. 5
The Honorable E. A. [tpnarn,
Tlouse of [ee presentatives £
Str.— In answer to your note, referring to a communication from
Mr. Stone on the subject of the salmon fisheries im the tributaries of
the St. Lawrence, [have the honor to say that Mr. Stone's letter was
one of many very interesting communications on the same subject.
As the obstacles to the free access of the salmon to these rivers are
matters within the control of local or provincial legislatures of the
British Colonies, [have brought the subject, and laid several of the
letters, informally, before Sir John Macdonald, from whom I under-
stand that the obstructions complained of are prohibited by the
Canadian laws, and that the authorities are constant in their efforts to
prevent their being placed in the river, and patrol the river for that
purpose, but tind it very difficult to prevent violation of the laws on
this subject. Ife has taken the letters, and assures me that no efforts
will be wanting to prevent or to punish future violations.

Very respectfully yours,

HAMILTON FISH.

8

New Members.

In the course of the year, I took occasion to write to most of the
practical fish culturists of this country, whose acquaintance { had
made by correspondence, or otherwise, to the number of about 200,
extending to thei an invitation to join the association.

These letters met with various replies ; some few were not answered
at all, but they were, on the whole, well received, and the replies in
most cases contained expressions of interest in the prosperity of the
association.

CoRRESPONDENCE.

During the year, I have received various letters addressed to me
as secretary, to two of which I wish to call your attention.

One was a letter from a gentleman whose name I have lost, who
made the excellent suggestion, as I thought, that the association
undertake the experiment of taking and hatching, inthe usual artificial
way, the eggs of the blind fish of Mammoth Cave, to see what effect it
would have, if any, upon the sight of this curious fish.

I immediately wrote to parties in that vicinity, and in reply,
received a communication from Dr. W. M. Allen, near Louisville,
Ky., saying that these fish spawn about the first of April, that they
are perfectly white, have no eyes, do not exceed seven inches in
length, and that it is doubtful whether they would live in the light;
also that Col. Proitor, the lessee of the cave, would probably assist in
the efforts to obtain the ova of this fish.

I think very highly of this experiment as one of unusual scientific
interest, and would recommend to the Society, when a convenient
opportunity presents itself, to take measures to solve this very interest-
ing problem, of hatching and rearing the blind fish of Mammoth Cave
in the light.

Another letter of interest, which I received, was from a gentleman
in St. Louis, in relation to the different names which are given to the
saine fish in different localities.

This gentleman stated in his letter that in the course of a rather
extended fishing experience, in the southern, western and north-west-
ern States, he had noticed the following confusion of names, viz. :

The black bass is called, in the southern States, a trout.

The rock bass of the east is called a goggle-eye in the west.

The silver perch of the south is called in Missouri a croppie, and
in Kentucky by still another name.

The pickerel of the north is called a jack in the south. Many
similar instances might be given.

9

This ambiguity and confusion of the names of fishes has, I have no
doubt, impressed all of us with its inconvenience and objectionable-
ness. | have no measures to recommend tothe Association to obviate
it; for 1 suppose it is too extended an evil, and too deeply rooted, to
be reached by ns; but TE think it is deserving the attention of the
association, and would suggest that a partial remedy might be found
in occasionally collating the various names of each fish in different
localities, and publishing them in connection with the Latin or scien-
tific names of the fish, with, perhaps, some description of it added.

Norice oF Seconp ANNUAL MrETING.

During the month of December I caused to be printed a notice
of the present meeting, and, in the absence of any committee for the
purpose. 1 stretched a point, perhaps, in my authority, in preparing a
stated programme of exercises for the meeting. This was in order
to bring before your notice the objects which seem most to need your
attention.

This notification circular was seut to all professional and amateur
fish culturists whose names were in my possession, and the fisheries’
counnissioners of the various States, and was generally noticed in
the newspapers and agricultural periodicals.

In conlusion, [ will merely add that, in the course of the year, I
have mailed 500 letters on business of the association, and nearly a
thousand circulars and papers.

Procrepines oF THE Frrsr ANNUAL MEETING oF THE AMERICAN Fisu
Cutrurists’ Association, HELD ar ALBANY, FEepruary Tit AND
Stu, 1872.

The association came together at the Globe I[otel, Albany, N. Y.,
at twelve o'clock, o., on Wednesday, February 7, 1872.

The following members were admitted: E. W. Stoughton, Wind-
sor, Vt.; George Shepard Page, New York; Richards Bradley,
Brattleboro’, Vt.; George H. Jerome, Niles, Mich.; A. B. Crocke',
Norway, Maine; Edward Whitin, Whitinsville, Mass.; Theodore
Shultz, New York; T. J. Whitcomb, Springfield, Vt.; J. D. Bridge-
man, Bellows Falls, Vt.; Benjamin Farrar, St. Louis, Mo. ; George

Jewett, M. D., Fitchburg, Mass.; B. Frank Boyer, Reading, Pa. ;
A. C. Rupe, New York; A. B. Sprout, Muncy, Pa.; B. B. Porter,
Baltimore, Md.; M. H. Christler. Kinderhook, N. Y.; Gifford W.
Christler, Kinderhook, N. Y.; E. Stirling, M. D., Cleveland, Ohio ;

F. J. Chandler, Alstead, N. HH.

10

The secretary’s report was read and adopted.

On motion of Mr. Livingstone Stone, the constitution was amended
by striking out the word “and” after the word “secretary” in Art.
II], and inserting after the word “treasurer” the words * and an
executive committee of three members.” Art. III now reads:

OFFICERS.

The ofhcers of the association shall be a president, secretary,
treasurer and executive committee of three members, and shall be
elected by a majority vote. Vacancies occurring during the year
may be filled by the president.

The president appointed Mr. A. S. Collins, Dr. Jewell and the
secretary 2 committee to nominate ofticers for the ensuing year, to
report in the afternoon, after which the association adjourned till two
o’clock, v. M.

At the opening of the afternoon session, the committee on the
numination of officers reported as follows :

President.—W. Clitt.

Treasurer.—B. F. Bowles.

Secretury.— Livingston Stone.

Executive Committee.—Seth Green, chairman; J. D. Bridgeman
and A. C. Rupe.

The report of the committee was accepted, and the ofticers nomi-
nated were elected tor the ensuing year.

A paper was then read by Mr. A. S. Collins on “Spawning Races
and the Tmpregnation of Eyes.” after which a box of trout eggs,
taken at the Cold Spring trout ponds, by the Russian or dry method
of impregnation, was opened by Mr. Stone and examined by the
members. Only three out of nearly a hundred were found empty.

A paper was then read by Mr. W. Clift on the Culture of Shad.”

The next paper was on * The Introduction of Salmon into American
Rivers.” by Dr. Edmonds, atter the reading of which the meeting
adjourned till seven o'clock, Pp. Mt.

At the evening session, Mr. B. PF. Bowles read a paper on “ Land-
locked Salmon.”

On motion of Mr. G. S. Page, it was resolved that a committee of
four, to include the president and secretary, be appointed, who shall
dratt and present to Congress, at its present session, a memorial upon
the subject of the creation by the government of two or more tish-
hatching establishments: one for salmon in the vicinity of Puoget’s
Sound, and the other at sume convenient point near the Atlantic

11

coast, for the propagation of shad for the purpose of restocking our
rivers and streams.

Mr. George 8. Page and Dr. Edmonds were appointed on that com-
mittee, with the president and secretary.

The meeting was then addressed by [Lon. Horatio Seymour, who
suggested that efforts be made to introduce Chinese and other foreign
tish inte this country.

In pursuance of these sugyestions, it was resolved, on motion of
Mr. Stone, that a committee of two, including the president, be
appointed to make arramgements with such foreign countries as are
engaged in fish culture for a mutual exchange of food fishes.

Mr. George Shepard Page was appointed on this committee with
the president.

Mr. Page then moved that a committee be appointed to take into
consideration the matter of publishing the proceedings and papers of
this meeting, and that they be authorized to act at discretion.

Hon. Horatio Seymour and Mr. Livingston Stune were appointed
on that committee.

The meeting then adjourned to meet at the same place the fullow-
ing morning.

The association met aceording to adjournment on Thursday morn-
ing. In the absence of the president, the secretary, Mr. Livingston
Stone, presided. The report of the treasurer, Mr. B. FL Bowles, was
read and accepted.

Qn motion of Mr. ALS. Collins, it was resolved that the initiatory
and annual assessment be increased to five dollars, and the treasurer
be instructed to send te each new member a copy of the proceedings
of this meeting.

The committee on the subject of furnishing a memorial to Congress
then reperted a copy of such memorial, which was adopted by the
asseciition.

On motion of Mr. ALS. Collins, it was resolved that the meeting
recommend that the Legislatures of the different States pass such laws
as shall encourage and protect pioneers in fish culture.

Mr. George Shepard Page having placed his oftice in New York
at the disposition of the asseciation. it was voted. on motion of Dr.
WM. Edmonds. that Mr. Pave’s ottite, No. lo Warren street, New
York. be mde the New York city office of the association > after
which the thanks of the association were given to Mr. Page for his
kind offer.

The association then resolved to hold their next annual meeting on

12

the second Tuesday in February, 1573, at their New York city office,
No. 10 Warren street.

It was also Taye that a committee of three be appointed to
arrange with Prot. AS. Bickmore, Director of the American Museum
of Natural ite: at ee Park, New York, for a permanent
exhibition ip the museum of fishes and implements used in tish culture,
Without eae to the association. Messrs. George S. Pave, C. HU.
Farnham, and A. S. Hatch were appointed on this committee.

Prof. Spencer F. te of Washington, D.C., Mr. Samuel Wilmot,
of Ontario, Canada, and Prot. Albert S. Bickmore, New York, were
elected honorary members of the assuciation.

The executive committee, together with the other ofticers of the
assuciation, Were appointed a committee to prepare an order of pro-
ceedings tor the next annual meeting, atter which the suciety adjourned.

The following items have come under the notice of the secretary,

and ure here communicated:

Lonceviry or Trovt.

The ave of the venerable trout which was mentioned in this column
a tew weeks ago as having been examined by Mr. Frank Buckland,
has been testified to in the following terms:

The undersigned have lived about Dunlop Ilouse for twenty years
and upwards. They herein certify that to the best of their belief the
trout sent to FL Buckland is the same trout that was put in the well
by Thomas Young twenty-four years age, viz., IS48.

(Signed) ANDREW STEVENSON.
JAMES ROBERTSON.
Deniop House, January 20, 1872.

This is the oldest well-authenticated instance of trout life that we
have heard of, although there are said te be pike and carp in private
ponds in Europe that are proved by the dates on the gold rings in
their tins tou be over a century old, and Gesner speaks of a pike which

Was 267 years old.

AMEKICAN “Sautmo Fontinacis”™ 1x ENGiann.

Mr. Buckland, in Land and Water, makes this allusion to the
American brook trout in his museum: * The following is a catalogue
of the eges and fry: Salmon fontinalis, or Aimerican brook trout,
brought over from Mr. Wilinot’s establishment, Newcastle, Ontario,
Canada, by Mr. Parnaby, of Troutdale F ishervy, Keswick. These are
beautiful little tish, of about three-quarters of an inch long. They

13

lave almost absorbed their umbilical bag. and will shortly begim to
feed. I propose to feed them on the roe of soles. These American
fish are much more active (and [ was gomeg to write—it may be even
so-—intelligent) fish than the salmon or trout (isafine fori). Possibly
they have imbibed sume of the national American sharpness. [think
[ shall consult them on the Alabama question. They are very dith-
eult to catch, even in the confined space of the trough, and they often
jump out of the glass syphon tube used toe catch them.”

This is all right. except the statement of the place where they came
from, which is wrong, for all the brook trout which Mr. Parnaby
earried to England with him came trom our hatching-house at the
Cold Spring Trout Ponds, and were packed by us in the egy the day
before Mr. Parnaby sailed for England. We will add. as a matter of
statistics in relation te long journeys of trout oval that the cues,
10,000 in number, were packed in sphagnimn moss in a common
wooden box about a foot square, on the 20th of November, INSTI, at
Charlestown, N. TI. They went trom Charlestown to Boston. 120
miles by rail, on the same day. They remained in Boston over night,
and the next morning were put on beard the ocean steamer which
sailed that day. They had a long passage of eighteen days to
Liverpool, and a considerable journey by rail afterwards from
Liverpool to Keswick. At the end of the journey two-thirds of
them opened in good condition, although some hatched on the
way and died, and the byssus generated by these, and by some of
the eggs that were killed during the first part of the trip, made great
havoc.

Precious Facts.

In speaking of the new method of the dry impregnation of fish
ova, two weeks ago, the compositor made us say “ pre(cjious facts”
instead of “ pre(v)ious facts” as it was written In our MSS. The
facts are precious enough te the practical tish-breeder, considering
that they increase his yearly vield of voung stock fifty per cent, and
we have no objection tu calfing them * precious facts,” although all
we meant to say at the time was that the facts had been previously
stated.

