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^ CANADA
^T THE pREAT
--^FISHERIES^^
BITION
LONDON, 1883.
LETTERS FROM EMINENT MEN
IN ENGLAND ON THE STANDING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CANA-
DIAN BRANCH OF THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL
FISHERIES EXHIBITION, 1 883.
ALSO
EXTRACTS FROM PAPERS READ.
AND DISCUSSIONS HAD, REFERRING TO CANADA, AT THE FISHERY
CONFERENCES HELD IN LONDON DURING THE GREAT
EXHIBITION CALLED BY THE AU THORITY OF
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE PRINCE OF WALES.
A. S. WooDBURN, Printer, Oitaw*.
m
Index.
FAOB.
Introductory 1
(I
CANADIAN EXHIBIT.
LETTERS COMPLIMENTARY.
B'rkbeok. Ed., M.P., Cliairman LF.E 10
Cunhffe-Uwen, Sir Philip. K.C M.G., C.B., Chairman I.B\E
Grossman Jas H., Executive Committee LF.E 15
Dufferin, Earl of, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.M.G 4
Gait, Sir A. T., Late High Commissioner of Canada ■">
Hamilton, Marquis of ^
Rose, Sir John, Bart., G.C M.G 7
Secretary of State, Canada 11
EXTRACTS FROM THE FOLLOWING CONFERENCE
PAPERS, VIZ :
Salmo7iidce, by Sir James Maitland '. 21
Herring Fisheries, by R. VV. Duff, M.P 28
Coarse Fish Cu'ture, by R. B. Marston 31
Fisheries of Canada, by L. Z. Joncas 33
Fish Diseases, by Prrf. Huxley 41
Fish as Food by Sir Henry Thompson 43
Salmon and Salmon Fisheries, by D. Milne Home, F.R.S.E 44
Tree Culture, by Mr. Howitz 49
National Fisheries Society, by Charles E. Fryer 51
Fresh Water Fishing, by J. P. Wheeldon, (Bell's We) 53
Newfoundland Fisheries, by Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C. M.G 56
Fisheries of China, by J. Dunian Campbell 67
Fish Preservation and Refrigeration, by J. K. Kilbourue 59
Fisheries of the United States, by G. Brown Goode, M.A 62
1 ■ «»>
GENERAL INDEX.
EXTRACTS FROM CONFERENCE PAPERS READ:
Adderly, A. J., Commissioner to the Bahamas 12, 20
Acclimatisation of Fish 21
Abinger, Lord — Fresh Water Fishing 53
Appropriation, Fish Culture, U.S , Expenditure 63
Albatross, Steamer, U.S.— " Fish Culture". 65
Jl.
Birkbeck Ed.. MP., Clmimmn "Fish Culture" ,.,
a rd, Profe.s8or, U.S. CouunifiHioner-Cali bJnia Salmon H
Colomal Banquet; Colonial Exhibition, 1886 ."" H
Cooper, Sir David, Colonial Exhibition IRSfl }^
Cunlii.j-Owen, Sir Phili
13
34
Ff^:;T^; . "•:. .'f :';:'rr:^'^"''^' ^-^-^^ ^ ; • • Canadla;
<'utnpbell, J. Duncan— Chinese FiahericH ^.
Commission, United States Fish Culture .
Congress, U.S. Commission of Fisheries S?
n xl'',. T"^"'^"*'*oduction into U.S ^t
Duff, H.W., M.P -Herrincr Fisheries ^^
21
71
58
66
62
65
slieries,
„ , - -Herring Fisheries
i^xeter. Marquis ui— Fish Culture ....
Barll, K E., on Fish Culture-US
Jryer, Chaa E— Fisheries Society, 51 ;
P-1?^P u ' ^""i?^"^ ,i-egation-Chinese
*ish Culture, United States
Fi..h Hawk, Steamer U.S., tor Fish BrVedin
Jiibson, Sir James-on Acclimatization, etc: ^V
^S^F/^^TeS ^"'^""' '' ' '^•' '' '' «^''-" Fisheries,^ I V. ''
Hod
Chine.-e h'\
Fisheries ..
Hodgson, Mr., Cape Colony-Colonial Banquet .' " ' '
HuxTey, Prof.-Fish Cnlture, 24; Cod Fisher^s Ss""
Herbert, Sir Robe, t-CoIoni'al Exhibition 1886 '^^ '
Fish Diseases,
62
16
n
HI. ' -, ^,— ~-"'"iiicij ijjAiiiuiiion lent) ... i^-
amilton, Marquis— Fish Cnlture. i^
HowT//^p"'f '^^P-Salmon FisheriesVSc^ilami '. . .'. \,%
Howitz, Prof, Denmark-on Free Culture ^*' 1^
Honeyman, Dr— Angling ^^
Hatching Stations, U.S. ."!... ^6
Joncas, L. Z.— Canadian Fisheries H
Kilbourn, J. K._on Refrigerating H
Lowell, Jas. Russell, L.S.D.-Uni'ted" Staie.s FiVheries fy
MaS -^^^ --Kf«.^igo»«l>e and Gaspe Salmon .' l\
Mackie, M r.-Refrigerator Con ference f,
Marston, R B.-Coarse Fish Culture 5
Ovsft^y' ]^°?'''''K'/- W-Canadian Fisheries .;.■. o's '^J
Uyster Industry, U.S /», rfy
Public Fish Culture, U.8 '^"^
Rawson , Sir R.— Colon iai Ba nq net '.■.*.■. ". Va
Sayer, Mr.— Immature Fish ^^
Thonipgon, Sir Henry-Fi,<h Food 5S
VVhitcher, W. F.- Circdiar . .... t^
Wl,eeldon,J. P._Freshwater Fisheries' .".■.■ H
Nc^;7aS si'.^^Slf' ■' ,L-<^-'-l-'d Salmon,- 25 ,' Salmon; ''
ti8hene3 ot Canada, 35; Refrigerating, 61 69 Fish
Diseases, 41 ; F sh Fnn,l ai . u .i rP\ ' ' ^ "'"
Cnldirp jq p- 1 • u' ' "'''ilnion Fisheries, 46; Tree
Lullure, 49; Fisheries Society, 51 ; Freshwater Fishing. . 53
... 72
.. 24
.. 12
.. 13
an
.. 34
.. 57
.. 63
.. 64
.. 70
.. 28
.. 21
.. 71
.. 68
.. 66
. 62
. 66
. 21
J.
