Biological PROCEEDINGS
&: Medical

Serials

OF THE

Amorican fish fulturists’ Association

At its Second Annual Meeting, February 1th, 1873.

ALBANY:
THE ARGUS COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1873.

Ore FOC EPS.

WILLIAM CLIFT, - - - President.

MYSTIC BRIDGE, CONN.

A. S. COLLINS, gp ws . Secretary.

CALEDONIA, N. Y.

B. F. BOWLES, - - - - Treasurer.

SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

Foti Es Oude y

The second annual meeting of the American Fish Culturists’
Association was held Tuesday, February 11th, 1873, at the office ot
George Shepard Page, No. 10 Warren street, New York city.

The meeting was called to order by the president at eleven o’clock
A. M.

The members present were, W. Clift, A. S. Collins, George Shepard
Page, B. F. Bowles, G. W. Chrysler, A. P. Rockwood, E. B. Paxton,
B. B. Porter, Joseph Van Cleve.

Among those present who were not members of the association, but
who participated in the discussions of the meeting, were Dr. M. C.
Edwards, State Fish Commissioner of Vermont, Joseph H. Barden,
State Fish Commissioner of Rhode Island, Thaddeus Norris, of
Philadelphia, and others.

The record of the last meeting was read and approved.

The report of the treasurer was read and accepted.

The president of the association, Mr. W. Clitt, read an address,
entitled ‘“‘The Important Events in Fish Culture during the Year
1872.”

The address of the president was followed by the reading of several
interesting papers and letters, which are printed with this report.

An informal discussion on various topics relating to fish culture
then took place. Mr. E. B. Paxton, of Detroit, gave a highly inter-
esting account of the white fishery of Detroit river, and its decadence
in value of late.

On reassembling, after a recess of an hour, it was voted to appoint
a committee of three members to make a programme for the next
annual meeting. The president appointed Messrs. Collins, Bowles
and Page.

It was voted to ask Congress fur an appropriation of $30,000 for
the promotion of the culture of fuod fishes.

It was voted to authorize the secretary to procure the printing of
the report of the proceedings of the association in 1872, embracing

4 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

such papers as he deems advisable, and that a list of the members of
the association be included in the next printed report.

The committee chosen to nominate officers for the ensuing year
made the following report, which was unanimously accepted: For
president, W. Clift; for secretary, A. S. Collins; for treasurer, B. F.
Bowles.

The association then adjourned fur one year, to meet at the same
place, No. 10 Warren street, New York city, on the second Tuesday
in February, 1874.

TIKE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.
ImporTANT Events IN Fist CULTURE DURING THE YEAR 1872.

In the review of the year the most important event is the appro-
priation made by Congress in its behalf. At the last annual meeting
of the American Fish Culturists’ Association, held at Albany, Feb-
ruary 7th and Sth, 1872, this matter was discussed and a committee
was appointed to memorialize Congress for aid. It was felt that the
time had come when much larger sums could be used to advantage
in the distribution of fish, and that an attempt should be made to
introduce the anadromous fishes into the large rivers, over which no
State has exclusive control. Mr. George Shepard Page of New
York, the chairman of this committee, visited Washington and
labored assiduously until he secured an appropriation of $15,000, to
be distributed under the direction of Prot. Spencer F. Baird, U.S.
Fish Commissioner. Great credit is due to Mr. Page and to his
coadjutors in Washington, for the first congressional aid granted to
fish culture. The subject was quite thoroughly discussed, and for the
first time brought before our senators and representatives as a prac-
tical question. Mr. R. B. Roosevelt, of New York city, made a most
interesting and lucid speech in behalf of the appropriation, present-
ing many facts in the history of the art, which had great weight
with our representatives. He showed the great interest which west-
ern people had in this question. He said * the fisheries of our coast
are among the most valuable commercial interests of our country.
Millions of money are invested and hundreds of thousands of men
are employed, while the food thus obtained is a large per centage of
the total supply of eastern markets. Not only is the profit of this
business a matter of general advantage, but the residents along the

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 5

eastern bays and lagoons and upon the larger rivers derive their
principal means of sustenance directly from these waters, and in all
of these districts far more families are supported by the water than
by the land. In the west there is nothing of this surt. The mar-
kets are almost bare of fish; a few eatfish, suckers and pickerel con-
stitute the wretched and meager bill of fare they offer. The muddy
Mississippi contains little or nothing. The beautiful Ohio has but
one or two sorts of pike and perch, which the inhabitants flatteringly
eall salmon, while catfish hide in most of the discolored streams of our
continent, and suckers explore the bottom for their food. If any thing
ean be done to improve this state of affairs, to make fish and fisher-
men as abundant in the west as they are in New England, and to
develop the same activity in the matter as exists in the cast, it is
well worth the serious consideration of the government. Dy this
means a new industry, an additional source of income, an entirely
different species of tood would be introduced, and an immense
increase added to the wealth of the whole region of country. There
is no reason why the waters of the west should be less prolific than
those of the east, provided the right species were introduced; and
were trout, salmon, shad, bass and sturgeon to take the place of cat-
fish, pickerel and suckers, the gain would be manifest. It seems to
me clearly to be the duty of the government to assist in this very
work of introducing new varieties, as well as replenishing the old,
where they have been reduced.

“No private person can own a shad which is here to-day and
to-morrow in mid-ocean, nor is a single resident on a river’s bank
sufficiently interested to incur the expense of importing fish
for the benefit of his neighbors. This is the nation’s duty or it
is nobody’s. The mighty rivers of the southern and western
States, which now generally produce only the poorer sorts, could
readily be stocked with the most palatable and prolific varieties.
The cost of the undertaking is insignificantly moderate. A salmon
hatching-house can be built for $1,000, while the necessary imple-
ments forshad raising are too inexpensive to be worth mentioning.
Some labor must be employed, but it is mostly unskilled and cheap,
while the outlay for transportation is simply the mere charge of
express or traveling fare. The people of this country would not
grudge this, were it a hundred times as great, with the certain pros-
pect of developing a new food resource, and of diminishing the
price ot living to the poor.”

6 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

Mr. Rosevelt deserves the thanks of this association and of all
patriotic men for these appreciative words spoken in his place in the
House of Representatives, in behalf of this movement for stocking
the barren rivers. This appropriation is valuable, not so much tor
the amount given and for the good work it has enabled Prof. Baird to
inaugurate, as for the precedent it has established.

If the enterprises begun shall be successfully developed, there will
be little difficulty in securing further appropriations from Congress,
and all the money that can be advantageously used will be furnished.
The commencement of the artificial stocking of the rivers of the
Mississippi valley is another item of interest. The California Fish
Commissioners had employed Mr. Seth Green to put Hudson river
shad into the Sacramento the previous year, and to the astonishment
of all fish breeders, including Mr. Green himself probably, a few
thonsand did survive the journey and swam in California waters.
But the thing was so novel that many donbted whether it could be
done again with any amount of skill and watchfulness.

Although the appropriation was not made until June, and the
arrangements for the transportation of fry were not completed until
the hatching season was nearly closed upon the Hudson, Mr. Green
succeeded in planting many thousands of the fry in the Alleghany, at
Salamanca, N. Y., and in the Mississippi just below St. Paul.

A still larger number of fry were taken from the Connecticut and
planted in the Alleghany at Salamanca, in the White river at Indian-
apolis and in the far Platte at Denver. I think these experiments
demonstrate that shad fry can be planted in all of our great rivers at
a very moderate expense, and that the stock can be furnished thereat,
from which breeders can be taken for fish hatching establishments
upon these rivers a few years hence. The meager planting of a few
thousand fry in these streams should not‘be regarded as the end of
the work.

Breeding appliances, like those at Hadley Falls, are wanted near
the head-waters of the large rivers, where shad by the hundred
million can be turned into the waters.

This work can be done so cheaply that it is only necessary to
demonstrate that shad will certainly return to their hatching grounds
to make the States threaded by these rivers eager to help the enter-
prise. If, for instance, shad put into the White river should return
in considerable numbers atter three years, a single shad dinner would
convert every member of the Indiana Legislature into a fish breeder,

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 7h

and any reasonable appropriation could be secured to plant all rivers
in that State. These first essays of the general government are to
be regarded as tentative, and preparing the way for the completed
work in which every State will have a share. Fish breeders may
have no doubt of eventual success in planting shad in the upper
waters of the Mississippi valley, but the people have no such firm
faith and must see to believe.