Now that we are on the subject again, we will speak of two infer-
ences that follow from these precious facts. One is that since the
spermatozoa of the milt remain alive several days when kept from
the air and water, a cross can be effected between fish living at long
distances apart without transporting the fish. For instance, a trout-

14

breeder in Kansas can bettle up some milt from his fish in «a hom«eeo-
pathic phial and send it by mail or express to a Massachusetts breeder,
who can take a ripe spawner from his ponds and mix the Kansas
milt and Massachusetts eggs in the impregnating pan, and so generate
across between the two tish as well as if the Kansas breeder had sent
him, at a great risk, some male trout. The great ease with which
this crossing can be accomplished may some day lead to valuable
results.

Another interence is that the old theory that a proportion ot the eggs
ordinarily taken from the spawning trout are immature, and therefore
cannot be impregnated, must be given up. We have opposed this
theory all through our trout-breeding experience, and insisted that the
trouble in poor impreguations was not in the egys but in the milt, as
it has now turned out to be. But the immature egy theory had its
advocates in high quarters, and has been very generally received.
There can be no question about it, however, hereatter. If ninety-
tive per cent of the eggs are impregnated and hatched by the Russian
method, then not more than tive per cent of the eggs are immature,

and we doubt if even this small proportion are.

HerrMAPHROOITE Cop.

Str.— There was full-sized cod got liere lately, contaming ree and
milt both well developed. This. [ suppose, is what vou call an her-
maphrodite. The manager of the curing-vard told me he had never
met with another similar case in long years of experience in cod-
curing.

W.R. (Land and Water.)

Casrarta Sprincs.

The Castalia Springs in Ohio promise to be one of the great natural
water supplies of the country for tish farming — like the Caledonia
Springs in New York, or the Ingham Spring in Pennsylvania. The
Ingham Spring, it is estimated, runs 3.006 gallons a minute, and the
Caledonia Springs as many gallons a second. Dr. Sterling, of Cleve-
land, writes us that the flow of water at the Castalia Springs, the
temperature and the geological formations are nearly the same as at
Caledonia. The Castalia Springs are situated near Sandusky, Ohio,
and are now owned by Mr. J. Hoyt.

Trout and white tish are being hatched there this season with
sucess.

[t should be remembered that it was in Ohio that the first experi-
ments in trout-breeding that attracted attention in America were con-

15

ducted. The experimenters were Dr. Theodatus Garlick and Pro-
fessor H. A. Ackley. They brought their parent trout alive 600
miles, from the Sault Ste. Marie, to Cleveland, where they took and
hatched the ova. The results were given by Dr. Garlick in a paper
read by him before the Cleveland Academy of Natural Science, Feb-
ruary L7, 1554.

Rearwne Wuarre Frsi.

In reply to a correspondent about rearing white tish, we will say
that it certainly will not puy to raise them artificially, as trout are
raised. The best thing to do with the vounyg white fish after the sae
is absorbed is to turn them loose into some large pond or lake, where
they will grow pro bono publico, Mr. Samuel Wilmot, of Newcastle,
Ontario, Canada, has had ood success, we believe, ins rearing: the
young try of the white fish, and if our correspondent would like to
retain some to experhnent with, we would advise him to apply to
Mr. Wilmot for directions about growing them.

Tie Apreose Fin or rig SatMontip.r.

Extract trom lecture of Mr. Guelwer before the East Kent Natural
History Society, England :

As to the small and posterior dorsal fin of this fiunily being adipose
and devoid of fin rays, orsas emphatically asserted by the excellent
Yarrell, in the smelt without any rays whatever.” this is not striethy
correct. For though in this fish this tin is.as usualin the family,
small and rudimentary, not unlike a tatty laver ina thin skin-tili, it
ix quite destitute of fat, and is kept extended by a thiekly crowded
set of parallel and very delicate rays, extending from the back of the
fish upward to the tree margin of the fingand often projecting a little
beyond it, as one may witness by the help of an achromatic object-
glass of half an inch focal length. These rays are indeed composed
of a peculiar elassy and homogeneous mutter, like the intercellular
put of true cartilage, quite structureless and devoid of cells > uor have
these rays any muscular provision for those motions which we know
to belong to true fins, neither have the rays of the adipose tin, as we
have seen, any resemblance in structure to the bony rays of the other
fins. Still, in the smelt at least. the so-called adipose fin is neither
fatty nor without any rays wlitever.

Tne SatMon-BREEDING ENrerPRISE IN MAINE.
In 1868 we spent three months in) New Brunswick, and built a
thoroughly-appointed salmon-breeding establishment on the Mira-

16

michi river, with great natural facilities and a hatching-house 100 feet
long. We succeeded in taking that year a quarter of a million
impregnated salmon eggs, but the jealousies we encountered there
and the strong public opinion in Canada against the operations of
foreigners in this line, convinced us that the next time the thing was
attempted it had better be done on American soil, as the Canadians
call the United States. We were, therefore, very glad to hear last
spring of the project ot Commissioner Atkins to locate salmon-breed-
ing works on one of the Maine rivers, where salmon eggs could be
obtained independently of foreign control.

The scheme of Mr. Atkins has met with a double success, for he
has not only succeeded in getting a very considerable quantity of ova
at a cost of more than twenty dollars per 1,000 less than is charged at
the government establisment at Ontario, Canada, which is one suc-
cess, but his labors have proved that much larger quantities may be
obtained in future years at a still less cost, which is another and
greater Success.

Mr. Atkins’ report is filled, as his reports always are, with very
valuable matter, and forms an important addition to our still limited
stock of knowledge on the culture of tish. We should like to reprint
here seven-eizhths of Mr. Atkins’ report, word tor word, but as there
is net room tor this we will contine ourselves to the following extracts :

The most important business of the year has been the breeding
of salmon from parent fish obtained in the Penobscot river, less
attention having been paid to the construction of fishways than in
former years, and nothing at all having been done in the cultivation
of fresh-water fishes.

Our plan was as follows: To buy live salmon of the fishermen in
the vicinity of Bucksport, transport them to some convenient place
where they could be confined within a small space in fresh water, and
keep them until the spawning season, when their eggs would be taken.
All the eggs were to be developed on the spot sufficiently to insure
their safe removal, and a portion of those belonging to Maine to be
hatched out and turned into those waters to assist in increasing the
number of salmon in the Penobscot, which would thereby become
better able to afford us parent salmon in the future. Among the
advantages which this plan would have over that of catching the
parent tish on their spawning ground in the fall, three deserve mention.
In the first place, we would beyond question obtain a large number
of salmon from the owners of weirs, while it was a matter of great
uncertainty how many could be canght in the upper waters where

17

they spawn. In the second place, we should be within easy reach
of railway and steamboat transportation, while the spawning grounds
lie in the wilderness. In the third place, the spawn that we should
take away would not detract anything trom the natural increase of
the species in the river, since we should use for parent fish only those
that would otherwise have gone tu the markets, and the accustomed
number of adult fish would still be lett to deposit their exes without
molestation. The results of the experiment are the eges actually
ubtained, and the important addition to our stuck of knowledge on
the subject of salmon breeding.

The eggs cost the subscribers to the mind $13.09 per thousand. The
price demanded and received at the Canadian governmental establish-
ment at Newcastle, when I purchased salmon eggs of them in is70,
was forty dollars, gold, the eggs of a single fish costing several hun-
dred dollars. The prevailing price of parties operating in New

srunswick has been twenty doilars-per thousand tor eggs warranted

to be fecundated. When the extraordinary mortality among the
salmon we intend to use as breeders is considered, it is remarkable
that the eggs taken at Orland did not cost more. [have no doubt
that, with the advantage of this year’s experience, they can be
obtained hereafter at an expense net exceeding eight dollars per
thousand. The experiment has decided in the affirmative the follow-
ing questions, viz: 1. Whether salmon can be kept in confinement
in a small inclosure trom June to November. 2. Whether they will,
under such conditions, develop their spawn and milt to perfeet
maturity. It has also determined the conditions of safety in trans-
portation and to asuflicient extent for practical purposes, the conditions
of safety in keeping them through the summer, and tinally the best
mode of manipulation to secure complete ftecundation.

As to the conditions of keeping salmon in’ safety through the
summer, my conclusions may be brietly stated thus: Salmon will live
in perfect health in common river, pond or brook water, provided that
there be sufficient change to prevent stagnation, that the depth be
not less than four feet, and that they be not too much crowded, that
the bottom be not newly submerged, that the water be not tee trans-
parent; and, in the case of a brook, that there be not a large per
centage of water from springs in the immediate vicinity. I have no
doubt that some of the salmon that died in the pond, died trom
injuries received in capture and transportation. But the causes that
resulted in the death of so many of oursalimon in Craig’s pond brook
were mainly of a different character. The symptoms were these:

2

18

Sluggishness and heedlessness ; an inclination to swim near the surface
of the water; a white filmy, appearance of the eyes, which seemed to
be accompanied or followed in many cases by blindness; a white
fungoid growth on the abraded tips of the fins and wherever the
scales had been rubbed off; white blotches breaking out on all parts
of the body, even where there had been no marks of injury, particu-
larly on the head, proving on examination to be patches of white fungus
growing beneath the scales and pushing them from their place;
finally death.

The cause is to be sought for among the following peculiar con-
ditions to which these tish were subject: First, the greater part of the
water was from springs in the edge of the pond where salmon were
coutined ; second, the temperature was consequently very low, ranging
(June 9 to 20) from forty-seven to fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit, while
the common temperature of rivers and ponds at that date is from
sixty to seventy degrees ; third, the extreme transparency of the water
may have exposed them to tov great an amount of light; fourth, the
vottom of the ponds had net been covered with water for several
years, and there was more er less vegetation on it. Iam inclined tu
think the latter circumstance the principal source of difticulty.

I have no hesitation in advising that the operations with salmon be
continued in the same vicinity. They should be conducted on a larger
seale, which, with our present knowledge on the subject, is quite feasi-
ble. I think two or three hundred salmon might be bought at Bucks-
port next season; and, with such success in keeping them as might
reasonably be anticipated, more than half a million of eggs might be
obtained.

Fisn Cciture in Carirornta.

The great importance of fish culture in this State, as shown by the
first biennial report of the State Commissioner of Fisheries, advance
sheets of which have been kindly sent us, will attract public attention.
It is estimated that the area of the inland bays and fresh water lakes
adapted to fish culture exceeds 650 square miles. In addition, nearly
100 streams from the coast range of the western slope empty into
the Pacitic, and several hundred water-courses unite in the Sacramento
and San Joaquin rivers. The whole forms a most remarkable water
surface, and, when properly stocked with fish, will be a source of
revenue to the State ranking next to our agricuitural and mineral
resources. The importance of the development of our State fisheries
has net been properly appreciated. but enough has already been

19

accomplished to guarantee the most complete success. The commis-
sioners have undertaken the work as a labor of love, receiviny neither
fees nor salary. Those large-hearted, public-spirited and benevolent
citizens who give their time and thought to the public welfire and
happiness deserve to have their names consecrated in the hearts of
the people. The present board of commissioners, in the report before
us, enter Into the subject of fish culture at length. The immense
area in which fish may be propagated, the manner of keeping the
rivers stocked, the best quality of fish to be introduced. artiticial
hatching, the way to preserve the water pure, and various other
details are minutely set forth. One point is particularly interesting
as illustrating the wisdom of nature. By instinct the fish, in
spawning season, leave the ocean or bays and seek the particular
stream or rivulet in which they were hatched to deposit their eges.
Whatever be the obstacles, they search for a passage, and will
die in the attempt to reach their destination or be successful.
Where dams have been constructed, it is suggested that fish
ladders be constructed te adimit them an easy passave. The ladder
or fish-way is a trough some four feet wide and three feet high, open
at both ends. This they can ascend at an angle of forty-tive degrees
if provided with riffes or miners’ cradles. If the rites do not
exceed four feet, the fish can jump through almost any current.
Great stress is laid upon the necessity of legislative action to prevent
the wholesale destruction of fish, the obstructions placed in their way,
the poisoning of the waters with refuse, sawdust and other material.
The Legislature appropriated 35.000 for the use of the commissioners,
and a special duty devolves upon it to so legislate that this great inte-
rest will be tustered and protected in every respect. With our State
waters teeming with fish, we could, in case of our vast herds of cat-
tle perishing from thirst in the future, have an abundant supply of
San Fran-

the most healthy and nutritious food known to man.

eisco Neus Letter.

Mink.

The raising of mink can be made quite remunerative by the sale
of their fur, as it is a well-known fact that they are rapid breeders,
and to any one having a nice stream of spring water, it would be a
pleasant pastime and furnish hita with “pretty pets.”

All that is needed is a small plot of ground and stream.

To prepare the yard for occupancy will necessitate but a very small
outlay of money, and the subsequent expense of raising is nominal.

20

At the age of from tive teseven mouths the mink are worth from
five to eight dollars each for their skins.
Not long since we had the pleasure of examining the

Minkery oF Mr. Wexry Resstevre, of VERONA, OneEtpA Country, N.Y.

Mr. Ressigue commenced the raising of mink in the spring of 1567,
having caught a female mink with voung.

Since that time he has raised over a hundred. He sells them for
breeding at thirty dollars a pair, including box, and they can be for-
warded by express to any part of the country.