. 62
. 16
h il
. 16
. 27
14, 48
. 49
. 66
. 68
3*^
, 59
62
37
61
HI
8,39
64
67
19
67
64
56
43
46
53
INTRODUCTION.
'HE following lett<;rs, written by eminent men in Eng-
land, are now piibiishecl with the view that the opin-
ions of persons of sucli high distinction and practical know-
ledge may be made known concerning the management of the
Canadian Exhibit, and the important position occupied by the
Dominion at the " Great Ttiternational Fisheries Exhibition,
London, 1883."
These Letters, and tlie Extracts and Discussions hereto
attached, are not only of public importance in giving to the
pQople of Canada information on the subjects referred to,
but give evidence, also, of the satisfactory manner in which
the special duties assigned to Mr. Wilmot, as Chairman
of the Canadian Commission, were performed ; in the general
management of the Canadian display, which resulted so satis-
factorily, and in the part taken by him at the Fishery Con-
ferences held in connection with the Fishery Exhibition
of 1883.
53
(copy.)
Lett&r No. 1.
From His Excellency the Earl of Dufiferin, K. P., G. C.
B., G. C. M. G, late Governor-General of Canada.
Bristol IFotkl, < .
Bu rl I iiifton Gardens, 12th Sept., 1883.
My Dear Wilmot— A :,
, ■,•■•,. ,
1 cannot leave London wiMjout writing a line to
congratulate you upon tlie tnurf,,)ha/,f, part played by Can-
ada in the Fisheries Exliil)ition. ' ; ,
^ The excellence of the arrangements, as well as the
interest and splendour of the contents of the Canadian De-
partment, have excited universal admiration.
A great number of people have spontaneously remarked
to me that they considered it the best Court in tlie building.
1 have been naturally verynuK.h pleased at such results,
w nch must be equally satisiactory to yourself, who have
taken such pains and trouble to secure them.
Jjelieve me. k-,- r
= My Dear Mr. Wilmot, K
Yours sincerely,
S. Wilmot, Esq. DTJKFERIN.
foOPY.)
Letter No. 2.
G.C.
L883.
e to
Can-
tlie
De-
rived
ing.
nits,
lave
r.
From Sir Alexander T. Gait, late High Commissioner
for Canada, and Member of the Executive Commit-
tee of the Great International Fisheries Exhibition.
>>
9 Victoria Ckamijers,
London, S.W., 8th DcccMnber, 1883.
My Dear Wilmot —
Upon yonr return to Canada after your most useful
and arduous labours at the Fisheries Exliibition, I desire to
express to you my sense of the great advantage which I anm
convinced Canada has derived not only from the Exhibit
itself of our P"'i8hery products and industries, but also from
the admirable manner in which it was placed before the
public throngli the earnest labours of yourself.
Having boen a member of the Executive Committee of
the Great International Fisheries Exhibition myself, I can
speak with perfect confidence of the sense entertained by the
entire (^onmiittee, of the extreme value oi the Canadian Ex-
hibit, and of the services of those who, with yourself as
Chairman, had it in charge.
Having been absent from England during the greater
part of the time the Exhibition was open, I am unable to
speak from personal observation of the interest evinced by
the public ; but from all I hear, there was no country which
stood higher than our own, either in the articles shown, or
in the tasteful and attractive manner in which they were
brought under notice by yourself.
I am convinced Canada will be well repaid for all the
expense and labour devoted to this most interesting Ex-
hibition.
Believe me.
Yours faithfully, r
S. Wilmot, Esq., .L ^ ^^^_. A. T. GALT.
43 Brompton Square.
6
(copy.)
Letter No. 3.
From James H. Grossman, Esq., Member of the Exe-
cutive Committee of t:he Great International Fish-
eries Exhibition.
31 Cahzon Street, Mayfair,
London, 8th Doceni])er, 1883.
Dear Mr. Wilmot —
I cannot allow jou to leave this country for your Cana-
dian home without expressing the high opinion /have held
in regard to the magnificent display of everything connected
with the fisheries, and the natural productions of Canada,
Exhibidon ''""''"^^'^ and superintended in the great Fisheries
From all quarters I have heard but one opinion, that the
Canadian department was both the most interesting and in-
structive ot all HI the Exhibition. Your constant presence
and nniform courtesy and attention to all enquiries I had
myself frequent opportunity of witnessing, and these were
the nudities whic^ were most required to ensure the success
otthe Exhibition to which Canada, as represented by yon,
80 greatly contributed. :i i^ ->
I need scarcely say that I shall always associate with mv
position as one of the Executive Committee, the very plea-
sant friendship I formed with you. ^
I hope you will receive on your arrival in Canada, some
tangible mark of appreciation of the very valuable services
you have rendered to the Dominion, during your residence
m JliUgland. ''
Wishing you every success in the future,
I remain, dear Mr. Wilmot,
Ever yours sincerely,
S. Wilmot, Esq., JAMES H. CKOSSMAN.
etc., etc.