The rapid spread of shad from the Alabama, where they were
planted in small numbers in 1848, both eastward into the Escambia
and its tributaries and westward into the Mississippi and into the
tributaries of the Red and Arkansas rivers, is conclusive evidence
that the fish have taken kindly to these muddy waters and will
eventually populate them. Shad were first taken at the falls of the
Wicheta, near Hot Springs, Ark., in 1860, only nine years after they
were first captured in the Alabama. They are now caught by the
eart-load, and for five weeks in spring furnish the main supply of
animal food in the village market.

It is not improbable that many other streams nearer the gulf are
already stocked with shad by natural methods, and that they have
not been captured because there are no falls to obstruct their passage
and no fishermen to drop lines for them. But even if the spread of
this fish is going forward securely by natural methods, the people do
not want to wait fifty years for an event which may just as well come
in five years by artificial means. We want the fishes as well as the
loaves in the great valley, at the earliest day and at any reasonable
cost.

Something has also been done to increase the supply of white-fish
in the great lakes. The destruction of this fish has gone on so
rapidly that it has almost disappeared from many lakes where it was
once abundant. Prof. Baird has about three-fourths of a million of
eggs, in charge of Mr. N. W. Clarke, at Clarkston, Mich. It is pro-
posed to send a large per cent of these to the fish commissioners of
California, for the purpose of introducing them into Pacific rivers,
and to take measures, another year, to multiply them largely in the
great lakes.

The introduction of the Rhine salmon to our waters is another
noteworthy event. Prof. Baird found a ready response to his
inquiries for the spawn of this fish, He was promptly informed
that, desirous of showing their appreciation of the American people,
the German government would present the United States with 250,000.

8 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

He ordered an additional half million from Fryeburg, and engaged
the services of Mr. Rudolph Hessel, an experienced fish culturist of
Germany, to accompany them to this country. These eggs arrived
at New York, February 4th, much injured by the warm weather at
the time of their packing and during the voyage. Enough, doubtless,
will be saved to try the experiment of raising them in our waters.
They are supposed to be the same species as those found in our
eastern rivers. The success in this importation has been so limited
that it will have a tendency to discourage future drafts upon Enrope
for salmon eggs, especially when we have learned how to secure
them on the Penobscot in the greatest abundance and at very moderate
expense.

This enterprise, begun under the direction of Mr. Atkins, in 1871,
with very limited returns, has been crowned with large success the
present season. Prof. Baird was able to put $3,000 at the disposal
of Mr. Atkins, yearly doubling the funds raised by the association.

A million and a half of eggs were taken and are now being dis-
tributed, principally among State Fish Commissioners who started
the enterprise. A substantial hatching-house has been built near
Bucksport, in the center of the salmon fisheries upon the Penobseot,
so that it is easy to procure breeding salmon during the summer, and
to keep them in ponds until the spawing season in November.

This method of taking eggs is original upon this side of the
Atlantic, and promises to give us an unlimited supply of spawn at
very cheap rates.

Nearly all of the eggsare impregnated, and the loss by transporta-
tion from Bucksport to the neighboring States is very small. About
200,000 of these eggs were taken to the hatching-house of the
Poquonnoe Fish Co., and, after a two days’ passage, the loss was less
than six per cent, and this loss was mainly confined to unimpregnated
eggs. It was exceedingly rare to find a dead egg with a fish in it.
The management of salmon during the summer is now well under-
stood, and the manipulation of the fish and impregnation of the eggs
are about as certain as other kinds of business. It is mainly a ques-
tion of money as to how many salmon spawn shall be taken in the
Penobscot, under the management of Mr. Atkins. With this source
of supply so near and so certain in its results, it will hardly pay to
run the risks incident to a thirty days’ voyage to secure the same
kind of spawn in fatnre years.

The discovery of a new species of salmon upon the Pacific coast

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 9

is an event, the significance of which we shall better comprehend a
few years hence, when the fish shall have found a congenial home in
all of our southern waters. Though this fish has been known to
commerce ever since California was settled, it was not known
whether it was the same species as our eastern salmon, or something
different. There can be very little doubt but that it is a distinct
species, quite as valuable for food as the “salar,” and with some
peculiarities adapting it to our southern and western waters.

Mr. Livingston Stone, secretary of the association, who had had
some.experience in takingsalmon spawn on the Miramichi river in
New Brunswick, was sent to the Pacific coast to secure salmon eggs
of the Sacramento variety. Mr. Stone supposed, as did also the
California Fish Commissioners, that their salmon spawned late in
October, but to be in ample time he went to McCloud river, one of
the feeders of the Sacramento, early in September, and immediately
made the usual preparations to take spawn. The fish were abundant,
but to his surprise he found that the spawning season was almost
past, and he was unable to obtain more than 20,000 or 30,000 eggs.
These were shipped eastward, and are now at the hatching-house of
Dr. J. H. Slack, in New Jersey. Many of them hatched out on the
way, and those that survived are destined to the Susquehanna river.
The eggs are nearly twice the size of ‘“‘salmo-salar.” This fact, and
the earlier spawning season, and the premature hatching of the eggs,
are pretty clear indications of a different species.

Prof. Baird says: “ The importance of this experiment with Sacra-
mento fish may be understood trom the fact that their breeding
grounds on the river are ina region of very high summer temperature,
reaching at noon from 100 degrees to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, for a
considerable distance. Therefore, while eastern salmon are not
likely to thrive west of the Connecticut, or at most of the Hudson, there
is every reason to believe that the Sacramento fish can be introduced
into nearly if not quite ail of our rivers on the Atlantic coast; and
we have every confidence that the time is not fardistant when we
shall have in the Delaware, the Susquehanna, the Potomac and the
James an ample supply of these delicious fish, as well asin more
nothern and eastern waters.”

Another marked event of the year, and one that ought to have
been much earlier known, is the introduction of Mr. Brackett’s trays,
as a substitute for Costie’s boxes and all other contrivances for hateh-
ing eggs, and keeping them clean while incubating. Nothing, we

10 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

think, but the extreme modesty of that gentleman can account for the
fact that he has kept so useful an invention to himself for four years,
without patent or herald to proclaim its excellence. It is a simple
frame made of inch stuff, about eighteen inches square, and lined witha
wire cloth bottom of eight meshes tothe inch. It just fits into the
ordinary hatching trough,and is kept up a half inch from the bottom
by a nail at each corner. This tray is coated with paraffine varnish,
which makes it proof against all fungus growth. It is very cheap,
very simple and the best thing we have ever tried for hatching eggs.
One of these trays will hold two or three thousand eggs. They do
not get dirty nearly so soon as when resting upon gravel, and, when
it is necessary to clean them, the tray is lifted from its place, put
under a fine hose and effectually cleaned in a minute or two. The
saving of labor is immense. Then it is one of the-most convenient
vessels yet discovered for packing eggs in moss for transportation.
At least 2,000 can be packed in one of them, and twenty-four of the
trays can go in one box, very convenient for handling. A large
number of the eggs moved from Maine to the hatching-house at
Poquonnoe, Ct., came in these trays, and bore transportation quite
as well as those coming in smaller packages. These trays are used
at Bucksport, Me., by Mr. Atkins, and at Poquonnoe, and have given
great satisfaction. They will unquestionably banish gravel from all
well appointed hatching-houses, and supersede Costie’s boxes and
other glass grilles and charcoal boxes for preventing fungus. It can-
not fail to largely increase the profits of the fish breeder.

On the whole, we have great occasion for congratulation as we
review the substantial progress made during the year 1872.

Quite a large number of gentlemen have joined the association,
whom we are happy to welcome to our deliberations to-day.

NATURAL vs. ARTIFICIAL SPAWNING AS PRACTICED
IN THE CULTURE OF BROOK TROUT.

By FRED MATHER.