The “pen “in which he keeps them consists of an open yard, sixty
feet square, surrounded by a common board fence, six feet high, the
cap-board projecting inward sixteen inches to prevent his stock from
*climbing out.

The following is the manner of preparing a yard fora single pair,
the size tobe twelve by fourteen feet: Having marked off the ground
to be occupied, a trench, eight inches deep and titteen inches wide, is
dug around the plot. Flat boards are laid ou the bottom of the
trench so as to entirely cover it, and posts are set outside the trench.
The first board of the fence is nailed base-board style, on the inner
side of the posts. with the edee on the flat board at the bottom
of the trench. The trench may now be filled with dirt, and the
fence completed, boarding up and down. The cap-board should be
thoroughly stayed outside and top. More yard room can be added as
needed.

To prevent the mink from escaping by the stream, where it enters
or leaves the yard, place a goodly quantity of stones about the size of
hen and goose egys at the inlet and outlet of the stream.

Foon.

Mr. Ressigue states that he has net expended twenty-five dollars in
the purchase of food in tive vears. Any refuse of fresh meat is just
what they want, and is equally as good as that which would cost more.
Fresh tish is also a good food, and seems to be well relished by the

mink.

Reanine ann Prepping rib Youn.
Leaving male and female together from March Ist to 20th.
Then separate, placing the male in an adjoining yard.
The voung should be allowed to remain with the mother.
Build a small house in the yard and furnish it with plenty of straw.

2]

Give the young ones bread and milk, as you would yvouns kittens,
or the mother can care tor them,

Mink require hardly any care or attention bevond attention to the
food, as they scem oto have no enemies from which they cannot
protect themselves, are entirely free trom disease and not liable to
accident.

Bor the above we are indebted to Mr. Ressigue, whom we found

very ready to give information and to show lis pretty pets.”

SstbAd- Clery.
By Wat. Cire.

The shad (Alosa prostah/iis) stands very high among, if not at the
head of, the luxuries which one rivers atford. A seven-pound speci-
men, in the month of June. taken fresh from: the Conneeticut. anc
eooked by a housewite who has had her birth and education in that
famous valley, leaves little te be desired in the way of epicurcan
delight. The tish from this stream stund so high in the market that
the placard, “Connecticut: River Shad

probably sells a great many
more fish in all our laree cities than come from that stream. As
compared with the southern shad, they are unquestionably fatter and
of tincer flavor: but. as compared with the fish that come from other
streams along the Connecticut and Rhode Island shores, there is
not much ground for the distinction. T have eaten quite as tine
shad from the Quinebang and the Paweatuck, before the race beeame
extinct In those rivers, as the best ever taken at Saybrook and Lyme.
Tt is not improbable that they tollow the law of the erains and fruits,
Which show the highest excellence in the uerthern belt. where they
can be successfully cultivated. The coast orange about New Orleans
is at higher-Havored fruit than the orange of Tiavana: the apple of the
northern states than those of the southern. The corm and wheat of
the north are heavier grains than those of the south. We look for
the best shad in the northern limit~ of the region where they flourish,
and in these streams bioman skill should do its best to multiply the
race and increase the supply of food tor man.

Naterat Hisrory.

The shad belongs to the herring family (Cli pedir), which atford so
larve a share of the animal food of European countries. As its name
implies, it is the largest of the Jf/os, and permuminent as an article for
tood. The species nearest allicd to the shad are the alewife CAL/ose

tyranes) and the bony tish (bose menhaden). The alewite is found

22

in all shad streams, and in many small streams from which the shad
have long since disappeared. The alewife does not need to go so
far up the streain to tind a suitable spawning bed, and even spawns
in the ponds of brackish water. The bony fish probably does not
come into fresh water at all for the purpose of spawning. — It is sume-
times, however, found about the estuaries of our streams, but will not
live long in fresh water. They are sometimes cut off from returning
to sea by the closing of the tideway at the Charleston ponds in Rhode
Island, and always perish during the winter, while the alewife lives.
The bony tish are found all along our coast, from the Capes of Vir-
ginia to Maine, and form the staple of a lucrative business in vil and
tish guano. The geographical range of the shad is trom the coast of
Florida to the British provinces, and we believe has not been found
in any other locality, unless artiticially planted. The shad of Europe
is a much smaller and interior tish. The shad resembles the salmon
in its migratory habits, but is tuund much farther south. The salmon
probably did not resort to any river south of the Hudson, while the
shad entered every considerable stream along vur coast north of
the St. Marys. They make their appearance on the Carolina coast
in February, and in the New EngJand streams in April. Some have
supposed that they formed one vast shoal in the ocean and moved up
the coast in the spring, giving off a delegation to each stream as they
passed by its mouth. But the best authorities now consider that each
river has its own family of shad, and that however tar it may wander
trom the mouth, while it remains in the sea, it is sure to return. The
shad of the Connecticut and the Hudson rivers are so different in shape
and appearance, that marketmen accustomed to handle them readily
distinguish the one from the other. It is probably rare that a shad
strays into any other than its native stream. Shad are supposed to feed
on softt-shelled crustacea, the young of molluscs, small fish and the lower
orders of marine life. They have been found with vegetable matter in
their stomachs, so that they cannot be wholly carnivorous. As caught in
our rivers, nothing is usually found in their stomachs. They stay in
the sea, feeding voraciously until the breeding instinct leads them to
seek their spawning beds. They then push up the stream with great
rapidity until they find their birth-place, traveling hundreds of miles
ina few days. Fresh run shad are sometimes taken at the head of
tide water, tifty or more miles from the sea, with fishes in their
stomachs so little digested that their species could be determined.
The same shoal does not probably remain long in the stream. As
soon as the spawn are dropped they return to the sea, so much

23

exhausted that “a down-stream shad” has become a proverb for lean-
ness. The fishing sesson m= the Connecticut is from the loth of
March to the 15th of June; but tish come into the stream earlier, and
some probably do not spawn until the last of July. Those used) by
the Fish Commissioners for artificial propagation are taken mainly in
the three weeks following the lth of June. The shad of the Hudson
occupy about the same time as those of the Connecticut in depositing
their spawn. At least four months are occupied by the ditterent
shoals in performing this ottice. The favorite spawning grounds are
immediately below rapids, like these of Bellows Frdls, and) Ehadley
Falls in the Connecticut. Here there are many eddies and side cur-
rents, Where the spawn are kept in constant motion, before they are
earried off by the main current. [It seems highly probable that nearly
all the spawn that supply the Connecticut are dropped at Tadley
Falls. There is no good place for the capture of ripe tish below, and
many of the fish taken there have all the marks of fresh run shad,
and are but a few hours from the sea, though they lave come seventy
miles or more. It has been ascertained by those who have watched
the operation, that the males and females, in spawning, swim about
in circles, probably following the eddies of the stream, sometimes
with the dorsal tins out of the water; when suddenly the whole shoal,
as if seized by a common impulse, rush forward and shoot eut clouds
of milt and spawn into the water. The alewives observe the same
method in spawning, though they select ponds and =till places in the
river tor their beds. The most common term for this operation, at
the alewite fisheries, is “shooting the spawn.” showing that the pro-
cess is a matter of common observation. The ova, lett to the care of
water, are mostly devoured by tish that lie in wait for them. It Is
estimated that not one in a thousand ever comes to life. Those that
hatch are gradually carried seaward by the force of the current, and
by October and November leave the river as young tish, from four to
six inches long.

We have learned almost all that we know of the natural history of
this fish, since its artificial propagation was undertaken at Hadley
Fails, in L867. Many of the erroneous opinions held by old tisher-
men upon the rivers have been dissipated, and certain facts are well
established, though munch yet remains to be learned. [t is now
known that the lite of the shad, instead of being limited to one year,
extends to five, and probably to ten or twelve years; that the
“chicken shad,” as they are called among the pound fishermen,
instead of being a distinct species, are the yearlings of the priestahi/is ;

24

that the males are ripe at a year old, and come into the rivers,
led by the sexual instinct, while tle temales are not fecund
until the second year, when they make their appearance as sinall sized
shad; that they reach a merchantable size, or a weight of about four
pounds, in three years ; that at this age they have spawn in the ova-
ries of three distinct sizes, plainly apparent, and the microscope
reveals others still smaller in reserve; that only the larger eggs, or
about one-third of those visible, are spawned, while those that remain
are the crops for the two succeeding years; that the spawn of a full-
grown shad, the ovaries weighing thirteen ounces, is about 70,000 in
one season.

The operations of Seth Green, at Hadley Falls, in the summer of
1867, mark a new era in fish culture. When it is considered that
Mr. Green was a pioneer in this work, and had only his experince in
hatching the ova of the Sidmonide to guide him, his complete sue-
cess in a single season must be regarded as marvelous. This story is
told so well by Mr. Lyman, of the Massachusetts Fish Commissioners,
that we copy from his report of the year:

“Green began his experiments the first week in July. He
put up some hatching troughs, like those used for trout, in a brook
which emptied into the river; and having taken the ripe fish in a
sweep seine, he removed and impregnated the ova, as is usual with
trout spawn. These, to the number of some inillions, he spread in
boxes; but, to his great mortification, every one of therm spoiled.
Nothing daunted, he examined the temperature of the brook, and
found, not only that it was thirteen degrees below the temperature
of the river (sixty-two degrees to seventy-five degrees), but that it
varied twelve degrees trom night to day. This gave the clue to suc-
cess. Taking a rough box, he knocked the bottom and part of the
ends out, and replaced them by a wire gauze. In this box the eggs
were laid, and it was anchored near the shore, exposed to a gentle
current, that passed freely through the gauze, while eels or fish were
kept off. To his great joy, the minute embryos were hatched, at the
end of sixty hours, and swam about the box like the larvie of mosqui-
toes in stagnant water. Still, though the condition of success was
found, the contrivance was still imperfect; for the eggs were drifted
by the current into the lower end of the box, and heaped up, whereby
many were spoiled for lack of fresh water and motion. The best that
this box would do was ninety per cent, while often it would hatch
only seventy or eighty per cent. The spawn-box he at last hit upon,
and is as simple as it is ingenious; it is merely a box with a wire

25

gauze bottom, and steadied in the water by two float-bars, screwed to
its sides. These float-bars are attached, not parallel to the top line
of the box, but at an angle to it, which makes the box float with one
end tilted up, and the current striking the gauze bottom at an angle,
is deflected upwards, and makes such a boiling within as keeps the
light shad eggs constantly free and buoyed up. The result was a
trinmph. Out of 10.000 placed in this contrivance, all but seven
hatched. In spite of these delays, and the imperfect means at hand
for taking the fish, Green succeeded in hatching and setting tree many
millions of these tiny try.”

This simple contrivance of Green’s is one of the most important
discoveries of modern times. Its grandeur will be much better
understovd ten years hence, when it shall have been applied to all
our shad streams, and the yield shall have been increased, some
thirty, some sixty, and sume a hundred fold. We do not see
why the increase may not be, under favorable circumstances, a
hundred fold. In the natural process not one egy in a thou-
sand comes to life. By artificial propagation nearly ninety-nine
per cent are hatched, and thus the most perilous time in the
shad’s life—the embryo period—is bridged over. It is estimated,
by those who have carefully studied the subject, that one-fourth of the
fry bred in a stream return from the sea. [f anything like this pro-
portion escape the perils of the sea, the task of filling our rivers with

shad is an easy one. The fry are now hatched at a cost not to exceed

ten dollars a million, and the process will become very much cheap-
ened as the parent tish become more plenty. The process as yet has
only been fairly applied in the Hudson and Connecticut rivers; and
with more spawners and more money ten times as many fish could be
turned into these streams every year. Only a small part of the breed-
ing grounds of either of these rivers has been opened. Yet. with the
limited application of this discovery made the past five vears, there
has been a glut of this fish in the markets where they were suld, the
finest fish selling fur ten cents cach. If the State Legislatures will
but place sufticient funds at the disposal of our Fish Commissioners,
every stream on the Atlantic seaboard can be so tilled with shad that
they will sell at all the fisheries for one cent a pound within the next
ten years. This cannot fail to affect the price of all uther fish, and
all other animal food. Cheap food under our institutions means the
elevation of all the laboring classes, a creat increase of their comforts
and luxuries, and the improvement of their social and moral condition.

We had the pleasure of witnessing the process of taking the spawn

26

and hatehing it, as it was performed by Mr. Smith, at Hadley Falls, the
past season. The seines are drawn only at night, and there are three
hauls made between eight and twelve o'clock, at intervals of almost
an hour, because it is found that no ripe shad are taken by day. From
one to two hundred fish were taken at each haul, the female fish increas-
ing with the lateness of the hour. As soon as the shad were hauled
to the shure, they were taken in large baskets to the pan. where they
were stripped. Two men held the fish over the pan, while Mr. Smith
stripped the most of them in less than a minute each. Some of the
males were not ripe, and were not stripped at all. As fast as they
were finished they were thrown into the pan and sold to hucksters,
Whose wagons were waiting for them. The tishing had ceased at all
the places below, and the spawners were very plenty. The milt was
brought into contact with the spawn by gentle stirring with the hand,
and the contact of the two Was so instantaneous, after the emission trom
the parent fish, that few eggs could escape impregnation. The eggs
swell immediately after impregnation from 9-LO0 to 13-LO0 of an inch
in diameter, nearly doubling their bulk in the vessel. Another very
curious fact is the sudden sinking of the temperature of the water,
about ten degrees, in which the eggs are suspended. After the eggs
have remained a half hour or more in the pans, they are carefully
washed and placed in the hatching boxes, which are suspended in long
rows trom a boom fastened across the current of the river.