(copy.)
Letter No. 4.
From Sir John Rose, Bart., G. C M. G., etc.
Bartholomew Lank, E.G.,
Decenil)er 12th, I880.
My Dear Mr. Wilmot —
It gives me very great pleasure to say that 1 think
tlie arrangements at the Canadian Court were pre-eminently
excellent — the management was everytliing that couM be
desired. Thio is not only my own opinion, l)nt I have heard
it expressed by every one who visited it.
The large nnmber of medals which were awarded to
Canada is sufficient proof of the excellence of the Exhibits
and the admirable character of the maiiagement.
]^elieve me to be,
Yours very faithfully,
S. Wilmot, Esq. JOHN ROSE.
8
(OOI'T.)
Letter No. 5.
From the Marquis of Hamilton, Member of the Exe-
cutive Committee of the Great International Fish-
eries Exhibition.
MoTiiEooMBE, Ivy Bkidge, Devon,
December lltit, 1883.
Dear Mi:. Wilmot—
attention ot thousands of the visitors. '^"I'actea Uic
aesciiption, and you exhibited countless objects of tl.o
Yours very truly,
Sam'l Wilmot, Esq., . HAMILTON.
43 Brompton Square.
(copy.)
9
Letter No. 6.
From Sir Francis Philip Cunliffe-Owen, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
C.I.E., Member of the Executive Committee of the
Great International Fisheries Exhibition.
London, December 1, 1883.
My Dear Wilmot—
Permit lue to tliaiik you for your kind letter
accoinpanyino^ the Bplendid iish which has been the pride of
your Court and the wonder of the million.
^ You have worked nobly for your country, and it would
be impos8il)le to overrate the importance of the work you
have performed.
It is not only by an admirable administration, and an
intelligent arrangement, in both of which you have all along
taken such a great share, with your colleagues, but your own
presence, your energetic advocacy of the claims of the deep
to the attention and cultivation of a civilized world, will long
be remembered.
Your name, so well known and honoured in your part of
the British Empire, will now become familiar to the world
at large. ^ You have nobly and with authority made battle
for the rights of God's creature of the deep, as deserving
even more atttention, from their miraculous and unseen
resources than what we see, and upon whose development so
much is done in order to promote the well-being of all classes.
I shall long remember all your lessons — in this I shall
not be alone. Bappily, are not your noble deeds and heroic
actions recorded in the volumes in which your honoured
name is so deservedly associated ?
Thank you for the lessons of persevering ability and
courageous attention to the great interests you have been
called upon, for the good of mankind, to defend.
Accept this volume, prepared by my learned friend Mr.
Maskell. You will find my portrait in it', to rennnd you of
Your sincere friend,
PHILIP CUNIJFFE-OWEN.
S. WiLMoT, Esy.
10
(copy.)
Letter No. 7.
From Edward Birkbeck, Esq, M. P, Chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Great International
Fisheries Exhibition.
HoRSTKAD Hall, j^orwich,
9th December, 1883.
Dear Mr. Wilmot —
to li.vP 1 nffl"^^ iTli^^" *^. ^'- ^^- ^^^"' ^"^ Secretary,
thanV vTf "" '''fi^''" "^''* "^^^^ ^"^ *^^«" sl^all be able to
thank you for all your great kindness to myself, and for
your most successful work at the Exhibition.
Believe me, yours sincerely,
EDWARD BIRKBECK.
(copy.)
Great International Fisheries Exhibition,
South Kensington, London, Dec. 11th, 1883.
Dear Sir —
K.] 1^ P/*eviou8 to yom- returning to Canada I wish, on
behalf of the Executive Cotiimittee, in addition to the official
letter which was sent some time since to the High Commis-
sioner to testily their gratitude to your Government for the
valuable co-operation we i-ecei^ed from them at this Exhibi-
tion both by the very valuable and exhaustive Exhibit which
hJed one of our large Courts, and also by authorising a
Comnnssion which, under you as Chairman, was so eminently
htted to carry out the work, and to assist the deliberations
which torined so important an element in the Exhibition.
I cannot close this letter without congratulating you on
the success of your piscicultural apparatus, and on the fact
11
that you were able to hatch Sahnon hi the Exhibition, and
keep gjreat numbers of tliem alive throughout its term ; and
also, I must express our admiration of the way in which
the Canadian Freezers kept fish fresh for a period of
eighteen months.
These and many others of the Canadian exhibits will
certainly have lasting influence on the fish trade in this
country.
I remain, dear sir,
Yours faithfully,
EDWARD BIRKBECK,
Chairman of [the Executive Committee,
Sam'l Wilmot, Esq.,
43 Brompton Square.
(copy.)
Letter No. 8.
From the Secretary of State for the Dominion of Canada.
January 8th, 1884.
Sm-
I have the honor, by command of His Excellency
the Governor-General in Council, to transmit to you here-
with a copy of a certain correspondence submitted for the
•consideration of the Government by the Honourable the
High Commissioner for Canada, in London, in which the
services rr .idered by you on behalf of the Dominion, at the
Great International Fisheries Exhibition lately held in Lon-
don, are, by the desire of the President, His Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales, specially acknowledged.