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the American Fish Culturists’
Association—Knowing as I do that most if not all of the members
of this association practice taking the spawn of trout and other fish
by hand, because they find it most convenient and profitable, it is
not my intention to offer them any advice on a subject which is so

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 11

familiar to them ; but as the discussions and proceedings of this body
of earnest laborers in the comparatively new tield of pisciculture are
published far and wide, for the information of those who look to it
as the fountain-head of knowlege on the subject, I would like to give
the results of my own experience and observations, that have extended
through a period of nearly five years.

Ido not care to enter into a discussion as to the comparative
health or constitution of tish from eggs taken in either way,
although it is well known that I believe that the eggs laid in
the natural manner will produce the hardiest fish, contrary to the
opinion of some of our most distinguished trout breeders; but
as I have so many letters from beginners who have failed in both
ways of taking spawn, [ find that there are more difficulties to be
encountered by the novice than have ever been published.

The most general complaint is, that it is too much trouble to take
the eggs of a few fish by hand; that from a pond containing but a
few hundred fish, there are but very few spawners ripe at a time, and
the operator goes to the raceway and bags all the fish in it many
mornings for nothing, and his attendance is required every morning,
no matter how stormy it may be, and Sundays as well as week days,
for our trout have not yet been educated up to the point of religious
observances.

On the contrary, the one who uses the Ainsworth screens can wait
a more tavorable time, if the day be cold or stormy, as a delay of a
day or two will make no difference, and there is usually a time in
each week when the weather is mild enough for the purpose.

The following is the record, tur part of the season, of one of my
ponds, which contains 300 four-year old fish:

1872
Nee WAT ota SN 2s sie cis oR ey pa 1,500 spawn
Mawes ercint, GAYS Alter os o\<,. ..cioe ps2 a oe 55000; 0). 5
Bocmy eleven daysattet...... 14 .ceeraiyhe eee 95500 54
Mectlontenv days alter . 7 2y.....) 5 a5 sls eeu bs See eS Sr O00. axe
Dec. 20, eight days after ........ SHEE rain chet hs 6,000 *
Wee ss Cielt, Gays, atten sou... 0mib deishe sipeudnts avis te Psd) ee
1873.
Jan=seleven: days after. ti..0q 7.) 22 a Te ake F 6,500
Hamelaeninedays afters. siakci Oks eek, lenient! 2,000 “

ane25eirht days after so.2.52.0.% 2: UA Fe eitts SATG500 1°

12 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

This is as far as the record goes this year, but they will probably
extend the spawning season into March, as they did last year.

It will be seen that on the 28th of December, after an interval of
eight days, there were only 1,500 spawn deposited, probably two fish
in the whole week, and this right ‘in the height of the season.

The beginner also kills more or less fish, generally move, as there
is some loss from handling, even by an experienced operator, there-
fore he should always use the screens, for a while at least.

The only complaint I hear against the sereens is, that the per
centage of impregnation is not so great as by the hand system; this
comes mostly from those who are engaged in supplying the spawn to
those just starting in business.

This objection is of small value to persons who wish to take it for
their own nse, as the comfort and convenience of the screens will
far outweigh any consideration of that character.

I have received letters of inquiry by the score, concerning the
details of the management of the screens, in the past two years; two
of them were from experienced hand operators, saying that the per
centage of impregnation was very low on their screens, and asking
advice ; and my answer has been, that at my ponds at Honeoye Falls,
N. Y., I use large gravel, from the size of a black walnut to a hen’s
egg, and but little of a, hardly a water pail full to a box three feet
long by two feet wide.

I often find all the gravel swept into one end of the box, and have
known the fish to spawn on the bare painted wire and sweep the
gravel over it, leaving the other end bare. Of course, the only rea-
son that more eggs are not impregnated is because the milt fails to
reach them, through becoming too much diluted; and to lessen the
chance of this, I have the distance between the upper and lower
screen as small as possible; in some cases they have actually touched,
from the sagging of the upper screen with its weight of gravel.
These are the main points, and by observing them more closely my
per centage of fertilized eggs has inereased two and a half per cent
this season over the average of last year.

This per centage has varied from eighty and a fourth to ninety-
two, the average for the part of the season ending at the present
writing (January 28th, 1873) being eighty-seven and a half.

By the dry method nearly 100 per cent of all eggs taken can be
fecundated, which is considered a great saving; but are all the eggs
taken? Experience has shown that trout often disturbed on the beds

F'sH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 13

will seek another spot, and will sometimes spawn in the middle of
the pond on a bare stone, in preference to the graveled raceway ; and
may it not often occur that some fish who have a nest in the raceway
may be in the pond when the haul is made, and will return and
deposit their spawn after the operators have left? And here the
question arises, will not the number of eggs lost by both these causes
nearly if not quite counterbalance the loss of unimpregnated eggs
taken on the screens?

Honeoye Farts, N. Y.

ON THE IMPREGNATION OF TROUT EGGS.
By J. R. DyKEMAN.

It will be impossible for me to attend the meeting of your associa-
tion, as I am attending tothe details of the hatching-house myself
this winter, and my first fish are about at the first feeding stage. In
the printed report, and in all statements published, it has appeared
to me that figures were something all trout culturists were afraid
of. I will give you some of this season’s, up to and including yester-
day, promising that as far as they go they are as accurate as careful
counting (not measuring) can make them. My hatching boxes are
arranged on each side of a distributing box in center of house (boxes
four and five feet long and fourteen inches wide), in triplets, with
passages between, so that IT have a complete way of keeping any lot
of 5,000 to 10,000, without danger of intermixing.

Section No. 1.—Eggs taken from pond No. 3 on Collins’ screens,
from November 9th to 28th, 1872. Fislf mostly from streams in
neighborhood, about one pound in weight on an average. Total
number of eggs, 4,559. Unimpregnated, 1,038, or seventy-eight
per cent good. Commenced to hatch December 25th. Total loss
of fish up to 9th inst., 1,231, being twenty-eight per cent of total
eggs, or thirty-five per cent of the impregnated.

Number of fish died first week atter hatching... ..... rar ep stator: 136
Namber of tish died second week after hatching......... ee NOE)
Number of fish died third week after hatchime .... 3. «1. eee 199
Number of fish died fourth week after hatching.............. 114
Number of fish died fifth week after hatching................ 88

Number of fish died sixth week after hatching.......... SarGers }00

14 REpoRT OF THE AMERICAN

Section No. 2.—Eggs taken November 25th and 27th, Ainsworth
& Collins. Eggs from pond No. 3, and some from pond No. 1.
My own raising nf fish, nearly two years old. Total number of eggs
taken, 5,254, or sixty-eight per cent impregnated. Unimpregnated,
1,692. Commenced to hatch December 31st.

Number of fish died first week after commencing to hatch..... 129
Number of fish died second week after commencing to hatch... 407
Number of fish died third week after commencing to hatch. .. 330
Number of fish died fourth week after commencing to hatch... 58
Number of fish died fifth week after commencing to hatch..... 12

Loss of fish to date 1,036, being twenty per cent of whole number,
or twenty-nine per cent of the impregnated.

Sections Nos. 3 and 4.—Eggs taken artificially in small quantity of
water from fish out of pond No. 3, November 25th and 27th. Total
number of eggs taken 11,523, or forty per cent. Eggs unimpregnated
4,666.

Number of fish died first week after commencing to hatch..... 43
Number of fish died second week after commencing to hatch... 194
Number of fish died third week after commencing to hatch.... 472
Number of fish died fourth week after commencing to hateh.... 188
Number of fish died fifth week after commencing to hatch..... 99

Total loss of hatched fish to date 996, or nine per cent of total
number of eggs, or about fifteen per cent of impregnated.

The above are all that are far enough advanced to tell the pro-
bable loss up to time of commencing to feed. I think the above
shows the loss to be principally of weak fish. There were some
deformities which were taken out and counted with the dead.

Temperature of water forty-eight and forty-nine. Some fungus
grew on the wood work of the grills. My boxes are all charred, but
according to Slack “ doing no possible harm.” (See page ninety-one
of his book.)

I give below the figures of all that are hatched up to date.

Spawn from pond No. 3. Old fish taken on Collins’ roller sereen.
Total number 21,904, or fifty-eight per cent impregnated. Unimpreg-
nated 9,303.