From what has actually been accomplished in the Hudson, the
Connecticut and the Merrimac, there can be no reasonable doubt
about the restoration of shad to all our depleted and barren rivers
upon the Atlantic coast. [ think we have every reason to expect that
the great rivers of the Missouri and Mississippi valley ean be abund-
antly supplied with this tish. A pioneer movement was made in this
direction some twenty years ago, by Dr. N.C. Daniell of Savannah,
Ga., and an account of it was given by him to the Academy of Natu-
ral Sciences in Philadelphia, and is found in their proceedings. He
says: “ Having long doubted the generally received theory of the
annual migration south from the northern seas of the white shad, and
of the consequent annual migration this way of the young fry
hatched frum the eggs deposited by their parents in our fresh-wat,+r
streams, I made inquiry of our fishermen, and learned that m te
but distinctive differences were readily detected between the
shad taken in the Savannah river and those taken in the @
river, eighteen miles south of the Savannah. Fully satisfi.
fact, I readily concluded that the hea

! +;, rhe sen

27

never yo so far from the mouth of the river as to lose their connection
with it, and that they ascend in the spring the same river which they
had descended as young tish the previous summer. Then the feed-
ing ground, su to speak, is in vr near the mouth of the river. If the
young shad does attain its growth at the mouth of the Savannah and
of the Ogeechee rivers, may there not be equally good feeding grounds
at the mouth of the Alabama and other rivers flowing into tie Gulf
of Mexico? To solve this question, 1, with the aid of my friend,
Mart. A. Cooper, Esq, whose residence on the Etowah river, in Bar-
bon county, supplied an eligible locality for the experiment, in the
early summer of 1548 had placed in a small tributary of the Etowah
river the fecundated eges of the white shad, which [To had myself
carefully prepared at my plantation on the Savaunah river, ten miles
above this city, from living parents. These eyes so deposited by
Major Cooper, were daily visited by him until they had all hatched.
In 1851 or 1852 the white shad were taken in the tish traps at the
foot of the falls of the Alabama, at Wetumpka, and of the Black
Warrior, near Tuscaloosa.

* Through the kindness of a friend at Montgomery, Ala., a shad taken
from the Alabama river was sent to Prof. Holbrook of Charleston,
S. C., who pronounced it the white shad of our Atlantic streams.
They have gradually increased in quantity since they first appeared,
and have, year by year, increased in size, until they are now equal to
the best Savannah river shad.

“The white shad have chietly been taken in the traps at the foot of
the fall at Wetumpka, and near Tuscaloosa. One, [am informed, has
been taken from a trap at the head of the Coosa river, near Rome,
in this State; and only some sixty miles below the locality in| which
the egys were deposited by Major Couper in a tributary of the Etowah
river; I also learn that some few have been taken with a dip net
near Selma.

* T think we may safely conclude that the white shad may be as suc-
cessfully established in the Mississippi river as it has been in’ the
Alabama. Since feeding grounds for that delicious fish exist at the
mouth of one river flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, may they not
Ceeist at the mouths of other or all the rivers discharging into that

Time must answer that question.”
hink there can be very little doubt of the success of the effort
“ish shad in all the streams that empty into the gulf. They
sé Tatitude Ls the shad streams of the Atlantic coast,

2. ,- tale Dp

‘an the Alabama. If the shad can

28

have good breeding grounds in tolerably clear water, I apprehend
there will be no ditticulty from the amount of soil held in suspension
in the lower part of the river. The fry will remainin the clear water,
it that suits them better, until they are prepared to migrate to the
sea. If Congress should favor the memorial that we propose to make,
and grant ar appropriation for fish culture, the experiment of plant-
ing shad in western waters can be tried the coming season. It will
cost but little, in any event, and if it succeed, it will give cheap fish
to all our western States and territories, and supply one of their

greatest wants.

SPAWNING RACES FOR BROOK TROUT
Read at the annual meeting of the American Fish Culturists’ Association, February,
1872, by A. S. CoLiins.

All spawning races now in use may be divided into two classes.
The tirst used for getting fish in a ripe state for the purpose of obtain-
ing and impregnating the eggs artificially, and the second used for
obtaining the impregnated eggs as laid by the fish. The races of the
first class for artificial spawning are simple in construction. They
should be made about four feet wide, not less than thirty feet long,
and the depth of the water over the gravel varying, with the size of
the tish, from six to twelve inches. (As Iam speaking to practical
tish-breeders I do not enter into details, which they will all under-
stand.) There being no gravel in the ponds, the fish will enter into
these races during the spawning season only when ripe or nearly ripe.
The eggs can be easily taken from nearly every tish pond at any time
in these races. They can be impregnated, and will make as good and
healthy tish as if laid by the trout themeselves. No moderate pres-
sure will force the eggs from a fish unripe or even nearly ripe.

The races of the second class, or these used for obtaining the natur-
ally impregnated eggs of fish, are of much more vomplex construction,
These races are of two kinds. In the first the eggs are left to hateh
naturally, the fish being excluded at the end of the spawning season,
The simplest form of these is made by screening off the upper part of
a spring brook, allowing the trout free access to it during the spawn-
ing season, and driving them all to the lower part of the stream as
soon as the season is closed. The eges above have then a chance to
hatch, and the yeung tish to develop, the screen being made fine
enough to prevent the voungy fish from passing through. This arrange-
nent seems to be very simple, but is rather difficult to put in practice
for several reasons. It is hard to get the screen down se that the

c¥

29

rater shall pass only through it, and as the meshes are necessarily tine,
the sereen must be large in comparison with the volume of water to
pass through: and, when right in all other respects, it is Hable to be
constantly clogged by floating particles of moss, weeds, leaves, ete.,
and must be carefully watched and cleaned. The plan may answer
well enough tor one who wishes to produce only a siall supply of
tish annually, but the plan will not answer for any one who wishes a
large supply, and that most of the eges Tatd should produce fish,
because only those eges will produce tish which are laid so that the
water shall constantly pass round them, and the fact being that
only those laid over the spring itself, or in a strong and: shallow
current, are placed in these conditions. The favorable Jocalities
being limited, the fact is that comparatively few of the exes hatch.
Furman’s patent race, or “brook shanty.” as he terms it, obvi-
ates these difficulties, .A0 ditch is dug, say two feet deep. four
feet wide, and several diundred feet lone. The sides are uiade
of boards. At the distance of tive or six inches from the bet-
tom oa cleat is mailed to each side. Upon these cleats are lud cross
pieees of planks about three inches wide and four feet lone. These
cross pieces are not laid close together, but have an interstice of one-
quarter or one-eighth of an inch. Upon these cross pieces eravel is
laid to the depth of four or five inches. Now, then, if at the head of
the race a partition is made te run across the race from the top to
within six inches of the bottom, it will be seen that all the water will
be delivered under the planks supporting the gravel; and if at the
end of the race a tight bulkhead is made reaching from the bottom
to within four inches of the top of the race (or in other words twenty
inches deep), it will be seen that the water can be let out only atter
rising trom the bottom through the cracks in the planking, percolating
evenly through the gravel, and rising to a height of about six or cight
inches above it. The height being regulated by the height of the
bulkhead at the end, it will be seen that this formes an artificial spring,
the water rising up through the eravel and being equally distributed
throughout the whole length of the race. The advantayes claimed
for the race are that it dispenses with a hatching-house and the labor
required there, and that it can be used in any place where there is a
spring of water or marshy ground, or by the side of a stream, It is
claimed that the fish thus hatched are more healthy, and, when pro-
perly fed, show no extraordinary tendency to die during infancy.
The disadvantages of the race are that not so many of the egys are

hatched as by other methods, that they cannot be cared for as in

30

accessible troughs, that the trout will disturb each other’s beds and
eat more or less of the eggs, and that no» eggs can be gathered for
transportatiun elsewhere. Of course I cannot here enter into a full
discussion of any race, as the subject is too extensive, but can only
indicate some prominent points. The above-mentioned, so far as I
know, are the only kind of races used for the production of the fish
without collection of eggs into hatching-houses. The second class of
spawning races are those made for the purpose of obtaining the eggs
after the fish shall have laid and impregnated them in the natural
manner. These, so far as I am aware, are all either constructed on
one principle or are modifications of that principle. The idea under-
lying them all is the natural spawning race invented by Stephen H.
Ainsworth, who deserves to be called, as he often is, the © father of
fish culture in America.” I suppose, of course, that you are all
familiar with the construction of his race: the wire screens being
made in the shape of double boxes two feet square, each set being
taken up separately and the eggs removed. Now, this was a great
step, so far as it went. I myself do not believe that the naturally
impregnated eggs are better in any respect than those taken arti-
ficially. Opinions vary, and the question is not yet definitely settled ;
but be this as it may, every fish-breeder will have more or less
use for some screen of the kind. Those who believe only in
the natural impregnation will have them of course; and those
who, for any reason, prefer artificial impregnation will still need
such a screen intheir races to gather the eggs which will inevi-
tably be dropped in the intervals of taking. The practical difti-
culty in the use of Ainsworth’s screen, as invented by him,
is that each of the two-feet boxes has to be taken up sepa-
rately, the top boxes set on one side, and the eggs feathered off the
lower screen into a pan of water. As this must be done ander water,
the operation is neither pleasant or endurable in very cold) weather.
Then, again, the gravel has a great tendency to get out of the boxes,
and between them and on the cleets, rendering a great deal of poking
necessary before the box can be put back again into its proper place ;
also, the time constimed would inake a great deal of help necessary to
the tish-breeder, and not only much, but skilled labor, which it is
almost impossible now to find. Besides, the fish are driven off the
race back into the pond every time the race is taken. For these and
other reasons some modification of the Ainsworth plan is absolutely
necessary to every one who breeds tish on a large scale. The moditi-
cations which have come tu my notice are as follows: In the “draw

31

plan” a race is first made containing a single row of Ainsworth
screens; a parallel race of the same length is made by its side. This
is a blind race, or one intu which the fish cannot enter. The upper
screens in the first race are made stativnary, and the under screens
are 60 placed on slides that they can be reached from the parallel race
and drawn out into it. This arrangement dues away with the removal
of the upper screen, the displacement of gravel, driving away the tish,
saves some time, and is so far an improvement. But it does not
obviate the other difficulties. There is still tuv much working in cold
water and too much time taken, and a double race is rendered neces-
sary. Another modification uf the Ainsworth race is what I should
call the hook-and-eye slide. The upper screens are made stationary,
as in the former case. Cleats for the under screens are made along
the whole length of the race. The under screens are made as usual,
except that two houks are fastened into one side and two eyes into
the opposite side. Then the operator, standing at either end of the
race, slides in one of the under screens, placing the eyes toward him.
Taking another screen, he fits its two hooks into the eyes of the first.
The second screen pushes the first further in, and so on to the end.
When the race is tu be drawn, the first screen is pulled out its full
length, unhooked, and the eggs are taken. The second is thus
brought into reach, pulled out, unhooked, ete. This race takes up
less room than the former; but its screens are also ten or twelve
inches under water, and the contrivance, like the other, is clumsy,
unhandy, and requires tuo much labor. The other modification of
the Ainsworth race is my own patent roller screen. This has been
in use for three years at vur establishment (Seth Green and A. S.
Collins, at Caledonia, N. Y.), and we still think it the best thing for
the purpose. In this contrivance the race should be made about four
feet wide and thirty feet long. The upper screens, instead of being
made single, are made in sections of any convenient size. A roller is
fixed in each end of the box, under the upper screens, and, instead of
under screens, an endless apron of wire-cloth is made to pass over the
rullers the whole length and width of the race. An apron, twenty-
five or thirty feet long, would be liable to sag in the middle, but cross
pieces are fastened to it, which slide upon cleets nailed to the side of
the box, and the whole upper side of the apron is kept at a distance of
one inch from the upper screen. Two cog-wheels are connected with
one of the rollers, by means of which it can be turned from above
with acommon crank handle; and also a tin pan, four inches wide
and fuur feet long, or better, four pans of a foot each, set into a light

32

frame. When the eggs are to be taken a small gate in the
front part of the box is raised, the frame of the pans lowered
in front of the forward roiler, and the crank turned. The
crank turns the roller, the roller, by friction, turns the endless
apron, and as the eggs on the apron come forward over the roller
they drop into the pan. When the apron has been turned one-half
round the eggs are all off. The pan is lifted out, the gate shut, and
that is all till next time. It does not require ten minutes to take the
largest race, and the hands are absolutely free from any contact with
the water. For these and other reasons, not necessary to mention
here, I claim that this is the best form of the Ainsworth race. The
great disadvantage of the whole series is that they take so much more
room than the race for taking artificially impregnated eggs. Into the
latter the fish crowd as the best place to spawn, and are daily taken
out, thus making room for others. In the Ainsworth they must have
room actually to perform the operation, and as each pair practically
use from twelve to twenty-five, or more, syuare feet, a large pond
must have several of these races, in order to secure all the eggs.