I have the honour to be. Sir,
Your obeilient servant,
G. POWELL,
Under Seci'etart/ oj State,
To Sam'l Wilmot, Esq.,
Late Chairman Executive Commissioners for Canada
at the Great International Fisheries Exhibition.
12
f':e=lojposh3iz)
COLONIAL EXHIBITION
— IN —
1SS6.
COLONIAL BANQUET AT THE EMPIRE CLUB,
At which the Exhibition of 1883, and the forthcominij
Colonial Exhibition of 1886 was Discussed.
Mr. A. J. Addeely, Commissioner to the International
Fisheries Exliibition for the Bahamas and Jamaica, enter-
tained at dinner on Monday, the 12th of November, at the
Empire Chib, Sir Robert Herbert, K.C.B. (Under-Secretary
of State for tlie Colonies), and his fellow Colonial Commis-
sioners to the Exhibition ; Mr. Ridley (Newfoundland); Mr.
Wilmot (Canada); Mr. Ramsay (New South Wales); and
Dr. Day (India). The guests included Sir Saul Samuel, K.
C.M.G., Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart., K.C.M.G., Sir Arthur
Blyth, K.C.M.G., Sir W. C. Sargeaunt, K.C.M.G., Sir
Rawson Rawson, K.C.M.G., C.B., Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen,
K.C.M.G., C.B., CLE., The Hon. Mr. Scanlan, Mr. Ebden
(Colonial Office), Captain C. Mills, Mr. Davenport, Mr. T.
Archer, Mr. R. Murray Smith, Mr. A. Hodgson, Dr. James,.
Mr. R. Davey, Mr. E. Cunliffe-Owen, Mr. A. J. R. Trendell,
Major Sewell-Gana, Mr. Young (Colonial Institute) and Mr.
Hales.
Mr. Addkkly said : The health which I have now
the distinguished honor of proposing is that of Her Majesty
the Queen, long may she live to reign over her united em-
pire, '^he toast was received with enthusiasm.
13
Mr. Adderly, in proposing the health of H.R.II the
Prince of Wales, said that in 1878, at the close of the Paris
Exhibition, the suggestion was originated of the formation
of a Colonial Mnseum. In this II.ll.H. the Prince of
Wales at once interested himself, and displayed again that
devotion which he has always shewn in matters conected
with the colonies. Let us hope that the Colonial Museum,
as suggested by His Royal Highness at the closing of the
Fisheries Exhibition, which will be ))roductive of such
immense good to the colonies in developing their resources,
may in due course be an accomplished fact.
The health of the Royal Family having being duly
honored. Sir Danip:l Coopek said : I have been asked to pro-
pose the next toast, which is, '' The Fisheries Exhibition,"
and, standing as I do now in front of Sir Philip Cunliife-
Owen, I feel to be out of place in speaking on the subject
of that Exhibition, and of the industries exemplified by it.
At the same time, now that the extremely successful Exlii-
bition of all appliances of fisheries has closed, and bearing
in mind the learning we have derived from the various
meetings, where the greatest authorities have placed on
record the most important opinions, and remembering also
the exceptional value of the literature which that Exhibi-
tion has produced, I am indeed h'^iiored in having the op-
portunity of proposing a toast connected with a subject of
such vital interest. And in proposing the Fisheries Exhi-
bition, I am asked to connect with it the name of a gentle-
man who has represented the Dominion of Canada. Mr.
Samuel Wilmot, I think, may really be proud of tlie part
that he has taken, and that his Colony has taken in the Ex-
hibition. He has been spoken of most highly in connection
with the Canadian Government who have taken so much
trouble in so well representing their (quarter of the world.
Let me conclude with these few words : '' The Fisheries
Exhibition." (Cheers.)
Mr. Samuel Wilmot in response said : I am sure I
feel in a state of trepidation in rising to make any remarks
14
upon tlie toast now proposed and so enthnsiastically received.
I feel tin's the more because I stand liere as it were, an
aboriginal Canadian who has come here to a country that
he has never visited before, but I feel somewhat proud that
I should have been called upon to speak so early in the
evening upon this pleasant occasion, yet I am afraid that I
cannot do justice to it. In the first place because of my
incompetency to return thanks fo»* so comprehensive atoast^
and in the second place that it would bo more meet and
more in keeping that some other guest more distinguished
than myself at this Colonial Banquet should have been
asked to speak on so important a question. The success of
this Fisheries Exhibition has been unapproached by any pre-
vious one of its kind. We have had many Exhibitions of
the productions of the soil, but very few in connection with
the products of the water. But so far as my knowledge
and, 80 far as the knowledge of those here this evening
goes, nothing of this kind has been equal to the success of
the Exhibition that has just become a matter of history.
With regard to the question of the immense destruction of
fish, I am glad to sec that this is gradually being alleviated,
and that the thinking people of Great Britain are desirous
of following the example of the Colonies in the matter of
the protection of the fisheries. I am proud to say that the
Dominion of Canada, which I represent at this gi-eat Exhi-
bition, has always been foremost in the protection and pro-
pogation of fish. I think that it is time the Parliament of
this country should legislate to a greater extent and prevent
the unnecessary wholesale destruction of fish that is now
taking place. England, I am sorry to say, is far behind any
of its Colonies with respect to this subject. I consider the
Fisheries Exhibition, which has just closed, was a great
success in many ways, it had brought prominently before
the world the immense benefits to be derived from the fish
cries, — fish culture, and fish protection, and unless these
subjects arc more deeply thought of, a vast amount of food
will be wholly lost. I am greatly pleased to think that the
15
Colony to which 1 belong, and of which I am proud to l)e a
citizen, has not been behind hand in this Exhibition.