Spawn from young fish of our own raising. Pond No. 1 mixed
with pond No. 3. Collins’ screen. Total number 17,641, or sixty -
eight per cent impregnated. Unimpregnated 5,725.

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 15

Spawn from own rearing of fish nearly two years old, in pond
No. 1. Ainsworth screens. Total number 4,450, or fifty-one per
cent impregnated. Unimpregnated 2,142.

Artificial, taken in small quantities of water, and about one-half
taken dry. The detailed accounts do not make hardly any difference
between the two ways of taking; if anything, it isin favor of small
quantity of water. Total number 35,243, or fifty per cent of impreg-
nated. Unimpregnated 17,480.

My fish are not done spawning yet; will get about 6,000 yet.
Have put in total number 120,609 of my own; from F. Mather
1,917. Total, 122,526.

The flow of my spring is 2,500 gallons per minute. It never
freezes inside my hatching-house, which is well built of stone.

Surprenspurc, Cumberland county, Penn.

ON THE FECUNDATION OF FISH.
By CHar.es BELL.

I have been for some years past considerably interested in the
artificial propagation of fish, and I have read every publication on
the subject that [ have had access to, especially those regarding either
the theory or the practice of artificial impregnation. And, in so
doing, I have hit upon one point upon which the writers on pisci-
culture agree with each other, but do not agree with the best authori-
ties upon physiology, that is, the “spermatozoa,” or the fecundating
principle of the seminal fluid of the male fish, and it is to this point
that I would like to call the attention of the association, as I believe
it to be of vital importance that we should understand the true nature
of the “zodsperm.” I find that the general impression among
writers on pisciculture is, that they are living animal organisms,
while physiologists concur in the opinion that they are simply fila-
ments of albuminoid substance. With your permission I will quote
to you from that admirable little work by Mr. Livingstone Stone,
entitled “Domesticated Trout,” and from Mr. Fred Mather’s articles
in the “ Farm and Fireside Journal ;” both otf these gentlemen are
practical fish culturists, and undoubted authority upon the subject
I will also quote from J. P. Dalton, Jr.. M. D., Protessor of
Physiology and Microscopic Anatomy in the College of Physicians
and Surgeons, New York.

16 REPORT OF THE AUEFRICAN

1st. From Mr. Stone, viz.: “ For the benefit of those to whom
this part of the subject is unfamiliar, I will say that the milt or
seminal fluid of the male fish consists [or contains, I have forgotten
the exact language in that case] of innumerable living microscopic
organismns, called spermatuzoa or zodsperms ; these millions of intini-
tesimal creatures, during their briet career in the outer world, are
endowed with great activity, and jump and plunge about among one
another with a motion as ceaseless as it is rapid and vigorous.”

From this you will see that Mr. Stone believes them to be living
animals, but Dr. Dalton does not agree with him _ in that respect,
although Mr. Mather does. I will next quote from Mr. Mather’s
article in the December number of the ‘Farm and Fireside
Journal ;” he says: “As before stated, the egg will absorb milt
or water for about half an hour, and is, of course, open for impregna-
tion nearly that length of time; but the animaleule of the milt,
though they will live in their own fluid we know not how long, will
die in a few minutes in cold water.”

In this article Mr. Mather does not hesitate to call the spermatozoa
animaleulw, a title that I do not think appropriate or correct ; but as
he and Mr. Stone together opprove of the term, I would not venture
to correct them myself, but I will submit the evidence on both sides
to the association, and they shall decide, not whether we shall
call them “zodsperms” or “animalcule,” but whether they are
living animals or simply shreds of albumen.

The following extract is from Dr. Dalton’s “ Treatise on Physi-
ology,” published in 1859, at Boston :

“The most remarkable peculiarity of the spermatozoa is their
very singular and active movement, to which we have already alluded.
If a drop of fresh seminal fluid be placed under the microscope, the
numberless minute filainents of which it is composed are seen to be
in astate of incessant and agitated motion; this movement of the
spermatozoa, in many species of animals, strongly resembles that of
the tadpole.” * * * “The tail-like filament constantly keeps up a
lateral and vibratory motion by which the spermatozoon is driven from
place to place in the spermatic fluid, just as the fish or tadpole is
propelled through the water. In other instances, as, for example, in
the water lizard, the spermatozoa havea continuous writhing or spiral-
like movement, which presents a very peculiar and elegant appearance
when large numbers of them are view a together; it is the existence
of this movement that first suggested the name of spermatozoa, to

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 17

designate the animated filaments of the spermatic fluid, and which
has led some writers to attribute to them an independent animal
nature. This is, however, a very erroneous mode of regarding them,
since they cannot properly be considered as animals, notwithstanding
the active character of their movement, and the striking resemblance
which it sometimes presents to a voluntary act. The spermatozoa
are organic, which are produced in the testicles and constitute a part
of their tissue, just as the eggs which are produced in the ovaries
naturally forin a part of the texture of these organs; like the egg,
also, the spermatozoon is destined to be discharged from the organ
where it grew, and to retain for a certain length of time its vital
properties. One of the most peculiar of its properties is its power
of keeping in constant motion, which does not, however, mark it as
a distinct animal, but only distinguishes it as a peculiar structure
belonging toa parent organism. The motion of a spermatozoon is
precisely analogous to that of a ciliated epithelium cell. The move-
ment of the latter will continue for some hours after it has been
separated from its mucous membrane, provided its texture be not
injured nor the process of decomposition allowed to commence. In
the same manner the movement of the spermatozoon is a characteris-
tic properly belonging to them, which continues for a certain time,
even after they have been separated from all connection with the
body.”

This, you see, is a direct refutation of the “living organism”
theory, and I would very much like to have the opinion of the asso-
ciation upon the subject.

Honore Fatts, N. Y.

FISH CULTURE ABROAD.
By GEORGE SHEPARD PAGE.

You are all doubtless familiar with the fact that for many centu-
ries that wonderfully ingenious people, with whom we are becoming
somewhat familiar in these times of dear labor, the Chinese, have
extensively pursued the science of tish culture, indeed making it one
of the chief industries of several of the principal provinces. They
economize the immense rice-tields at the season when they are cov-
ered with water, thus obtaining a double harvest. The species of
fish cultivated are probably the carp, as the eggs are deposited on

2

18 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

fagots placed in the water, and these spawn-covered fagots are sold
in the markets as with us are hens’ eggs. Rice and fish form the
principal food of the Chinese. They are very cheap, hence “ Chinese
cheap labor.” Success with us in this industry will do much to
solve one of the most difficult and dangerous problems of the day,
the labor question.

The Romans seem to have understood and extensively practiced
fish culture. They prepared large ponds, opening by canals to the
sea, through which fish passed seeking the fresh water spawning
grounds. The parent fish were prevented from returning by flood-
gates, which barred their progress to the sea, and while their progeny
were growing they supplied the market. The celebrated salmon-
breeding establishments in Norway, Scotland and Ireland, seemed to
have followed much the same plan. From the time of ancient Rome
we learn nothing of fish culture for several centuries. A little more
than a hundred years ago, a young German naturalist, ardently
devoted to the study of nature, was one day lying upon the bank of
a rippling brook, watching a number of fish engaged in spawning.
In pairs they had carefully removed the sediment from the gravelly
bottom, and by pressure of the abdomen upon the pebbles he saw
the eggs deposited by the females, quickly followed by the milt
deposit of the male fish. Thought he, why cannot I press the eggs
and the milt from the fish and hatch them in the little stream near
my cottage? He did it, and the name of Jacobi will live and be
honored among the great benefactors of the human race. It is but
fair to state, however, that the honor of first discovering the art of
artificial impregnation is claimed by several writers for the Monk
Dom Pinchon, of Ronen, France, in the fourteenth century. Yet
the science was not pursued practically to any extent, and the rivers
and lakes of Europe were, by the early part of the present century,
nearly depopulated of food’ fishes by the same causes that have so
thoroughly depleted our own—the erection of impassable dams, the
refuse of manufactories, and indiscriminate fishing.