[ have endeavored to present a few facts relating to my subject in
as brief and compact a manner as possible. It will be seen that the
minuti of tish breeding are studied very closely in this country.
But. from the very nature of the case, it will still be many years
before the best plans are definitely settled and accepted.

THE INTRODUCTION OF SALMON INTO AMERICAN
WATERS.

A paper read betore the American Fish Culturists’ Association, at its first annual
meeting, held at Albany, N. Y., Feb. 7th and 8th, 1872, by Dr. M. C. Epmonps.
The subject of the * introduction of salmon into American waters”

having been assigned me by the president of this Association, I shall

proceed, without very many preliminaries, to give you what I have
gleaned upon that subject.

It is well known to you that the question of salmon culture, and
the introduction of salmon to our rivers is yet In its infancy, and
nothing sure and certain has resulted from our labors thus tar, so that
really the matter yet remains an experiment with us. England, in
less than half the time, has accomplished much, goes on in the work -
successtully, and now reaps a rich harvest from her labors. It is true
that we have been as faithful laborers in the tield as she, and I dare
say should have been as successful had our efforts been as individual-

ae 4

ized as theirs. Why she accomplishes so much is the fact that
associated individual effort always does the work in) the quickest
possible manner, while the work in] America has been under the
auspices of State legislation, and confined to a few quite impracticable
men like myself. The work accomplished in Eneland is tor the tew,
while here in America the work Is for the many. The rivers there
are individual and corporate property, while with us it is the property
of the eminent domain, and consequently the stocking of our rivers
is very slow and uncertain. A few States in: New Eneland have
begun in the work, and have labored as well as they could under the
encouragement they have received. They conceived it to be the work
of the State instead of the work of the individual. Seo we find such
men us Geo. P. Marsh, of Vermont, and Al UH. Robinson. of New
Hampshire, making a lengthy report, almost simultaneously, to their
respective State Legislatures upon the subject of restocking the rivers
with migratory sea fish.

These reports were made as carly as the year [SO7, setting forth whit
the Old World was doing in the matter of fish culture, and that like
results could be effected with us. Yet nothing was done by the
Levislatures till much liter. Trout breeding was first cneaged in by
individual etfort about this time, and seemed to cueaee the whole
attention of the public, and nothing more was done about the matter
of migratory sea tish till TS64 and i865, when several of the New
England States passed sundry resolutions touching the matter. Fish
commissions were appointed. concurrent legislition iad, and the
enterprise set agoing. From one to two years was spent by the fish
commissions of the States in perfecting the laws touching this matter,
making themselves acquainted with the business before them, and
finally, in L866, starting Dr. Fletcher, of Concord, N. IL, for adult
salmon, in New Brunswick.

The doctor writes me that “in Auvust, 1866, IT went to New
srunswick, accompanied by Arthur Fletcher, of this city (both of us
employed by the commission), for the purpose of transporting some
of the adult salmon alive, intending thereby to restock our rivers with
that fish; but were unable to procure them in suitable condition tor
transportation at that time.”

From the account given by Dr. Fletcher, it seems that he alone was
the first man who started out in pursuit of the salmon, yet Mr. Norris
tells us that “the first attempt at breeding salinon artificially in. the
United States was by James DB. Johnson, Esq., of New York city,
who imported ova of the salmon trom the Danube in Ls64, and

3

34

hatched them in New York city by Croton water,” but they all died
“from preventable causes when liberated.” Let this matter be as it
may, it was certainly a failure in the introduction of salmon into
American waters. Dr. Fletcher writes me: “ In September, 1866, I
again went alone tu New Brunswick for the ova of the salmon, and
succeeded in bringing home some twenty or twenty-five thousand
impregnated ova.” Of these a large number were put into the
Merrimac river, at Woodstock and Thornton, N. IL, without being
artificially hatched, and whether all or even any salmon fry were
hatched out, the doctor is unable to state. A few hundred, and the
remainder of this lot of eggs, the doctor hatched out artificially, at
Concord. We writes me: “I keptand hatched a few hundred tor the
purpose of studying them during the period of incubation, and also
observing their changes and growth after hatching.” Also, “TI saved
specimens of them when hatched, fifteen days old, one month old, wand
once a month up to a year old; and when sixteen months old I placed
the remainder of them in the Pemigwassett, at Compton, by order
of the commissioner.” These were the first salmon placed in our
waters that I have any knowledge of, and being placed there at sixteen
months old they must have been quite large smolts — almost approach-
ing the period when some of them were about putting on the grilse
character. Supposing them to have hatched out as early as February,
1867, the sixteen months following their birth would have made it
June, 1868, when they were placed in the Pemigwassett, at Compton.
This, the tirst real undertaking of the kind, was a success so far as
the introduction of the salmon into our waters was concerned, and if
any definite knowledge could be had with reference to the eggs which
the doctor put into the Merrimac at Woodstock and Thornton having
hatched, we could date their first introduction as early as March, LS67.
The opinion is favorably entertained that quite a considerable number
did hatch of those left in the waters of the Merrimac at Woodstock,
and that we may safely reckon the spring of 1867 as the correct date
of their introduction to American waters. Be this asit may, no after
consideration of their return has contirmed the opinion entertained.

In 1867 he writes me: “I again went to New Brunswick for
another lot of salmon ova, and succeeded in bringing home as many as
I could pack in four champagne baskets, 100,000 or more.” One-
half of these were distributed by the commission to Robinson & Hoyt,
of Meredith, N. H., and the other half to Livingston Stone, of
Charlestown, N. H. Only twelve per cent of this lot of eggs were
impregnated, and about ninety-nine per cent of the impregnated ones

3D

hatched. Mr. Robinson reports his lot to be 5,000, which were put
into the Merrimae river, as also were those hatched by Mr. Stone,
the entire yield of those eggs being 10,000 salmon fry.

In the year 1868 Mr. Livingston Stone built the salmon-breeding
establishment on the Miramichi river, N. B., near the locality
where Dr. Fletcher obtained his first and second stock of salmen ova.

Mr. Stone succeeded in bringing home that year, 183,000, as he
writes me, which were hatched in various localities, mostly, however,
at his establishment in Charlestown, N. H. These were mainly dis-
tributed in the Merrimac river. Some of the eggs were hatched by
Mr. Brackett, fish commissioner of Massachusctts, and turned into
the Mystic river, in that State, and 1,500 by Bacon & Co., which were
put into streams near Cape Cod.

Two thousand young salmon fry from this lot of eggs hatched by Mr.
Stone were purchased by Commissioner Hagar, of Vermont, and put
into West river, a tributary of the Connecticut river, at Weston, Vt.,
and Winooski river, a tributary of Lake Champlain. Those placed in
West river were under my charge through the early part of the season
of 1869. They were placed in that river on the 11th day of May,
1869, in a cove or estuary, into which debouched a cold spring brook.
They seemed to thrive well during the summer and early autumn,
till the memorable fall freshet of 1869, when they were carried out of
their nice little home, and I lost sight of them. Many, however, sur-
vived the treshet, and came back into the springs for Winter quarters.

Several were seen in the summer of 1870 in adjoining towns. In
faet, several were caught in the town below, situated on West river,
and, when their character was fully known, returned again tu the river.
Tam told that two out of this lot were « aught at Windsor Lock in
Connecticut, on their way to sea in 1870.

In the year 1869, Commissioner Hagar, of Vermont, brought from
the Miramichi river, N. B., some 40,000 or 50,000 salmon ova, which
1atched at this establishment in Chester, Vt. Out of this num-
as nearly vr quite eighty per cent hatched and were all put
the Connecticut river at Weston, and Chester, Vt.

vva brought into the State that year, and
buted in Vermont waters.

ine froin the Miramichi river, N. B., about
hich were principally sold and distributed to the
commissioners of Maine and Connecticut; although our worthy
president, Mr. Clift, of Mystic Bridge, Conn., received his pro rata
allowance. These were hatched and distributed to the various streams

36

in their respective States. Those sent to Mr. Atkins, the comimis-
sioner of Maine (out of this year’s invoice), were found to be covered
with frost when he unpacked them, vet nearly 100 per cent hatched.
I think a like result was obtained in the hatching of the remainder
of these exgs by Mr. Clit.

In LS70 the fish commissioners of Maine and Connecticut purchased
trom the New Castle (Lake Ontario) establishment—Mr. Wilmot—
some 18,000 eges, which have been hatched and distributed.

In IS71, Maine, Massachusets and Connecticut jointly built a_sal-
mon breeding establishment on the Penobscot river in’ Maine, from
which a fiir amount of salmon ova has been procured, and is new in
process of hatching.

The recapitulation and formation of tables showing the introduction
of salmon into American waters being, for want of correct data,
hard todetermine, [have concluded to forbear any summing up of places
and dataof their introduction.

I think it ab be detinitely determined that Dr. Wim. M. Fletcher,
of Concord, N. UL, has the honor of being the first man who success-
fully ee Sion to American waters, and who first established
the best and only suecesstel method, viz., by ova, as he found the
adult salmon could not be transferred.

The places best suited in our rivers for the introduction of the young
salmon fry is, in my opinion, where there is a cove or estuary, into
which debouches a cold spring brook. The water should be quite
shallow and habited by no other fish. Even the small dace or ae soe
now of double or equal size should be excluded. geosl ‘

Professor Hagar has seen the dace fry of similar size killing and ~
devouring the young salmon. The voraciousness on the part af the

dace, trout or other fish is only evinced whet nthe salmon are tirst
,

introduced.
When first put into a stream where they are“to remain—having
been pemepbried front) ever so short a listannce—they Sem

éliked days after they gradu: ally learn their new
latitude and longitude, and commence fee.”
and before they commence feeding, that
badly. After getting six or eight months”

. . t .
way as readily as any young try of that age, ame es them-
selves. The best food for them in the early mont’ " y maggot.
Take any dead animal—eat, dog, woodchuek Luspend it to

a pole overhanging your pond, inver -F your animal,

whatever it may be, aud leave him tor the tlies te blow, aud very soon
you have the desired food. Carbolie acid will destroy the odor,

Through the first winter they should have cold) springs to run into
sutticiently large to contain quite a large school ot then as they are
inclined to collect into Jarge schools through the winter, and seek
water that does not freeze.

T hardly think it best to confine them very long in small ponds
When one or two months old. As soon as they begin to feed they
might be let loose into quite large ponds in which grows the water-
cress, Upon Which they are said to feed quite Voraciously : yet, [aim
inclined to think they do not feed so auch upon the watercress as
upon the larve which inhabit it. Lb have examined the watercress
where trout and young salon have lived the past summer, and [ tind
it hardly touched. Still, [did sce some evidence of its havine been
nibbled by the salmon and trout, but not to such an extent as to war-
rant any one in concluding that they lived entirely on water-cress.
I notice that small larvie do accumulate Npon the water-cress, and that
trout and salmon look healthy when they are allowed to run anon it,
and that they get quite a portion of their food off this plant.

Water without the least perceptible current is best tor them to run
in after the absorption of the sac. and the bottom should invariably
be of gravel. If the bottom is anywise inclined to be muddy, the
screens vet clogged, and the water rises, tilling over the edees of your
pond, creating a current which carries over the s:diaoen try, and they
lost.

scannot withstand the least perceptible current. After the
pf ee alg rption of the umbilical sack, all efforts they make in fecding are
in the very stillest water. Your screen is loaded with young salmon
the ou vincent aa of water is created so as to be perceptible 3

e the importance of sccing to this matter early.
ren ans forane to speak of these results that have attended
e-im America; which, [ must say, are nothing at
susurate with the labor bestowed upon them. Of the tirst

a uced to the Merrimac river, N. LL. no returns
A probrens © salmon have been seen and caught

“dv of sea-salmy returned. Salmon were caught. however,
jgrat hd at Savbrook, the mouth of the Connecti-

Cut TVs Myggly yh Taggiuiat the salmon fry introduced to the river in 169

were ac, ote return, Those in the Merrimac have never
i Tae

returned, « ¢ inefticient fishways at Lawrence and Lowell.

Mr. Stone in’... | »¢thet.a grilse was: caught in the Connecticut
./ ait ! Te ‘ oD

58

river, opposite Charlestown, N. H., the past summer; but I cannot
believe it was one that had been to sea and returned, scaling the dams
at Holyoke and Bellows Falls. He must have been a salmon turned
into Williams river in 1870 by Mr. Hagar, or one that had escaped
from his own fish establishment in 1869.

It sometimes seems to me that what was “ everbody’s business was
nobody’s business,” and that, in view of our insurmountable dams
upon the Connecticut and Merrimnac rivers, with insufticient tish-ways,

etc., nothing was likely to result favorable to the undertaking of

restocking our rivers with the migratory sea fish. Large manufactur-
ing interests have sprung up upon these rivers, and corporations of
such magnitude as those of Lowell, Lawrence and Holyoke class must for
a long time menace the enterprise and hinder the progress of estab-
lishing one of the most desirable objects to be obtained in this country.