Australia, several tliousand miles away had come here and
made a splendid exhibit, and the Bahamas, so well repre-
sented by our worthy host, Mr. Adderly; and other Colonies
also had made good exhibits. Canada has come here
and made, after its fashion, an ordinary exhibit.
Taking all these things into consideration, I con-
clude, with all due respect to other exhibitors, that
the Colonies had assisted materially towards the success
of the International Fisheries Exhibition. It the collections
from the Colonies and foreign countries were taken away I
do not think the Exhibition could have held the high posi-
tion it had occupied. There were some faults connected
with this great undertaking, and there were a great many
successes, but upon the whole I consider that the Exhibition
carried with it much pleasure and mucli profit to all. Iii
regard to the Awards, I may be allowed to draw attention
to the fact that Great Britain has taken more than half of
the whole. 1 do not contend that she was not entitled to
these, but I am very strongly of opinion that the Colonies
and foreign countries should have held a higher position
than they occupied in this Exhibition, and that they had
barely received the recognition that was due to them. I
speak thus plainly, and, perhaps my remarks will not be
endorsed by the other countries, but they are my own ideas
of the matter. With reference to the proposed Colonial
Exhibition, I believe if it were left in such competent and
practical hands as those ot Sir V. Cunliffe-Owen, wlio so
thoroughly understands the position and the feelings of the
Colonies, it would be a grand success. 1 feel sure that
Canada will give her hearty support, and if all the Colonies
of Great Britain were united together in this matter they
could produce such an effect here that would even astonish
the mother countr}^ and mark the Exhibition of 1886 as
a great epoch in the history of the Empire. In conclusion
I can heartily tender my warmest tlianks for the hospitality
16
and kindness I liavo received from all qucarters in connection
with the Fisheries Exhibition, especially for the courtesy
given to nic this evening, and 1 feel prond that 1 have come
into the home of my fathers and have had an opportunity
of seeing this magnificent country. (Cheers.)
Mr. Hodgson. Premier of Cape Colony, raid : " I beg
to propose the health of Sir Kobert Herbert, a learned and
popular gentleman, and one who, from the time of his
leaving Oxford, has rendered great and lasting services to
Her Majesty's Colonies.
Sir Koijkkt HKRnERT : I must return my best thanks
for the very flattering remarks just made. ''I have a toast
to propose to you, one which will take care of itself without
much recommendation, namely, '■''Suceeas to the Exhibition
^>/188G, coupled with the name of Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen."
I have no doubt you have all heard or read the statement
made by H.K.li. the Prince of Wales, in closing the Fish-
eries Exhibition, as to the future Exhibitions, and more
especially with regard to the yi ir 1880. The insstitution of
a Colonial Museum has been a want much felt in this
country, and the Exhibition of 188G will doubtless be the
means of causing the foundation stone of such a Museum to
be laid. I feel sure that every one is desirous to help in
every way in making the P]xhibition a thorough success, it
w^ill not be a light matter, we shall all have to work, the
Colonial Office will do its share, and a great deal must also
be done by official persons generally. Well then, let us
couple the name of Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen with this
toast, for we cannot forecast great Exhibition successes un-
less such enterprises are in the hands of Sir Philip. He
stands absolutely alone as the person who luis both knowledge
and experience for conducting such great enterprises. No
person is more sensible than myself of the great efficiency
and courtesy which characterized Sir Philip's administra-
tion at Paris, Vienna and Philadelphia, and if he tells us
that this Exhibition can be made a very great success, and
X7
if lie has a hand in it, you may rest assured that it will be a
great success. He will now doubtless give us sonic expla-
nation with reference to the future Exhibition.
Sir PniLii' Cunliffe-Owen, in rising to return thanks,
said : It has always been Sir llobert Herbert's wish that
everything should be done for the comfort and advance-
ment of the Colonies, and that when their representatives
came to tlie mother country they should feel that they were
welcome. It is this spirit that has been inspired in me in
the various conversations that I have had with him from
time to time ; and whatever success lias l)een attained with
respect to the past Exhibition is due as much to the kindly
support of the Colonial Office as to our relations with the
Colonial (Tovcrnments and those gentlemen who have re-
presented them. I have an assured conviction that we shall
have one of the greatest successes that we can possibly have,
in 1886, and I feel certain that it is only necessary for this
country to learn what our brethern are doing in the
Colonial Empire, for the reproach which has been brought
forward in such a kind and gentle way to disappear. It is
the ignorance on colonial subjects that exists in the mother
country which has raised, unfortunately I fear, these re-
proaches. I therefore think that in this respect we shall
have to clear away much of that whi( 'i is not understood at
the present moment. Many people in this country have
hardly any knowledge of the geography of the Empire, and
if they do not know geography, how are they to know the
extent of our colonies, and the great and noble spirit which
exists in them. It was in 1878 that for the first time in the
history of exhibitions, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales deter-
mined that every Colonial Commissioner who had come to
the Exhibition should be requested to further and advance
the interest of the mother country upon the International
Jury. I should have liked the jurors of the present Exhi-
bition to have had a little of that spirit and good feeling
which was predominant amongst the Colonial Commission-
18
crs in Paris in 1878; and they would then, pr()biil)ly, huvo-
been able to look with a much wider and broader view at
that which they regarded during the past Exhil)ition.
Now, gentlemen, with respect to this fortiicoming Exhi-
bition, we aro pei-fectly aware that it dates from 1878.