By the year 1849 the question of cheap fish food for the masses
became of such importance that the French government invested a
large suin of money in the erection of the first piscicultural establish-
ment at Huningue; and the grand results of their enlightened policy
have been felt all over Europe and in our own land. The following
graphic description, by a distinguished English writer, of the place
where practical fish culture was first instituted, will be of interest:

FisH CULtTorRistTs’ ASSOCIATION. 19

“The series of buildings at Huningue are admirably adapted to
the purpose for which they were designed. The group forms a square,
the entrance portion of which—two lodges—is devoted to the corps
de garde, and the center has been laid out as a kind of shrubbery,
and is relieved with two little ponds containing fish. The whole
establishment, ponds and buildings, occupies a space of eighty acres.
The suites of buildings comprise, at the sides, two great hatching
galleries, sixty metres in length and nine metres brvad, containing a
plentiful supply of tanks and egg-boxes; and in the back of the
square are the library, the laboratory and the residence of the ofticers.
The egg-boxes are raised in pyramids, the water flowing from one on
top into those immediately below. The water supply is derived from
the springs on the grounds, the Rhine, and the Angrabea streams. The
water of the higher springs is directed toward the building through
an underground condnit, while those rising at a lower level are used
only in small basins and trenches for the experiments in raising fish
outside. As a general rule, fish are not bred at Huningue, the chiet
business accomplished there being the collection and distribution ot
their eggs; but there is a large supply of tanks and troughs for the
purpose of experimenting with such fish as may be kept in the place.
The waters of the Rhine, being at a higher level than the springs,
can be employed in the basins. Of course, different qualities of
water are quite necessary for the success of experiments in acclimati-
zation carried on so zealously at this establishment. Some fish delight
in a clear running stream, while others prefer to pass their life in
sluggish waters.

“* The course of business at Huningue is as follows: The eggs are
brought chietly from Switzerland and Germany, and embrace those of
the various kinds of trout, the Danube and Rhine salmon, and the
tender ombre Chevalier (a large char). People are appointed to
eatch gravid fish of these various kinds, and, having done so, to com-
munieate with the authorities at Huningue, who at once send an
expert to deprive the fishes of their spawn and bring it to the breed-
ing or store boxes, where it is carefully tended and daily watched till
it is ready to be dispatched to some district in want of it.”

Up to the season of 1863-64 the total number of fresh water fish-
eggs distributed from Huningne was far above 110,000,000, and
nearly half of these were of the finer kinds of fish, there being no
less than 41,000,000 of the eggs of salmon and trout. This great
establishment passed into the possession. of the Germans by the

20 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

cession of the Provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, and is now con-
ducted on a still grander scale under the auspices of the Deutscher
Fischerei Verein. This society is the “Fish Culturists’ Association ”
of the North German Confederation, and among its most active mem-
bers are Count Bismark, the Grand Duke, “our Fritz,’ Count
Munster (a Minister of the Empire), Geo. von Bunsen, Esleben and
other members of the Parliament, and Prof. Peters, of the University
of Berlin. Through this agency hundreds of rivers, lakes and ponds
in Europe are now once more teeming with the most valued species
of the tinny tribe. Many private piscicultural establishments are
now in active operation in various parts of Europe. Probably many
of my hearers have visied that interesting feature of romantic
Heidelberg—the trout ponds. Norway and Sweden are making
rapid strides in practical fish culture. One of the most important—
indeed, [ may eay the most important discovery—in the art, comes
to us recently from the Governmental Fish-hatching Establishment
of Russia, the systein of dry impregnation. Previously the eggs and
milt were extruded in a pan of water, and but a comparatively small
per centage hatched. By the Russian plan the eggs are first pressed
from the fish into an empty dish, and the milt dropped directly on
the eggs. Livingston Stone reported at our last annual meeting that
he had hatched ninety-nine out of one hundred eggs by this process.

But I must pass rapidly from this continent to England, Scotland
and Ireland, in order that -we may learn the wonderful success
experienced in bountifully restocking depleted and exhausted rivers
with the king of the finny tribes, salmo-salar. Twenty-five years ago
the salmon had been nearly exterminated in imost of the rivers of the
United Kingdom, and only the wealthiest could indulge in the great
luxury. One of the most noted salmon rivers was the Tay. You are
well aware that the fishing privileges of Great Britain are nearly
all private property, and are leased by their owners, either at
so much for the entire river, or a license is granted to a single
fisherman with rod or net, for sport or tor the market. The lessee of
the Tay, alarined by the regular diminution in the number of salmon
taken, constructed extensive hatching works at Stormonttield. The
salmon captured in nets, if ripe, were manipulated and the eggs
placed in the hatching boxes. If the salmon were not ready to
spawn, they were liberated in an adjacent pond and retained till the
propertime. The eggs require about 130 daysto hatch. The young
fry remain in the compartments six weeks, and then run into a small

Fiso CvUtLtTvristTs’ ASSOCIATION. 21

pond. They are fed on boiled and grated liver. After the first year
they are turned into another pond in order that the first pond may
be occupied by the new crop of fry. A third pond is used to receive
the half of the brood becoming smelts the second year. Three hun-
dred and fifty thousand eggs are hatched at this establishment annu-
ally; and a3 a female salmon will yield abont 1,000 eggs fur every
pound she weighs, you will readily see that a small number are
required to supply the boxes, say twenty-two of fifteen pounds each.
It is stated that ninety per cent are hatched. Now let us examine
the practical results: The catch of salmon, and hence the rental of
the stream, regularly increased. In 1853 the rental was £8,700,
$43,500 ; 1854, £9,200 ; 1855, £9,900 ; 1858, £11,400 ; 1860, £13,000 ;
1862, £14,000; 1864, £15,000, 375,000. The river Tay is not much,
if any, larger than the Passaic in New Jersey, or the Thames in
Connecticut. The operations at Stormontfield attracted the atten-
tion of others interested, and the same plan was pursued by Ashworth
in Ireland, on the Galway ; Cooper on the Owenmore and Arrow
and Ballysadare; Martin and Gillon on the Dee, and many other
rivers in England, Scotland and Ireland have been densely repopu-
lated with salmon.

The following extract from an account published in the London
Field, of the success of artificial hatching, and the return of the
salmon by the way of the salmon ladders erected by Mr. Cooper over
the previously impassable falls of the Ballysadare, will be heard with
the deepest interest, especially by those who have not, like our
enthusiastic veteran angler friend, Thad. Norris, Esq., visited the
far-off salmon rivers of Canada and Labrador, or been permitted to
witness the remarkable catch of Charles G. Atkins, Esq., last sum-
mer, at the mouth of the Penobscot, sixteen salmon, in six weeks,
taken un-a-wares (in a weirs) with a fly-net: August 24, saw several
salmon in the hole under the fall of Collooney. September 24, the
river between Ballysadare and Collooney is now well stocked, saimon
being visible in almost every deep hole, and a number being congre-
grated between Collooney bridge and the hole under the fall. Octo-
ber 3, seven salmon and one white tront in the pond. October 13
counted twenty-seven salmon, mostly females, in the Collooney lad-
der. October 28, three male fish in the ladder; 30th, four male and
two female fish in the ladder. November 3, sixteen male and eight
female; 4th, ten fish in the ladder; 5th, nine fish; 6th, seven ditto;
7th, eleven ditto, and saw several large fish leaping at the ladder at

22 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

Ballysadare; 9th, twenty-four male and fifteen female fish in the ladder;
23d, twenty-five male and twenty female fish, ditto, some very large ;
December 3, thirty male and forty-five female salmon found in the
ladder. The regular fishing season began in July, when we canght
868 salmon, and up to the 20th of August 530 more—in all, 1,398.
The following year (1858), the number increased wonderfully.
August 28, at Ballysadare, numbers of salmon in every part of the
river ; September 1, Collooney ladder literally full of fish ; September
25, Collooney ladder swarming ; October 3 to 6, heavy floods; the
ladder resembles a steeple chase, as we see them clearing the steps
in pairs; November 27, great numbers of fish in the ladder. One of
my men counted 207 salmon in one hour ascending the ladder, and
Mr. Calbertson has written me saying he reckoned 100 in less than
half an hour making up the rapids at Ballysadare. On yesterday,
December 2, there was so many fish in the pond at Collooney, that
Mr. Leech took up no less than six at once, inalanding net. Decem-
ber 19, counted nineteen at upper step of ladder in five minutes,
turned off the water and put up 256 salmon; 11th, counted 102 fish
jump at the upper step in five minutes; turned off the water; the
pond actually alive with fish, in general larger and fresher from the
sea than those of yesterday; put up 246 fish and then stopped, as
the fish were getting sick in the pond. I am confident we left 300
to 400 in the pond. And now, supposing that you can still endure a
few more such delightful figures, telling us so forcibly that what lias
been done on these emall streams in old Ireland, and Scotland and
England, can be done on a far greater scale in our magnificent river.
Let me worthily conclude them by the following report of Mr.
Ainsworth, detailing the catch of salmon before and after the com-
mencement of his enterprise on the Galway: 1853, number taken,
1,603; 1855, 5,540; 1858, 9,639 ; 1861, 11,051; 1862, 15,431; 1963,
17,995; 1864, 20,512; and since then the numbers have still increased.
In 1866 over 1,000 tons of salmon were shipped by the railroads of
Ireland. Salmon can be purchased in London at twelve cents and
fifteen cents per pound.