The fish commissioners of New Hampshire and Vermont have done
with the enterprise till suitable fish-ways are provided over the insur-
mountable dams on the Connecticut and Merrimac rivers in Massa-
chusets. Yet the other New England States might do considerable
in small rivers debouching into the ocean, upon which there are no high
dams or other impediments to the return of the fish. New Jersey
and Pennsylvania are having concurrent legislation toward restocking
the Delaware river with salmon and shad. And I see no cause why
favorable results may not be obtained, as there are no large dams upon
that river, nor large manufacturing establishments to hinder the pro-
gress and ultimate success of the enterprise.

The great desideratum with Yankee enterprise is, “ Does it pay ?”
and to which all other considerations must bend. I can conceive of
no other object so dear to us allas the tinal success of this enterprise.
The stocking of our rivers with the salmon is above price, the great
and good work for us all—the final consummation of which will bring

blessings to millions of sae. ; establishing the fact that man is not —

we would or no, an areaceiutet same forces
finally the object must be attained.

Let us labor onward and upward, looking
to be realized.

Although England, France and Germany have uch, yet
it redounds not to the ultimate good of the people, but to the glory
of individual enterprise, and the accomplishment of the object with
them is the realization of large incomes to individual effort. The

39

American idea seems to be utterly devoid of selfish consideration,
being as it is for all the people, and for their continued prosperity. 1
conceive of no higher ambition for any ian or set of en than the
ultimate restocking our streams with the migratory sea fish, more
especially the salmon. It at once gives all classes the advantages of
cheap and desirable food. And, gentlemen, are we not commanded
“to feed the hungry,” and how better can this great duty be per-
formed than by laboring to restock our Jakes and rivers with fish of
all kinds? To this end let us labor and eventually perpetuate a bles-
sing.

LAND-LOCKED SALMON.

A paper read before the American Fish Culturists’ Association, at its first annual
meeting, held at Albany, February 7th and 8th, 1872, by B. FL Bowes.

Mr. President und Gentlemen of the American Lish Culturists
Assocvation.—The task you have assigned to me is one that T hardly
feel competent to discharge, aud [ doubtif Tam able to do it satixtac-
torily to you. “But it is a task To undertake con amore, tor there
is no member of the tinny tribe Toam acquainted with that J
regard with so much admiration and delight as the hend-locked
salmon. I have no idea that [ shall be able to tell you anything mes
about this noble fish, but as it has been an object of study and inquiry
with me for several years, and as [ have cultivated its personal
acquaintance on certain angling excursions to that degree that [may
say a strong tic has existed between us, greatly to my pleasure if not
to his, [ hope, at least, to Invest old facts with some new interest.

The fresh-water salmon, which is now generally recognized by the
name of the tand-locked salmon, is known to exist only in the waters
of North America and Scandinavia. On this continent it inhabits
five ditferent lake systems of Maine, which, if Dam correctly informed,
are these: Sebago Lake, both branches of the Schoodic Lakes, Sebec
Lake and Reed’s Lake. A very small variety inhabits a lake called
Loch Lomond, near St. Johm'’s, New Brunswick, which are known in
that vicinity as “ white trout.” The origin of land-locked salmon is
still an unsolved problem amony the naturalists. Some hold that it
is the progeny of sea-salmon, and dwarfed by being prevented from
making its annual migration to the sea, and therefore compelled to
seek its nourishment in fresh water only. Frome this plausible theory
the name is derived. And this name is generally believed to have
been bestowed upon this fish by Prof. Agassiz, but [am notable to
learn if this is the fact, or if it was imported trom Europe, where the

40

same fish exists. It is doubtful if Prof. Agassiz would give that name
tu this fish now, at all events. Opposed to this view of its origin is
the fact that there dues not now exist, and has not existed for many
years, any obstacle to the passage of these tish to the sea. At least
this is the fact in some localities where they are found. Until within
a few years the Schoodic salmon descended tie San Croix river as far
as Calais, and from this point it is an open run to the sea. But in
support of this theory is the fact that both on this continent and in
Scandinavia, land-locked salmon are found only in inland waters to
which sea-salinon penetrate, or once had access to, in their summer migra-
tions. My friend, the learned secretary of this Association, argues
with much skill that the land-locked salmon is entitled to the rank
of a distinct species. He claims that its size, robustness and spirit,
and above all the difference in the number of eggs it deposits, form
sufficient testimony against the theory that this fish is a sea-salmon,
dwarfed by the suppression of one of its strongest instinets.

That veteran angler and fish culturist, Mr. Thaddeus Norris, of
Philadelphia, says, on this subject, that “many years ago a few sea-
salmon tinding the large Schoodic lakes to be convenient feeding
grounds, passed the winter in them, and their progeny, taking this to
be the established habit of their fathers, like the good Pennsylvania
Dutchmen, preferred to walk or swim in the same path.”

Mr. Norris cites the most authentic instance in which sea-salmon
were known to be actually land-locked, and the effect it had on their
progeny.

“The first and the least of all are those Lilliputians found in Loch
Lomond, which supplies the city of St. John’s, New Brunswick,
with water. The Mispeck, which discharges that body of water
covering about three square miles, twenty years ago was dammed for
milling purposes, and some otf the sez-salmon which had been
migrating to and from the lake, remained and reproduced. The
lake being small and of inconsiderable depth, furnished a very
limited supply of food, and as a consequence each generation attained
a less size than its predecessor, until the descendants of the lordly
anadromous salmon are now reduced to the length of nine inches. I
have seen strings of them there, and their average size does not exceed
this. They are so small as not to deserve the name of salmon,
and are called “ white trout.” Yet they are true salmon ; and, if the
dams below were taken away, and they descended to sea for as many
years as they have been debarred from it, would attain their normal
size.’

41

But I leave the doctors to disagree as to the origin of this tish, and
pass to other facts concerning him.

In external appearance the land-locked salmon closely resembles the
sea salmon, except in size. In anatomical structure they are said to
be identical. The eges are the same size, and the young try are
almost precisely like those of migrating salmon. Between the fry
of afew months old of the two species there is scarcely any percep-
tible difference. It has the jet-black spots of the true salmon on its
gill covers. It has the recurved, conical tusk on the lower jaw, pecu-
liar to the true salmon. It ascends the streams at night, and its
period of spawning is short, like the salmon. The color of the tlesh
is the delicate pink of the salmon, perhaps a few shades lighter, but
IT have never found the deposit of white curds between the muscles,
as in sea salmon. Tt may exist in larger specimens than T have seen.
The weight of land-locked salmon varies with the different localities
where they are found, and, what is a little singular, the largest tish
are sometimes met with in the smallest lakes. Thus the Sebago sal-
mon how average in weight five pounds to the males and three to the
females, but larger ones are sometimes taken. The largest om record
is seventeen anda half pounds. The fish frou Reed's lake weigh
trom ten to twelve pounds, while those from the Scheodie likes,
Which are much the larger range of waters, average one and one-half
pounds, andan eleven pound Schoodic salmon is the largest on record,
I never saw one weighing over three pounds.

Whatever the origin of these fish may have been, whether they
descended trom old King salmon or & came over in the Maytlower,”
there is no doubt that they can boast of a highly respectable antiquity.
There is evidence that these fish have existed in the waters in) which
they now are found for many vears. The Indian traditions of the
localities mention them. The spot which is now the favorite camping
ground of anglers at the outlet of Grand lake abounds in Indian relics,
and there is litthe doubt that in former ages the [idians encamped on
this same spot to pursue their summer sport. Twenty-two vears ago
Dr. A.C. Hamlin, of Maine, went to the outlet of Grand lake stream
with Peale Toma, the eclebrated Indian guide [ think this was the
first time a true fly fisherman—and Dr. Tianilin is a naturalist as
well—ever killed these fish. It was in the month of September. Ile
says that when Toma tirst threw his rudely made fly upon the water
“it seemed as though fifty littl: salmon sprang forit, their silver sides
glistening in the pure water like flakes of light. Curiously enough
the “untutered mind” of the Indian had formed the same theory

42

with regard to him as some of the naturalists, for, as he pointed out
the beautiful colours of the dying fish, Toma said, “there! that fish
brother to salt-water salmon, only he furgot to go to sea, but stay in
fresh-water instead.”

The Schoodic salmon run out of the deep water of the lakes into
the outlets and streams both in spring and fall. In the spring they follow
the log-ratts through Grand Jake in large numbers, attracted probably
by the offal thrown overboard, and the insects falling from the bark
of the logs. The lumbermen sometimes take numbers of them about
their ratts; and in trolling through the lake for trout and togue, I
never failed to take several salmon if I drew neara raft. To me this
fact is the best evidence that a fish cannot hear, for I do not think
any self-respecting member of the salmon family would voluntarily
remain within hearing of the unearthly din that a crew of Maine
“loggers ” make in warping a raft through one of theselakes. When
they first arrive, these fish are covered with a thick green slime, which
is believed to be a species of parasite that cling to them during their
long winter residence in the deep water. In this condition many of
them are rather dull and sluggish in their movements, not rising to
the angler’s fly with avidity. Buta few days, or even hours, in the
quick water of the stream cleans off this slime, and their sides are like
burnished silver. At first they appear in small parties of six and
twelve and a score, till about the first uf June, when there are gen-
erally two or three days in which they crowd in thicker and faster,
and the whole family seems hurrying into the stream. Once there,
they remain in its foaming rapids until July, when they return to the
cooler waters of the lake. About the tenth of September they run
into the stream again—this time to spawn. They begin to spawn in
October and finish early in December. The height of the spawning
season is about the fifth of November. It spawns at night and lies
quiet during the day, which is the reverse of the trout. It is at this
season that formerly the Indians speared vast quantities of these tish,
sending them to market in barrels, and packing them up for their
own winter fuod. It is doubtful if this illegal destruction of these
fish is now entirely stopped by the more stringent laws and efforts of
sportsmen.

It seems useless, however, to waste any regret over the illegal fish-
ing of the past or the present, in view of the impending total ruin
of this most valuable fishery, for that it is doomed to immediate
destruction seems certain. A tannery has been built within the last
year on Grand Lake stream, just about at the point where the salmon

43

“love to congregate” in spring and fall, which, together with the
large settlement that has beeen formed in consequence, place this
ancient and favorite haunt of the Schoodic salmon among the multi-
tude of fisheries destroyed by the intrusion of manufacturing indus-
try. When the purpose of landowners in this region tu build a
taunery at this point first reached the ears. of the sportsmen who
were accustomed to visit this spot, it caused a buzz of indignation and
alarm, and there arose among them a strong desire to rescue this
valuable fishery from the threatened despoliation. Two years ago
this spring I was appointed one of a committee authorized to purchase
land on both sides of this stream below the dam on behalf of the
Oquossuc Angling Association—an association of gentlemen anglers
already possessing valuable ‘ands and waters in Maine for tishing
purposes. But our cffort was miade too date. It was obviously of
more unportance to the landowners and inhabitants of the region to
have a tannery there than once or twice a year a party of anglers.
And they cared little for the fish —indeed they seemed to look upon
those who came from such a distance at such a great cost to killa few
of these fish as a parcel of lunatics. LD appealed to Ma. Charles G.
Akins, the very able and gentlemanly fish Commissioner of Maine,
who visited the stream at that time, for his intervention avainst the
tannery; but although his syinpathies were with the anglers and in
favor of saving the fish from destruction, he said that le was clothed
with no power to stop the proposed vecupation of this beautiful stream
by its owners to develop its water-power. Mr. Atkins regards the
fishery as doomed to rapid destraction. The fish may come into the
stream in sume numbers for a few vears, but they must eradually dis-
appear before this invasion of their natural domain by what we
usually glorify as the * progress of civilization” Dut if the Schoodie
salmon is to be driven from its mative waters, itis likely to be kindly
provided witha home where it has hitherto been unknown. Of
course such a valuable fish as this for food and for sport could not
long be overlooked by the fish culturists. Various experiments have
been made, both by individuals and oy State fish commissioners. to
introduce these fish into other waters, and in most instances it) has
been successtul; though it may be said that these various experi-
ments have not been suticiently tested by time. It is tolerably
certain, however, that the Schoodic salmon will thrive in’ tresh-water
lakes and streams which are favorable to the existence of large brook
trout. In October, IS6s, Mr. Atkins. the tish commissioner of Maine,
took a lot of spawn at Grand Lake stream, part of which was carried

4:

to Manchester, Maine, to be hatched, and part of which was given to
the tish commissioners for the state of Massachusetts. About 3,000
fish were hatched at Manchester, which were distributed in various
waters to take care of themselves, except 500 which were placed under
the care of David C. Pottle, at Alna, a practical trout breeder. Mr.
Pottle has a number of artificial ponds supplied with spring water.
One of these, sume two rods square, was allotted to the salmon. In
nine months they increased their size more than sixty-four times,
and probably nearly one hundred times. They were fed daily with
curdled milk, and out-weighed (five tu one) fish of the <ume age that
were taken from their native waters. Of the portion of eggs received
by the state of Massachusetts, about 1,500 hatched; but while the
fish were quite young fry they were accidentally mixed with a lot of
sea-salmon try, and thus their identity was lost. It is worthy of note
that in this instance a comparison, side by side, of over 100 specimens
failed to show any specific difference between the fry of the sea-
salmon and the landlocked salmon. But the most extensive and best
orgauized etfort to cultivate the landlocked salmon by artificial means
has been undertaken by the president of our Association, Rev. W-
Clitt. The use of the hitching apparatus at Grand lake, which had
been prepared by the commissioners of Maine and Massach-etts. and
the right to take the spawn of Schoodic salmon, was granted to Mr.
Clitt on condition that he should turn back inte the stream one-third
of all he hatched. He began his work there with the aid of David
Dresser, of Princeton, Me., about October 1, ISTO. Over 700 fish
were caught with the tly. About 256 males and 300 females were
stripped, producing 162,000 eggs, or about 540 to a female. A large
number proved to be unimpregnated. Out of the healthy exes that
were successfully transported to the hatching boxes at Poquonoc
farm, 9,000 fry were hatched for the State of Comnecticut, which
were distributed into nine lakes and riversin different parts of the
State. Of the Poquonoce Company's fry, 7.200 were distributed in
Broad brook, April 21, ISTL. Of the portion of eges left at Grand
lake, 16.500 fry were hatched and returned to their native waters.