There was a spontaneous movement of the Colonial Com-
missioners—and a distinguished body they were— to bring
before the Prince of Wales the desirability of the formation
of a Museum, which would represent permanently the pr(»-
ducts of our great Colonial Empire. This de})utati(»n of the
Colonial Commissioners was received by the Prince of
Wales at the British Embassy, and llis Royal Highness' res-
ponse may be found in the Blue Books. It showed on the
l)art of the Prince of Wales a determination that
such a Museum should be founded, and this matter has
been frequently referred to by llis Royal Highness, in con-
versations which I have had the honor of having with him.
I know it is a matter that he has had much at heart, and
when His Royal Highness stated that these buildings should
be kept for the next few years, it was with a view probably,,
above all, of carrying out this great Exhibition of the Col-
onial Empire, which will form a Museum representing the
whole of the British Colonies. But for this Exhibition to
take place, we need all the support and sympathy possible
of our friends from the Colonies, in every part of the
world ; and I trust, that when the time conies, this country,
which is ever ready to receive them, will rise up and say :
" Let us have this great year for the Colonies ! Let us all
open our hearts and extend our sympathies to those who-
have maintained the honor of this great country throughout
the length and breadth of the world ! " May all of us here
at this table live to see the results of that year; and let us all
work harmoniously together and lay aside all petty grievan-
ces, and show from a Colonial point of view our fullest
resolve to sympathize with the mother country. And I
trust that any of you gentlemen, who may be shortly leaving
this country, will take back with you, not only the hearty
10
desire of the (^olojiinl Office, us expressed ])y Sir Robert
Herbert, to co-operates in thin great work, but «Ipo take
back tlje knovvlcdj^e tliat this is not a new idea of U.K. II.
the I*rinc(^ of VValt'H, but that the Prince of Wales has had
this in his mind since 1878, and that he is determined that
this shall be accomplished, and further, we in this country,,
and you, gentlemen, are also dcternnned thnt this shall bo
accomplished, before a verv few months are passed, I
hope that you will find documents arriving, following one
after another, not tt» In- thrown aside in the waste-paper basket,
but to be acted u|)on with the knowledge of a firm inten-
tion to found a great MuseUiH. With regard to the pro-
ducts of our Colonies, I should like in the first place to sec
all tlie framework of the ghiss cases and the furniture
made with the various woods of tlie Colonies, llow much
could be done in the way of decoration in this country if
we only made use of those woods which we have in our own
empire I Then, there are marbles and stones wliich we
practically know nothing about, and which could be used
for pedestals, and various other products which would help
to make the groat Exhibition both attractive and instructive.
May it please God that 1 may have some little life left in
me to assist in this great work. I am sure that the Colonial
Office, represented here by 8ir Robert Herbert, will do its
utmost in the matter, and I trust you, gentlemen, will not
forget us when you go back to your respective countries.
Let us make the year 1886 a red-letter year in the history of
this great empire and show our sons and daughters that
spirit of love of which we are all proud, and that the spirit
of this empire cotnes from the great Colonies which are
helping us, from all parts of the world, to that sense of
friendship, eminence and security which we enjoy. (Cheers.)
Sir Kawson Rawson : There is only one other toast
that I venture to propose after the most eloquent speech to
which we have just listened, and which has filled and
warmed our hearts, and that is the toast of our host, Mr.
Adderly.
20
Mr. Adderly replied: Kir IlawHon IlawHon and
gentlemen, I am deeply indebted to yon, Sir llawson, for
the kind and flattering manner in which you have spoken
of me. And I thank you, gentlemen, for having so kindly
responded to the toast of my health. On so purely a per-
sonal matter, I feel naturally that the less F say the better.
I am proud (indeed, I think 1 may call this the proudest
moment of my life) in having brought together, around this
table, so many distinguished gentlemen oi the empire. I
am delighted to have been able to do this, and can now
only express the hope that united we may make the E.xhi-
bition of 1886 one of thr' grandest that has ever been held
in England.
t
21
AT Till
IHTERHATIONAL FISHERIES EIHIBITIOH
LONDON, 1883.
Conference mi Thursday, June 21, 1883.
The (vliair w.ih taken at 1 1 o'clock by the Makquis of
ExETEK, who, after referrhig to the Inaugural Address by
Professor Huxley, and the Paper by H.K.II. the Duke of
Edinburgh, said the C/onference would to-day be invited to
give their attention to the reading of a Paper on the Cul-
ture of Salmonidao and the Acclimatization of Fresh-water
Fish by Sir James Ramsay Maitland G'bson, Bart.
After the paper was read a discussion of it was entered
upon by the following gentlemen : Mr. Wilmot, Professor
Huxley, Mr. Brady (Inspector of Irish Fisheries) Dr. Day
(Commissioner from India) Mr. Willis P)und, Prof. Brown
Goode (U. S. Commissioner) Mr. Oldham Chambers, Mr.
Birkbeck, M. P., Sir James Maitland, The Marcpiis of
Haniilton and the Marquis of Exeter.
DISCUSSION.