And now, tellow-members of the American Fish Culturists’ Associa-
tion, if such wonderful results as these can be obtained abroad, what
may we not anticipate in the early future for our beloved America.
Let us labor on until by our exertions we so multiply the salmon,
the trout, the shad, the black bass, that whosoever will, be he rich
or poor, may abundantly partake.

FisH CULTORISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 23

FISH CULTURE IN JAPAN AND CHINA.

Unrrep States Consutate, }
Kanacawa, September 5, 1872. {
Hon. Cuartes Hate,

Assistant Secretary of State, Washington :

Sir.—Referring to yourdispatch No. 60, 1 have the honor to report,
that from the best information within my reach I glean the following
facts :

In Japan there is no scientific or business method of propagating
fish. The great abundance of salt-water tish and the fact of but little
being used which is rot previously salted does not seem yet to involve
the necessity of propagation. A few daimios, chiefly in the sonth and
also in Kuiship, have transferred live fish when young (not two inches
long) from river to river, trom river to pond, and from pond back to
river again. They are transferred in small flat vessels of water and
put into temporary artificial ponds made of puddled clay, only a few
inches deep, and covered with netting to keep the fish safe from attack
of birds. The gold-fish are treated in this way, as are also a kind of
fish called koi, which resemble somewhat carp, but are rounder. They
are fed on very small worms, dug out of mud at the bottom of stag-
nant or slow-running ditches. At the end of three weeks or so the
‘pond is made to communicate by a channel either with a larger pond
of old standing, or a river, and the artificial pond is thus emptied of
its stock. This is done in Hizen and Bingo for ornament of gardens.

Salmon abound in the rivers on the western coast of Nipon, north
of this latitude, as do also black bass. Terso and its rivers teem with
salmon, the fishing for which by net on the sea-shore begins about
the Ist of September and ends about 27th of November. Fishing
for salmon by net is at preserrt going on about eighty-five degrees
north-east from this port on the Pacific coast.

I have the honor, sir, to be
Your obedient servant,

Cc. O. SHEPARD,
Consul.

24 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

Unirep States ConsuLaTE-GENERAL, |
Suancual, November 9, 1872. 4

Tlon. Charles Hale, Assistant Secretary of State, Washington:

Srr.—In response to instruction No. 315, which I have the honor
to receive in duplicate, I have to say that the practice of the rearing
of fish in China by artificial means is said to have obtained to some
extent. Natives and some foreigners long resident in this country
agree that the art is, or has been, practiced in certain inland districts,
but as to how, when or in respect of the process, I am yet unable to
get real information.

My own observation from traveling in the interior of this province,
where water communication is second to no other part of China, is,
that the practices of the natives are adverse to successful culture of
fish—because they catch at all seasons, even digging in muddy
creek-beds to obtain the fish, and in spawning season take advantage
of the resort of the female to fill their nets.

I have addressed myself to various sources, native and otherwise,
to learn, if possible, some details, and upon the receipt of such I will
address the Department accordingly.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

O. B. BRADFORD,
Vice Consul-General.

THE NATIVE FISH OF UTAH:

By A. P. Rockwoop, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE Fish Farm in Sat LAKE City,
UTan.

First, the lake trout, which is of a dark green shade on the back
and upper part of the sides, gradually becoming lighter toward the
belly, with black spots on the sides and upper part of the tail. The
average or medium weight is about four pounds, though they have
been caught weighing upward of twenty-five pounds.

Fishermen find full-grown eggs in this tish in February and June.
They are found principally in or near the fresh-water lakes.

Second, brvuvk trout, which are found usually in the mountain
streams. They are of a steel color on the back, which run to silver
on the belly, with dark red spots on the back and tail. The average
weight is about one and one-fourth of a pound, increasing to two
and one half. Full-grown eggs are usually found in June.

FisH CuLtTovrRists’ ASSOCIATION. 25

We have a fish here, called by the fishermen mudlet, of the sucker
family. This fish ranks next to the trout in quality; the color
ranges from a deep red to a dark green, and is nearly as light on the
belly as the trout. The usual weight is about one and one-half
pounds, increasing to five pounds. Full-grown spawn is found in
February and June. From the vent forward, few bones are found ;
behind the vent there are quite a number of small ones.

The sucker, the most inferior fish we have, is somewhat lighter
than the mullet, and nearly the same shape and size, being very
bony; some portions of the bones are bound in bunches by a circular
bone.

The chub, of the perch family, is of a dark lead color on the back,
and light silver on the belly ; the average weight is abont one pound,
increasing to two pounds. These fish are about the same in quality
as the Atlantic perch; they spawn about the same time as trout.
The mountain herring, or silver sides, is of a bright silver color ; has
few bones, and is of good quality, but very scarce. Adults weigh
from one-quarter to one-half of a pound.

Occasionally there is a small fish caught, that appears to be one of
the cat-fish family ; it weighs about two ounces. This fish is very
scarce, and of inferior quality.

NATIONAL FISH CULTURE.

The following is the annual report of Hon. Spencer F. Baird,
United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, for the year 1872:

This report was printed early in the present year in another form,
but it contains so much that is important and interesting on the sub-
ject of fish culture that no apology is needed for its insertion in con-
nection with the papers of the association.

At a meeting of the Assuciation of American Fish Culturists and
of State Fish Commissioners, held in Albany in February, 1872, it
was determined to make application to Congress for assistance in
stocking the greater rivers and lakes of the United States with useful
food fishes, on the ground that, whatever the several States might be
willing to do for themselves respectively, they were not ready to
enter upon any measures the benefit of which would inure partially,
or perhaps exclusively, to the citizens of other States.

It was also believed that much remained to be done in the way of

26 REPORT OF 171BE AMERICAN

introducing the best varieties of foreign fish, such as might be espe-
cially suitable tor certain waters to which our domestic species are
not so well adapted, thus acting on the saine principle as that by
which the Agricultural Department takes measures to procure new
and desirable kinds of foreign seeds and plants, and disseminates
them throughout the United States. A committee was elected to
carry out the wishes of the association, and Congress finally made an
appropriation of 315,000 for this purpose, the disbursal of which was
placed: in my charge as Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries. As the
American Fish Culturists’ Association had been so closely connected
with the measures for obtaining the desired appropriation, I felt it my
duty to ask their advice as to the initiatory steps to be taken in the
enterprise, and at my request a special meeting was held in Boston
in the beginning of June, at which the question was brought up as
to the species of fish that should first be taken into consideration,
and the measures most suitable for securing their multiplication. It
was advised that shad, salmon and white-fish be the kinds first
attended to, and, after a very full and free interchange of views, and
receiving many valuable suggestions, I proceeded to Eastport, in
Maine. which served as my head-quarters until October, both for the
inquiry into the decrease of the food tishes of the United States, and
the question of their multiplication. The appropriation was not
made until early in June, and was not available until the Ist of July,
and there was, consequently, little time for doing much during the
year in respect to the introduction of shad. I was so fortunate, how-
ever, as to engage the services of Mr. Seth Green, of Rochester, and
Mr. Wim. Clift, of Mystic Bridge, Conn., both experienced fish cul-
turists. Mr. Green, by permission of the Fish Commissioners of New
York, obtained a large number of young shad from the State estab-
lishment near Albany (some hundred thousand), and carrying them
west, placed a portion in the Alleghany river, at Salamanca, and
another portion in the upper Mississippi, at St. Paul. A much
larger number would have been used but for the fact that the season
on the Hudson lasted only a few days atter it was possible to author-
ize Mr. Green to undertake the work. The season for hatching
shad in the Connecticut river being rather later than in the Hudson,
Mr. Clitt was able to obtain a large supply, through the kindness of
the Connecticut Commissioners, and accordingly proceeded with
several millions to the west. Of these a portion were planted in the
Alleghany river, and another portion in the White river, at Indiana-