Last fall (S71) Mr. Clift was net able to continue the collection of
spawn, owing to the occupation of the stream by the tannery com-
pany and the merciless destruction of the salmon on their spawning
beds by its employes, so that his experiment of the year before was
most timely and fortunate. Since the destruction of this noble
tish is permitted in its native haunts. it is one of the most gratifying
results of the science of fish culture that it has been instrumental in

45

preserving the Schoodic salmon and distributing it inte distant and
strange waters, where it will be more highly prized and protected.
Whether it will lose some of its good qu: sli by the change remains
to be demonstrated.

IT should tail to do justice to the land-loeked) salmon, and also be
guilty of the deepest ingratitude to him. if [failed to speak here of
his high qualities as a game fish. All true tly fishermen who have
ever killed the Schoodie salmon speak of it with the greatest enthu-
siasm. [have heard an old angler say he had rather kill six of these
fish than fifty trout of the same size. That rave and reverend
angler.” Dr. Bethune, went regularly every spring to Grand lake for
many years, and he had right roval sport there sometimes. [t has
been my fortune to share the camp for three vears with George Trott,
Es«., of Philadelphia, whe was the comrade of Dr. Bethune at the
stream for many years, and over our cunp fire he has related to me
the wonderful stories of those diavs. From his diary is taken the
score of their sport afew vears avo 2 7 Jime. IS56, three rods. six divs,
634 fish, STZ pounds; June, Is57, three rods, -ix tlavs, $52 fish, 642
pounds; June, PSo8, two rods, eight days, 510 fish, 725 pounds: one
rod, six hours, sixty-five fish, ninety-four pounds.” When tish are se
plentiful as this, it would seem to deprive the sport oof its true zest.
But this will never be the case again at thisspot. There isa tradition
at the stream that a Scotcehiman crossed the Atlantic resularly every
year for several vears to kill these tish: and Dhave no doubt it is true,
for one whe has ever enjoved this sportonce has a keen relish for it
and desires to try it again when the season comes around. The ruin
of this neble fishery at Grand lake will theretore be deeply meurned
amone the anglers. It does seem as if it might have been saved. and
been the source of as much wealth to the State and the locality as a
tannery.

It is hardly necessary for me te add te this evidence of the high
qualities of land-locked salmon. as a food and wamie tish, that it emi-
nently deserves the attention of tish culturists and those engaged in
the promotion of the culture of usctul fishes on beliadlf of the State.
It has been shown that it thrives well under artificial treatment, and
there is every reason to believe that it will de well in all pure Jakes
and streams. such as are favorable te the growth of the brook trout.

In their report of INSTI, the Massachusetts commissioners Say?
©The Sebago stlmon procured last year yielded several thousand eges,
which were succes+flly hatched. The seven fish brought at that time
have lived perfectly well ina =pring pond of moderate size, which

46

shows how easily this large tish may be availed of for the purpose of
culture.”

I have purposely omitted mention until now of the salmon of Wil-
mot’s creek, Ontario. It is conjectured that this fish is a fresh-water
salmon, and, if so, it stands at the head of the so-called land-locked
salmon. There is no real obstacle, except the distance of 1,500 miles,
to prevent this tish from making the annual migration of its species
to the sea: but some naturalists who have observed its movements
believe that it winters in Lake Ontario. — [t is my own opinion that
it does migrate. Experiments have been made by marking fish and
otherwise to ascertain if this be the fact, however, and it will pro-
bably soon be demonstrated. Mr. Wilmot’s success in the artificial
culture of these salmon is one of the greatest triumphs of the science
of fish «wlture, and, together with the peculiarly questionable habits
of the tish, has attracted the attention of the world.

TROUT CULTURE.

A paper read before the American Fish Culturists’ Association, at its first annual
mecting, held at Albany, February 7th and &th, 1872, by Lrvincston STONE.

The salmo fontinalis, or American brook trout, seems to be espe-
cially adapted to artiticial cultivation. Trout become very tame wher
domesticated. They can be kept the year round on a simple diet or
raw meat, and they thrive on it. They can be confined in large num-
bers in a_small space; they are easily manipulated; their eggs are
hardy and can be transported overs great distances with safety. The
grown-up fish are themselves very hardy, in suitable water, and the
per centage of mortality, under good treatment, is exceedingly small.
They are alsoa beautiful and very interesting fish, in all their habits
and movements. They are the favorite with anglers, aud command
a very high price when grown tor the market.

These qualities give trout a special adaptation, above all other fish,
to artificial breeding and domestic cultivation, and have made them
the favorite with all who have engaged in tish culture, with facilities
for growing them.

The art of practical trout culture has, however, a very brief history.
It is true that tish culture has been practiced, from time immemorial,
by the southern Asiatics; that it was common among the Romans
before the Christian era; that fish eggs were artificially impregnated
and hatched by a monk in the middle ages. It is also true that a
German army officer hatched salmon and trout about the middle of
the eighteenth century, that experiments of a similar character were

47

made in Great Britain and Norway and the United States, and that
the French organized and kept in operation a large yovernment tish-
breeding establishment, till their late disastrous war with the Ger-
mans; but it was not —and [ say it with pride —it was not till the
persevering and tarsecing efforts of Stephen TL. Ainsworth, and the
wondertul genius of Seth Green, had been directed to the subject,
that trout culture passed from the stage of experiment to that of a
popular and practical branch of industry.

The listory of practical trout culture, by itself hardly dates back
ten vears. Without meaning to detract from the merits of Mr. Ains-
worth’s exertions, which were all the more meritorious because they
were, In the practica/ sense in which he made them, original, P think we
ean sately say that the art of practical trout culture dates from the
time that Seth Green bought the Caledonia stream, and demonstrated
to the world what a great success could be made of practical trout
breeding. The culture of trout is also an) American specialty. In
respect to the salmo ftontinalis, or common brook trout, it is necessa-
rily so, because this variety of trout is found in no other country. In
Europe, however, there is the *salme fario”” or common trout, the
salme ferox, or bull trout, the salmo tratta, or lake trout, besides the
char and gravling, which are closely allied to these; and there is
nothing to prevent Europeans trom cultivating these fish as Americans
cultivate the salmo fontinalis, or American brook trout. Buatyin point
of fact, this is not done. There is one trout-raising establishment in
England, one in Wales, two or three in’ Treland and Secotlhind, and
these comprise all, in Great Britain, at least. Nowhere, exeept in
Ameriea, have the people entered. as they have here, with a universal
accord and general interest, into the work of breeding and raising
trout.

It seems to suit the American genius. There are, besides the
excitement and novelty of it, a magnitude in the scale of operations,
anda largeness of results, as well as an absorbing interest in the
detail of it, that seems to commend it particularly to the American
mind,

At all events, it is a fact that the two great representatives of the
art, Stephen H. Ainsworth and Seth Green, are Americans, and it is
also a tact that American fish culturists have, with a wonderful
unanimity of action, taken the lead given them by these distinguished
persons, and have plunged into trout raising with an enthusiasin and
universality that have given it the character of a very marked Amert-
can specialty.

48

I think it is safe to say that there is hardly an individual, in the
north-eastern section of the country at least, who owns a suitable
stream, who either has net taken some steps toward stocking it with
trout, or who does not contemplate deing so at some favorable oppor-
tunity in the future.

The change which it has wrought in the fish itself is very striking.
The brook trout, formerly known as one of the very wildest of the
wild creatures of the torest streams, has become a domesticated
animal.

[Low fully the word domesticated will finally apply to trout that
are bred and grown artificially, time alone can decide. It is still a
very doubtful question, whether they will ever become so accustomed
and attached to the habitations v* man, that they will prefer to remain
around his homes and under his protection, like dogs and fowls, and
so become in the strictest sense, domestic creatures.

Still this résult is not impossible, perhaps not improbable. Cattle,
horses, swine, become as wild as buffaloes and zebras, when left to
run wild long enough.

Artificial intluences have given these creatures their domestic
habits. Why may not a sufficiently long course of similar influences
create a similar change in the habits of trout ?

Again, trout are not afraid of man, when he has not taught them
to fear him.

I have seen trout in’ forests of New Brunswick, as tame as some
of my domesticated ones, or, more correctly speaking, as little disposed
to be afraid. If, then, we can bring trout back to their original feel-
ing toward man, before they learned to be afraid of him, by teaching
them not to fear him, why may we not restore also their original
freedom from aversion to him.

Again, [ have at my pends trout that were hatched from parents
chat were themselves hatched there artificially. Now, it may have
been wholly a faney, but there has seemed te me to be a difference
between these fish and the offspring of wild parents in respect to
shyness, and that the artificially hatched progeny of domestic parents
were less shy than the artificially hatched offspring of wild parents.
If this is so, and the trout show an improvement in one generation,
what may we not expect of fish in which domestication has been
hereditary for many generations ?

The time may come when continued domestication, together with
the overcoming of their tear of man, may so modify the present
action of their instincts, that when pains are taken with the domes-

49

ticated trout, they will prefer to seek the shelter and food which they
find around the houses of man, to the precarious chances of a wild
and roaming life. This may not be probable. [do not think it is
impossible.

At any rate, whether trout ever come to prefer the haunts of men
or not, and remain around them, without being contined, this result
has been accomplished —nainely, that when artificially bred and con-
fined, they become tame, and thrive and breed even better than in
their native freedom.

The subject assigned me on this occasion offers a broad and tempt-
ing field, in which it is no easy matter to choose any specitied path,
for to select any one must be to leave numberless others, no less
interesting, untrodden. At the same time, to confine within the
limits of a half hour’s reading any kind of treatment of so Jarge a
subject, which shall not be wholly superticial, only one or two points
ean be taken up and considered, and they will represent only a very
sinall fragment of the whole subject.

IT shall therefore, even at the risk of a fragmentary production,
select two salient points, and confine myself to these.

These two points are (1), the question of the practicability of
raising the young trv; and (2). the pecuniary aspect of trout:
growing. [select the first, becanse To think it is uppermost in the
minds of the initiated; and the second, because IT think it is Upper-
most in the minds of the uninitiated.

The raising of the young fry trout has been the most perplexing
and inserutable of all the branches of trout breeding. Tow te hatch
the egys, which really hatch themselves, if siiply protected trom the
dangers which beset them, was a problem comparatively easy in its
solution, although this was a grand achievement at first, in virtue of
its originality, and retleets great credit on those who pioneered it
through; the more so, because it was success in hatching the eves that
first popularized the art of tish culture, and Taid the foundations of
the present wide-spread interest in it.

Dut to make the young trout live, which have equally delicate
and more complex organizations than the eggs; toe tind them the
food which is wholesome for them, while it is wholly artiticial ; to
anticipate wants which are net even known; to discover deranye-
ments of organs, when the organs themselves are inicroscopic, and
to avert diseases, without a glimpse of their causes 5 in short, to
make creatures live, so frail that a touch will almost kill them, so
small that their wants cannet be observed. and that seem te die with-

4

50

out a cause; this was a field of study apparently se obseure and
intangible that it presented vreat dithculties. Here the triumphant
skill which hatched the eggs successfully was batted, and it seemed
for atime as if the wonderful art which bad promised so much was
to come toa stand-still at this gulf) between the egys and the year-
ling trout, which could not be bridged.

Those who made the earliest practical experiments in this country
will undoubtedly recall, with me, the anxiety which was at one time
felt, lest the difficulties of bridging this chasm would prove imsur-
mountable. This task has now, happily, in my humble opinion, been
pertormed.

IT am a thorough believer in the practicability of raising the young
trout. I think the question new is not, how can young trout be
raised, but how many can do it, and under what circumstances can it
be done successtully.

I know there is a good deal of skepticism in high quarters about
the possibility of keeping young fry alive through the first six
months of feeding, and [am aware that some of the best authorities
suy that a considerable per centage will die unavuidably during that
time. Mr. Stephen IH. Ainsworth, in a letter to the writer, says that
a considerable per centage of the eggs, when Unpregnated, are prema-
ture, and consequently produce an impertectly developed tish, which
cannot lire,

Colonel Theodore Lyman, in the report of the Massachusetts Fish-
eries Commission, says, * All remained remarkably healthy till May,
when a certain number were observed to be weakly. It is likely that
they were naturally sickly, and when the yolk sac was gone, they
had not enough vitality to teed.”