'^v. WiLMor (Commissioner for Canada) said he rose-
with pleasure to move a vote of thanks to Sir James Mait-
land for the very lucid and instructive paper he had read,
for he felt satisfied that much benefit would be derived from
it. He was a deep lover of the science of fish culture, be-
lieving it to be one of the means by which the population of
the earth heareafter would derive much benefit in the way
of food and wealth. It was well known that the waters of
almost every country which had been largely inhabited had
22
become very scarce of lish, l)ut this result was liroiiglit
about by the greed and avarice of mankind almost entirely,
not in consequence of the predatory habits of other lish
which frequented the same waters. In any new country an
abundance of fish was to be found in the rivers and waters,
showing that the balance of nature was evidently correct ;
that though lish fed on fish they did not exterminate one
another ; but the moment man stepped in with his engines
of destructiviii, tlie lish were reduced to such an extent that
this great International Plxhibition had been established for
the purpose of devising means whereby this description of
food could be increased. He regretted to find that, to some
extent, there was a difference of opinion with legai-d to the
means to be adopted to this end, but, for his part, he advo-
cated the protection of lish in every possible way. as well as
of assistance to those engaged in artilicial production. In
Canada this subject was of very great importance. It was
now some years ago since artificial culture was introduced by
himself, with the recognition of the (Tovernment, and now
they stood second to no other country with regard to it.
The number of Salmon they turned out annually was not
exceeded by any other country in the world. During the last
two years from thirty-live to forty millions of Salmonidae
had been turned into the waters of Canada through the
artilicial process, and, though there were no doubt sceptics
and others who were inimical to tho science of lish culture,
lie thought that could only arise from ignorance of the
l^enelits to be derived from it. At first sight it seemed ex-
traordinary that lish could be produced by artilicial means ;
but it was a most simple process when understood. Fish
were so prolific, that man with a little ijigenuity could pro-
duce from them far more than nature could herself, because
it was a well know fact that large quantities of the eggs of
the fish family were destroyed by other sj)ecies. This was
the ordained law; it was intended that fish should live on
fish, because if all the eggs of the fish were permitted to
hatch out, there would be no room in the waters for them.
Consequently, nature had provided wisely that fish should
live on otie another, and this being the case, large numbers
of ova must be consumed. Under artificial culture, how-
ever, where the eggs were protected from its enemies, a
larger percentage could be brought to maturity than by the
natural process. Hence, if it could be shown that 7>> per
cent, of the eggs could produce living fish, the system ought
23
to be encouraged by all intelligent people. Sir James Mait-
land had gone into the matter in a most lucid and instruc-
tive manner, and there was no doubt that when the Piiper
was disseminated it would do a vast amount of good. The
only difficulty that he saw was, that it did not appear to go
hand in hand with the ideas of some scientific gentleinen
who maintained that protection was not necessary to some
of our fish.* He contended, however, that if any intelligent
country considered fish culture of service at all, it should
also adopt every possible mode of protecting the fish. It
would be no use for a pisciculturist to trouble himself to re-
{)roduce fish in great numbuiS if the inteljigence and legis-
ation of the country did not protect that which had been
produced, and if every one were allowed to fish without any
control. It seemed to him, therefore, that it behoved all
who were interested in this matter to join in every possible
measure to enhance the production of hbh, either by natural
or artificial means, and also to protect the fish afterwards.
Nearly every civilized country possessed laws for the jjurpose
•of protectin«i; fish ; and when some gentlemen came forward
and said tliat fish could not be extermiiiited, the con-
sequence must be that all these protective laws were a mis-
take, and that every one should be allowed to kill and eat as
he pleased. He nuuntained, on the other hand, that it was
the duty of the legislature of every inteili<;^ent country to
suppress intemperance of all kinds, not only in the matter of
liquids, but in killing fish ; and to pass judicious laws for the
benefit of mankind. If any law were more judicious than
another, it was that the waters should be protected from
the inordinate destruction of man va order that the fish
might be i)roduced in larger numbers, both as a luxury for
the rich, and for the benefit of the poor. He felt that he
was treading on somewhat delicate ground in giving expres-
* Note — Professor Huxley in his inaugural address says : I have ven-
tured to advance upon this topic of the inexhaustibility of fisheries at some
length, because it is of great importance, not only to the consumers, but to
the fisherman. It is to current opinion on this sul)ject that we owe fishery
legislation. Now, every legislative restriction means the creation of a new
offence. In this case of fishery it means that a simple man of the people,
earning a scanty livelihood by hard toil, shall be liable to fine or imprison-
ment for doing that which he and his fathers before him have, up to that
time, been free to do.
If the general interest clearly requires that this burden shou'd lie put
upon the fisherman — well and good. But if it does not — if, indeed, there is
any doubt about the matter, I think that the man who has made the unneces-
sary law deserves a heavier punishment than the man who breaks it.
24
sion to these sentiments ; bat as this was the first oppor-
tunity he had had, he felt it his duty to express publicly the
strong conviction which he entertained on this subject.
Professor Huxley begged leave to second the vote of
thanks which had been so well moved by his friend Mr.
Wilmot. He could not recommend anyone who was endea-
vouring to acquaint himself with natural history to take up a
more useful and valuable study than that of the manner in
which Sir James Maitland had carried out his operations
with regard to fish culture. He dwelt upon this point the
more because, since the time— some forty years ago — when
M Coste first popularized the notion of fish culture, the idea
became prevalent that you only had to carry out artificial
impregnation, or the collection of spat in the case of oysters,
and the thing was done. He need not say what disappoint-
ment those who first experimented in the matter of oyster
culture were destined to undergo ; that was a matter recorded
not only in the minds but the pockets of a large number of
persons. The same considerations applied to all forms of
fish cnltnre, ind unless those who undertook it were prepared
to work at it with that happy combination of science and
practice which was exemplified in the case of Sir James
Maitland, disappointment would await their efforts, as it had
those of many persons wiio had attempted the same process.