FisH CULTORISTS’ ASSOCIATION. oF

polis, with a view of determining the practieability of transporting
young shad over long distances in midsummer (a problem already
experimented upon successfully by Mr. Seth Green, by taking young
fish from the Hudson to the Sacramento). Mr. Clift started for the
Rocky Mountains with the remainder of his fry, and, notwithstand-
ing the intense heat, succeeded in reaching Denver with several
thousand of living tish, which he placed in the head-waters of the
Platte. We have much reason to anticipate success in the experi-
ment of stocking the Mississippi river with shad, since we know that
the Alabama river has been stocked by the efforts of Dr. Daniel, by
carrying impregnated eggs from Savannah across to its head-waters;
and there are instances, which are detailed fully in my report, of
their occurring in considerable numbers at the hot springs of the
Onachita; at Neosha Falls, Kansas ; at the fall of the Ohio, at Lonis-
ville, and in the Wabash river.

There is little or nothing to interfere with the anticipation that,
with proper efforts, shad may swarm in the waters of the Mississippi
valley, including all the tributaries of the gulf, in the course of tive
or six years, in numbers corresponding to those in the Potomac,
Delaware and other Atlantic coast streams generally. The experi-
ence of the State of Connecticut in this respect is a case in point.
The supply of shad in the Connecticut for several years had been
greatly diminished, as compared with its former usual abundance,
owing to the reckless methods of tishing. A few years ago the Com-
missioner of Fisheries of Connecticut undertook the business of
hatching out the shad, and has been turning out young fish, year by
year, in increasing numbers, until the aggregate in 1871 amounted
to about 50,000,000, and in 1872 to 91,000,000. The benetit of this
action was satisfactorily exhibited in the spring of 1872. Immense
schools of shad were met at sea, bound for the Connecticut river, and
the number of fine, marketable fish actually taken in its vicinity was
so great that they became a drug in the market, scarcely worth more
than five or ten cents each. This condition of things was, of course,
not very satisfactory to the fishermen nor the marketmen, who pre-
ferred larger profits with less trouble; but the boon to the people
and consumers generally cannot be overestimated.

I desire to commence operations in regard to the shad at a very
early period during the year 1573, by impregnating the spawn and
hatching out the young in all the Atlantic rivers, beginning, perhaps,
with the St. Johns of Florida, and proceeding, with the advancing

28 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

season, to the streams further and further north, until the work can
be closed on the Connecticut river. The young fish can be taken
from the coast, by the lateral lines of railroad, to ditferent points in
the west and introduced in hundreds of localities; and it is hoped
that many millions of young fish may thus be started on their own
way, to become the progenitors of an ultimate supply in the waters
of the entire Mississippi valley. If authority be granted, similar
efforts with regard to shad will be made on the great lakes, in con-
tinuation of the labors of the Commissioners of New York and Ver-
mont, by whom several thousands of young fish have been planted
in the tributaries of Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario. The prae-
ticability of having shad in abundance in the great lakes, cut off from
access to the sea, is yet to be proved; but an augury of success is
drawn from the fact that, by reason of discoveries made very recently,
‘partly in connection with the United States Commission of Fisheries,
the waters in the deeper portions of these lakes have been found to
abound with minute crustaceans which are very similar if not iden-
tical with those which form the chief sustenance of the shad and also
of the salmon in the ocean.

As regards the salmon, time was available to act with more delibe-
ration, so as to secure more definite results, the spawning season for
the eastern fish, as is well known, being as late as the end of October
or the beginning of November. The fact that nearly all the rivers
of the United States, which formerly abounded with salmon, are now
destitute of them, made it necessary, of course, to adopt measures for
obtaining spawn in large quantities. Heretofore the only establish-
ment in America where these could be purchased was the hatching-
house belonging to the Canadian government, at Newcastle, in
Ontario, not tar from Toronto, and under the care of Mr. Wilmot.
The price charged, however, of forty dollars (gold) per thousand, was
almost prohibitory; and, at any rate, the number that could be
obtained at any price was too small to be of much value in the pro-
posed experiment. Accordingly, I adopted three methods for procur-
ing the desired supply, in which I was encouraged by the fish eul-
turists at their meeting already reterred to. It is known to most
persons that salmon come from the sea in the early spring, and, enter-
ing the large rivers, pass high up to their head-waters, remaining
there for several months before the business of spawning is begun.
Fat and in good condition at first, they gradually become very poor
and emaciated, until in the breeding season they are unfit for food.

FisH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 29

After the eggs are deposited, the salmon return to the sea, or in some
instances proceed into the large lakes, and there recuperate tor future
vperations. Taking advantage of this habit of the fish, Mr. Charles
G. Atkins, the former Fish Commissioner of the State of Maine, under-
took, in 1871, the then untried experiment of securing the salmon
on their first entrance into the river, and penning them up until the
spawning season in the fall. The living fish were purchased from
the fishermen, and after remaining in the inclosure until the proper
season, the operation of taking their spawn was entered upon. His
success in L871 induced me to join with the commissioners of several
of the States in giving to Mr. Atkins the means of carrying on the
work on a much larger scale, and this was prosecuted with such vigor
that as many as 600 sound, healthy salmon were secured. The sub-
sequent operations were successtully conducted, and, as the result,
Mr. Atkins now has in his hatching-house at Bueksport, Me., on the
Penobscot, about a million and a half of salmon ecers, which, at the
prices charged by the Canadian government, would be worth 360,000
in gold; the actual cust, however, being something less than 88,000
in currency. Ilalf of these egys are the property of the United
States. The European salmon and that of eastern North America
are believed to belong to the same species, and the same variety from
the Rhine is considered as pre-eminent tor the excellence of its tish,
and for the spert it affords to the fishermen. Knowing that the
German government was carrying on the fish establishnients at
Uiningen (first started by the French, but subsequently, by the for-
tune of the late war, falling, with the province in which it is situated,
into the possession of their rival), I applied to some friends connected
with the German Fisherei-Verein to know upen what terms I could
obtain a large number of eggs. 1 was promptly intormed that, desi-
rous of showing their appreciation of the American people, the Ger-
man government would present the United States 250,000 eggs, and
that these would be ready at the proper season tor transmission.
Very grateful for this unexpected act of liberality, [ ordered an addi-
tional half million of eggs from the private establishment of Ober-
burgomeister Schuster, at Freiberg. and engaged the services of Mr.
Rudelph Hessel, an experienced fish culturist of Germany, to accom-
pany all these eggs to America, so as to be assured of the best atten-
tion tur them on the voyage. These will probably leave Bremen
about the 11th of the present month, and be here before its close.
The magnitude of tbis transaction may be understood from the fact

30 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

that the weight of eggs in their packings will not be less than 7,500
pounds.* Desirous of having a still larger number available for the
experiment with the salmon, I engaged the services of Mr. Living-
ston Stone, a well known fish culturist, of New Hampshire, and
directed him to proceed to California with a view of securing eggs of
the Sacramento species, which is different from that of the Atlantic
coast, but in its season not inferior in eatable qualities. Although it
was thought the spawning season of the Sacramento salmon was
about the same as that of eastern tish, namely, toward the end of
October, Mr. Stone lost no time in proceeding to the west coast,
where he placed himself in communication with the California Fish
Commissioners, and, partly by their advice, selected a locality on the
McClond river, a tributary of the upper Sacramento, where he estab-
lished his hatching-house, and then proceeded to seine the fish which
were there in great abundance. To his surprise and disappointment
he found that the spawning season in the McCloud river was actually
in the early part of September, and he was consequently unable to
obtain more than 20,000 or 30,000 eggs. These were shipped east-
ward, and the greater part of them are now in a thriving condition
at the establishment of Dr. J. H. Slack, at Bloomsburg, N. J., in pre-
paration tor their transfer to the Susquehanna river. The importance
of the experiment with the Sacramento fish may be understood from
the fact that their breeding grounds on that river are in a region of
very high summer temperature, reaching at noon trom 100° to 110°
Fahrenheit for a considerable distance. Therefore, while the eastern
salmon is hardly likely to thrive west of the Connecticut river, or, at
most, of the I[udson, there is every reason to believe that the Sacra-
mento fish can be introduced into nearly if not quite all the rivers of
our Atlantic coast ; and we have every contidence that the time is
not far distant when we shall have in the Delaware, the Susquehanna,
the Potomac and the James, an ample supply of these delicious fish,
and northern waters as well as in more eastern.