And Seth Green speaks, in his book on trout culture, as if there
were necessarily a great mortality among the young fry, and says,
* We don’t know what is the matter with them, nor how to cure
them.”

Now, I wish at the outset to express distinctly my deference to
authorities so high—indeed I know of none higher ; but I must never-
theless venture to disagree with them, if they mean that there is any
necessary inherent cause of death in the young fry, which cannot be
removed.

Some will die, say five per cent, though it ought to be less than
this, of weak constitutions. They are horn into the world so weakly
constituted that they cannot stand the wear and tear of life, and must

die.

51

I admit that there may, perhaps, be tive per cent of these wnaveid-
able deaths; but that the rest come into being already doomed to pre-
mature death, or that young trout have any mysterious or peculiar
inherent cause of death in them, any more than young calves or pizs
or chickens, I do not believe.

In the present state of information of the art. young trout try may
be more liable to accidents than other voung domesticated creatures,
and it may be more dificult to guard against their diseases, but this
is another thing.

Careless breeding may, and careless hatching certainly will, produce
a progeny of young trout, of which LOO per cent will die, but this is
also another thing.

Careful breeding and hatching will produce trout which are just as
likely to live, in ny opinion, as the same number of lanibs or chickens 5
and if the young try die, it is not because of any mysterious discase,
or innate cause peculiar to them because they are trout, but it is
because they were killed by external causes, just as much as lambs or
chickens are killed by storms or by parasites, or trom starvation or
puison.

It is true that they are killed from ignorance of their wants, and
not from willful neglect, but it is the same thing abstractly > the cause
of death is external and removable, and not innate nor necessary.

Their wents are peculiar, of course, and more occult aud intangible
than those of pigs and colts, and to a beginner it will sometimes seem
as if they died when nothing wailed them. Dut if they were as large
as pigs and colts, and could be studied as casily, [odo net think their
wants would be tound to be any more mysterious or peculiar > and if
the causes of disease could be magnified so as to be observed and
studied clearly, I think that no mere trout would die when nothing
Was the matter with them.

I am furthermore convinced that study and experience will eveutu-
ally clear up this subject, notwithstanding the dithculties which =ur-
round it, and that some time it will be known how to raise trout, and
inake them live, as well as it is known how to raise turkeys and
chickens.

IT believe that there are energy and intelligence cnough now inter-
ested in the cause to accomplish this end; and [think that the
beginner may accept these axioms in raising trout:

1. No trout dies without a cause.

Y. The causes of death are discernable.

3. They can, in most instances, be removed.

52

My own experience has invariably been to confirm these principles.
I lost, in my apprenticeship days, as many young fry as any one else,
but with every death, say over five per cent, there appeared a distinct,
assignable cause, present or remote, which could be removed or
avoided, and the more I lost, the more I became satisfied that the
causes of death among the young fry could be discovered and
avoided.

My later experience has added confirmation to this opinion and
now, since I have used charcoal troughs and tanks altogether, deaths
among the young trout have been, among some lots, rare occurrences,
and in general have been no more frequent, over the five per cent
weak ones, than among the yearling and breeders.

In one charcoal trough in particular, containing over 5,000, there
was, in the season of 1870, less than one and a half per cent of deaths,
from all causes, in three months. , It was the same in the year 1871.
In one box of a thousand, I did not take out ten dead ones in three
months. I attribute this, in a great measure, to the use of charcoal
in hatching, but it contirms the theory just advocated, that the causes
of death ean be removed. I think, therefore, that we may lay aside
our anxiety about raising the young fish, and with it all anxiety we
may have, in any respect, for the ultimate triumph of the art of trout
culture.

With a knowledge of how to rear the young fry, all the steps to suc-
cess in the art are complete. Since the introduction of the Russian
or dry method of impregnation, almost 100 per cent of the eggs can
be fertilized and hatched. By proper care and skill the young try
ean be brought through the first year.

By using the requisite safeguards from poachers, and the natural
enemies of tish, the yearlings can be rapidly grown and fatted for
market, and the favorite position they occupy among sportsmen, and
the money returns which they at present command, are such as hold
ont the promise of a long period of prosperity in the business of trout
growing before it shall, if ever, show signs of decay.

Tue Prcuntary Asrprecr oF Trout CciturE
One of the chief inquiries at the present time, with regard to trout
culture, is whether it can be made a protitable business. In reply te
this inquiry, [ have no hesitation in saying that I think trout
raising can be made profitable anywhere in the settled portions of this
country where there is plenty of suitable water, but, to be very profi-
table, it must be on a large scale. It will not pay great profits to

53

raise 1,000 trout a year, but a handsome income wil! be made from
raising 10,000 a year. I find that the cost of growing trout is very
small indeed, and that the returns are very large indeed. It costs no
more to keep 1,000 trout each, of the three different sizes, springlings,
yearlings, and two-year olds, than it does in the country to keep a
horse; and what would keep & pair of horses in the city at a stable,
would enable a man to turn out 5,000 pounds of trout a year.

The current expenses of a trout breeding establishment consist of
three classes, viz. :

(1.) The rent of the place, or the interest on the original outlay,
plus the wear and tear, which together should be reckoned at twelve
per cent.

(2.) The care of the fish, which is not much fora small stock of trout,
and grows comparatively less, the more fish you have.

(3.) The cost of feed, which is very small, amounting perhaps to
three cents a pound; all which items of expense do not make the
full grown trout cost over fifteen or twenty cents a pound, if success-
fully raised. On the other hand, trout bring from fifty cents a pound
to $1.25; seventy-five cents being, [ should say, a fair average, at the
present time, in the neighborhood of Boston and New York.

Ilere we see a large margin for profit, and [ think a fair one, when
a man raises his trout successfully, and all depends upon this, of
course. If he cannot keep his trout alive and secure, he cannot expect
to make anything at the business. I should say the following esti-
mate approximated the truth :

If you have first-rate water facilities, and should hatch 20,000
young try, and raise them all to be four years old, on food at three
cents per pound, they would cost you, after you began to market the
fish, not over eighteen cents a pound. If you raise half, all your
expenses being the same, with the exception of food, they will cost
about twenty-four cents a pound. If you raise one-fourth, they will
cost somewhere near thirty-six cents per pound. If you raise one-
eighth, about fifty-four cents per pound. If you raise less than this
they will cease to pay a profit. To assist the beginner in estimating
his expected expenses and returns, [ will give the following maxims.

(a.) Under favorable circumstances, five pounds of meat food may
be considered an equivalent for one pound of trout growth, with two-
year-olds and three-year-olds.

(4.) For any given quantity of two or three-year-olds, one per
cont of their weight may be regarded as an adequate average daily
ration the year round.

54

(c.) Two and three-year-olds will double their weight annually, and
can be made to do so in the six months from April to September,
inclusive, by extra care and feeding.

(Z.) Good tued for grown-up trout, viz.: lungs and plucks of
slaughtered animals, can be purchased anywhere for two or three
cents a pound, The cost of the actual food for young fry for the first
six months is unappreciable.

(e.) First-class trout bring one dollar a pound in Fulton market in
April, and can be forced at almost any time when in season at titty
cents.

(7-) Freshly killed trout, well packedin ice and sawdust, will stand
a direct Journey in the summer by rail of 500 miles, without injury.

Mr. Stepen H. Ainsworth’s estimate of profits, published over five
years ago (1866) is as follows :

Costofbuilditiess zindefixtuyes s3e7 2.39 eee $6,000
5;000 parents fur spawn abiiity céntss:. 2. 2.. ees) ea 2,500
Three men’s labor for tour years, at $300 Per earssece eee 35600
Cost of food for 1,000,000 trout for four years....... +2 20h6 20gOR8
Cost of food for 1,000,000 trout for three years... 2... ss. “£05000
Cost of food for 1,000,000 trout tor two years....... stiches 4,000
Cost of food tor 1,000,000 trout fur one year...........-- 1,000

Rotale, oes Dag cee ee ae eee eee ee ee .... $47,100

Now for their value. The 1,000,000 of ftour-year-olds will average
a pound each, and are worth at least twenty-five cents per pound in

the pond, which makes the four-year-olds worth. ........ $250,000
1,000,000 three-year-olds, one-half pound each.......... 175,000
1,000,000 two-year-olds, one-quarter pound each. .... 2... 57,000
1,000,000 one-vear-olds, one ounce cach .. 2.2.2.2... 206 30,000

The worth of all trouble at the end of four years. ..... $542,000

Deduct the pricesof “rowine: 5-3 oe ee ee 47,000
Protitts: der. foe PN ahstatads. son atarsy teperaueirae de tenet ababe ote ctarey ie: See $495,000

As these figures stand, they cannot serve as a guide to tish breeders
at present, for no one begins to carry on the business ou this immense
seule. But suppose we divide the figures by fifty, which brings the
scale within reach ; we then have a profit of SLO000, on an establish-
ment turning ont 20,000, four years old, annually. This I believe
would be not far from the truth, were it not for one item which Mr.

55

Ainsworth did nut take in, but which closely follows every business
like an evil genius, namely, risk.

What this fluctuating item ought to be in the above caleulation I
will not attempt to say, but [am afraid that at the time the estimate
was made it was more than enough to swallow up the profits. It
has been growing less and less every year, as trout raising has become
better understood, and I believe the time is near at hand when Mr.
Ainsworth’s figures may be realized on a reduced scale, with not
more than fifty per cent deducted trom the profits to cover the item
of risk.

It may occur to some to inquire what makes the item of risk so
large ?

I will reply, that it is because the business is new and but little
understood ; the subject-matter is of a peculiarly hazardous sort, and
perhaps, more than all, fish breeders will not take pains to insure the
security, which is absolutely necessary to success. These things have
made the risk very great, and account for the very significant fact
that, in the five years since Mr. Ainsworth’s table was published, no
one has made a fortune by raising trout for the table, nor to my
knowledge derived any very extraordinary income trom this source
alone. [ think, however, the next five years will tell a different
story, and [am very much mistaken if some of the trout ponds now
under way do not yield within that time some very handsome returns
from their marketed trout.

Thus far we have considered the business of trout growing in only
one of its branches of profit, viz., raising marketable trout.

There are, as is well known, two other sources of revenue.
(1.) The sale of spawn. (2.) The sale of young stock.

The first branch can hardly be considered a legitimate branch to
base permanent returns on, because the sale of spawn is limited to
establishments that are just commencing operations. This trade is a
large one now, because so many establishments are starting, but these
will sume time furnish their own spawn and become sellers instead
of buyers, and when the prospective fish breeding operations of the
country are under way, there will be a great supply of egys, with a
very disproportionate demand. Indeed, the prospect is that the
spawn trade will not be a permanent one of any great value, and
therefore cannot be regarded, in its present state at least, as a legiti-
mate ground for basing payment expectations on. It is not so, how-
ever, with the trade in young fry and yearlings for stocking other
waters.

56

It is almost a universal custom now, with owners of small gardens,
to buy their young cabbages and tomatoes and other vegetables of
the large producers, because it is cheaper than to start them them-
selves. Farmers also buy their pigs instead of breeding them, from
the same cause.

Now it is only reasonable to expect the same rule to prevail in
fish raising ultimately as it does at present. Many persons who have
ponds and streams, and want to keep them stocked, will preter, and
will tind it cheaper, to buy their young stock every year, than to
work all winter at hatching the eggs.

The trade in young stock, therefore, looks as if it would be perma-
nent, and appears to be a Zeg/témate source from which to expect an
income in tront raising. This forms, at present, a very considerable
item in the business.

Young fry are in great demand in New England, at twenty-five
dollars ($25) a thousand, and yearlings at one hundred dollars ($100)
a thousand. Many thousands of them could be sold at this day for
these, and even at an advance on these, prices, if the tish could be
had. The supply last year (1S71) did not nearly keep up with the
demand in New England... We here tind in the sale of young stock
quite an addition to the sources of the trout growers’ income ; and I
am informed, by those who are operating near the large cities, that a
very considerable revenue could be obtained, at their places, by
charging an admission fee to visitors.

There is also money to be made by buying and fattening wild trout
for the market, where vou can buy them cheap enough. Good,
thriving trout, less than four years old, will double their weight in a
year, and sometimes much more. Therefore, if you put 1,000 pounds
of them in a pond securely protected, they will, in a year, become
2,000 pounds; and the teed, in the mean time, will not cost over
$150. That is to say, the increase will cost you not over fifteen cents
a pound.

When the various sources of income are taken into account, in con-
nection with the wide margins for profit, it is obvious that suecesstul
operations cannot but pay well. I would say, however, in conclusion,
that I do not wish to hold out false inducements to persons to go into
the business, with the hope of making great fortunes. The item of
risk is a very serious one yet, and small operators cannot expect to
make more than a fair living. With many it will not pay at all,
while it is reserved for only the very successful,.and for those who have
the few great water facilities of the country, to make the great fortunes.

SH American Fisheries

a Society
Abd Transactions

1872

Biological
& Nedic
Serials

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

STORAGE

wt
\

te
~