I propose to place a large portion of the Penobscot and German
salmon eggs in the tributaries of the great lakes, as the fact of the
occurrence of the natural food of the shad in our lakes, in ample
quantity, applies equally well to the salmon. It is likewise my
intention to try the experiment of introducing the salmon and the
shad into the great Salt Lake of Utah. In this a body of salt water,
according tu Stansbury, of 291 miles in circumference, exclusive of

* None of theee eggs survived.

Fisg CocrToristTs’ ASSOCIATION. 31

offsets, and abounding in low forms of crustacex, and in dipterous
larvee to an unheard of extent, admirably fitted for feeding myriads
of any fish that can live in it. That the purely fresh-water species
of trout and cyprinidz are unable to survive therein is not to be
wondered at; but there seems no good reason to suppose that salmon,
ehad and alewives may not find a perfectly fitting resting place, and
one where they would in time multiply to an extraordinary degree,
in consequence of the entire absence of the predaccous fishes, such as
sharks, blue fish, ete., which tend to keep down their numbers in the
ocean. The experiment is worth trying, at any rate, and if success-
ful it will add immeasurably to the food resources of the central por-
tion of the west. In addition to the genuine salmon ordered from
Germany, a large number ot hybrids, between the salmon and the
trout, are expected. It has been established recently in Europe that
such crosses are not only fertile to a considerable degree, but that the
fish lose their instinct of wandering to the sea and remain in the
rivers throughout the year. Ilere they grow rapidly, more so than
the perfect fish, and their flesh is highly distinguished for its excel-
lence.

A beginning has also been made in regard to increasing the supply
of the white-fish in the lakes, and at present I have about three-
quarters of a million of eggs, in charge of Mr. N. W. Clarke, at
Clarkston, Mich. A portion of these, as soon as they have developed
sufliciently for the purpose, [ propose to transmit to the Commis-
sioners of Fisheries of California, for introduction into the waters of
the Pacific coast, and another year to take measures for multiplying
them largely throughout the great lakes. From its situation and
size, Utah lake appears well adapted for the introduction of white-
fish and land-locked salmon, and I propose to try the experiment,
this season, with both species. I may say, in conclusion, that in all
the work I have hitherto prosecuted, [ have had the hearty co-opera-
tion and concurrence of the Fish Commissioners of the several States,
it being, in my judgment, the best policy to work with and in a large
part through them.

The fand appropriated by Congress is not sufficient to meet all the
expenses of the business, especially that of hatching out and distri-
buting the young fish; and [ have therefore thought it best to limit
my efforts to obtaining the eggs in sufficient quantities and then to
turn them over tu the State Commissioners, exercising the privilege

82 REPORT OF THE AMERICAN

of carrying the subject to its entire conclusion in the waters of such
States as have not yet appointed Commissioners.

The efforts of the United States in reference to the introduction of
useful food fishes should not be limited to the salmonidw already men-
tioned (to which the various species of trout, salmon, white-fish and
smelts belong) and to the shad, as many other kinds yet remain tor con-
sideration. The land-locked salmon, the European char, and the smelt,
will be available for all ponds or lakes of a certain extent and tem-
perature. In these they will pass the greater part of their time, run-
ning up into the tributaries or outlets to spawn. The great Danube
salmon, which sometimes reaches the weight of 100 pounds, would
find a perfectly suitable residence in the Mississippi river and its
tributaries, teeding on the worthless chubs, suckers and cat fish so
abundant therein. The alewife can be propagated to a much greater
extent than at present. The sterlet, a kind of small sturgeon found
in the Volga and in Russia, is esteemed far beyond the turbot, will
thrive in the Mississippi valley and in the lakes. The gourami, an
East India fish, can be placed to great advantage in the mill-dams,
ponds, ete., of the south, thriving as it does in very warm water and
feeding entirely on vegetable matter. It attains a weight of twenty
pounds or more, grows with great rapidity, and is unsurpassed in the
excellence of its flesh. Other species could readily be mentioned,
but I have stated enongh to show the prospects before us in the way
of increasing, to an almost unlimited degree, the food resources of
our country, and in rendering the productiveness of our waters, in
this respect, superior, acre to acre, to that of land. Of course, time
and expenditure of money will be required, but the larger the scale
of operations the sooner and more efttectually the result will be
accomplished. There is also something still to be done by the United
States in the way of extending the area of cultivation of lobsters,
crabs, oysters, etc., if not by actual planting on a larger scale, yet by
making the necessary experiments and supplying detailed instruction
for the work. It is not impossible, indeed, that the great Salt Lake
and other interior bodies of saline waters may be made the nurseries
of objects such as those mentioned above.

SPENCER F. BAIRD,
U.S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.

Fisu Cvurvrists’ ASSOCIATION. 33

MEMBERS

AMERICAN FISH CULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION,

ORGANIZED DECEMBER 20ruH, 1870.

William Clift, Mystic Bridge, Conn.
Livingston Stone, Charlestown, N. H.
B. F. Bowles, Springfield, Mass.
A. 8S. Collins, Caledonia, N. Y.
George Shepard Page, No. 10 Warren street, N. Y.
Dr. Huntington, Watertown, N. Y.
Fred. Mather, Honeoye Falls, Monroe county, N. Y.
E. W. Stoughton, Windsor, Vt.
Richards Bradley, Brattleboro, Vt.
George I. Jerome, Niles, Mich.
A. B. Crocker, Norway, Me.
Edwa'd Whitin, Whitinsville, Mass.
Theodore Shultz, P. O. Box 3141, N. Y.
T. J. Whitcotnb, Springtield, Vt.
J. D. Bridgman, Bellows Falls, Vt.
Benjamin Farrar, 12 North Fourth street, St. Louis, Mo.
George Jewett, M. D., Fitchburg, Mass.
B. Frank Boyer, Reading, Penn.
A. C. Rupe, New York.
A. B. Sprout, Muncey, Penn.
B. Bb. Porter, Oakland, Bergen county, N. J.
M. H. Chrystler, Kinderhook, N. Y.
Gifford W. Chrystler, Kinderhook, N. Y.
E. Sterling, M. D., Cleveland, Ohio.
F. J. Chandler, Alstead, N. HH.
Seth Green, Rochester, N. Y.-
C. Hf. Farnham, Milton, Ulster county, N. Y.
Arthur Maginnis, Stanhope, Monrve county, Pa.
3

34 MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

James Worrall, Harrisburg, Penn.

E. B. Paxton, Detroit, Mich.

A. P. Rockwood, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Joseph Van Cleve, 46 Franklin street, Newark, N. J.

Phil. Neidlinger, No. 10 William street, New York city.

Dr. W. H. Newell, President of the Society of Acclimatization; San
Francisco, Cal.

TIonorary Members.
Prof. Spencer F. Baird, U.S. Commissioner of Fisheries, Washing-
ton, D. C.
Albert S. Bickmore, Superintendent American Museum of Natural
History, Central Park, N. Y.

Samuel Wilmot, Newcastle, Ontario, Canada.

American Fisheries
Society
Transactions

Biological
& Medical
Serials

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY

STORAGE

*
¥

t
Ht
Le
*,

ott

snd

7 1 rs ar 4
i
= } a
_ xs
7 ‘ _
= a - i) ae
an : : \
A)
os - 7
-- @ , ye
7 i: E
_ ;
; ‘