For himself he did not take very rosy views of the value of
protection pure and simple for sea fisheries, but perhaps }ie
was all the more inclined to attach special value to
thoroufjhly well considered and scientific Jish culture. He
was inclined to think that it was in this direction ve must
look,, and not to measures of inefficient iwotection, for the
ultimate ^^reservation of our fishemes.
Professor G. Brown Goode (U. S. Commissioner) said
he should be pleased to ^i' j a few figures illustrating what
fish culture could do. Professor Baird (U.S. Commissioner)
inff>rmed him that the Sacramento River, California, was,
owing to the large number of canneries there, to a large ex-
tent depleted Cff its Salmon ; but by the establishment of a
hatchery there he had turned out something like sixty-seven
millions of eggs or young fry of the California Salmon in
the past eight or ^ine years, one-fourth of which were put
into the Sacramento River, and it was now much more pro-
ductive than ever before. ( )n the Clacamass, in Oregon, a
similar experiment was tried some years ago with a like re-
w.
25
Bult. These experiments had clearly shown that the Salmon
industry of the Pacific Coast, which was now producing fish
to the value of something like three million dollars a day,
was thoroughly under the control of fish culture. He might
also take the case of the Connecticut, in the last century,
which was one of the most productive rivers ; but by the
construction of a great dam, 60 miles above its mouth, the
Salmon were cut oft' from the spawning ground, and for
very nearly ninety years not a Salmon was seen. In 1866^
or thereabouts, the Commissioners of Connecticut began to
plant Salmon in this river, and some yeai's afterwards they
began to appear. In the first year 500 fine Salmon, of 15
lbs. to 20 lbs. each, were taken ; in tiie following year
almost an equal number. Since that the Commissioners of
the States have discontinued Salmon culture in tliat river,
the supply has again fallen off, and the river might now be
considered practically deprived of its Salmon again.
The subject of '• Laud locked Salmon" was then opened
up by Mr. Chambers, wiien
Mr. WiLMOT said there was a celebrated American
showman who once came to England and took away an
animal called Jumbo. The same gentleman in former years
exhibited a certain animal at his museum in New York
which he advertised as the " What is it V It seemed to him
the same term might be applied to the land-locked Salmon.
His impression was that there was no such thing in exist-
ence as land-locked Salmon, scientifically or naturally. It
was the true Salmo solar, which had a dift'erent coat and
a different sliape, from the water it lived in, in the same way
that the showman he referred to put a coat on the animal he
exhibited.
Land-locked Salmon, which he called Sahno solar, was
a fish which could be obtained by any pisciculturist at
his j)leasure ; all he had to do was to hatcli from the eggs of
the Sahno solar a number of little fish, put them into a
large body of water from whence they could not reach the
sea, and if they found food congenial to their wants, they
would gi'ow and develop into a large fish, slightly changed
in colour and scarcely perceptible in form. Such had been the
experience in America and Canada. Lake Ontario was at one
time filled with this fish. When he was a youth he had known
thousands killed in one night, and the farmers caught them
in such numbers as they entered the streams to deposit theii
26
■ova, that some of them got enough to buy their farms with.
In the stream which ran within a few yards froin where he
was born and brought up he had killed hundreds and thou
sands of them ontlieir migration up from their sea, (which was
Lake Ontario,) into the smaller streams and rivei*8 to deposit
their ova, in tiie same way as the Salmo solar left the ocean
and ascended rivers. For want of proper precaution, proper
protection and good legislation, this Salmon had almost dis-
appeared from Lake Ontario. At iirst there were no laws in
the country, and consequently every man killed as he pleased,
and as the poor creatures came up they were destroyed right
and left. The Indians killed them, and the white liuVmnH
killed them still more. To prove \\\'isX\\\ii, Sahno i^ehiujo was
the true >6Vimr; snlar^ he might say that he had taken eggs of
Salmo salar, impregnated tliem, hatched them, and taken
them up into the rivers running into Lake Huron ; and to-
day some of the true iSalmo salar were found in Lake
Huron, though smaller than were found along the coast.
That was ovidonce to sliow that you might make land-locked
Salmon i'l any water you choose where the fish could lind
congenial food, and where they could not get to the sea. It
might be said, liow could the Sahrum in Lake Ontario be
said to be land-locked when the St. Lawrence emptied that
lake into the sea? Salmon were feeders in the sea and
breeders in fresh water : they migrated annually to the
rivers to reproduce, Wiien they were abundant in the
w^aters of the gulf, they passed up the St. Lawrence, enter-
ing every stream on either side up into Lake Ontario ; and
were it not for the great barrier of Niagara Falls the Salmon
would be found in tlie npper springs of Lake Superior. It
was their instinct to go onward and onward until tiiey found
a suitable spot for spawning, and they would have passed
into Lake Erie and Lake Superior, the same as Lake On-
tario, were it not for the Falls ; the consequence was they
entered into the smaller streams which fed the lake and
went back into Lake Ontario instead of into the sea, where
they had remained up to the present time, as the true sea
Salmon, only acclimatized to fresh water. Any gentleman
in England who was desirous of having land-locked Salmon,
if he had a lake with a great depth in the middle and small
streams running into it, into which the fish could go to
breed, might produce land-locked Salmon from the eggs of
the Salmon of the sea.
27
Mr. BiRKiJECK, M.P., on behalf of the Executivo Com-
mittee, desired to tliank Sir James Maitland for liis excel
lent paper, and a!yo to tliank Mr. Wilmot for his remarks
oil the question of State aid to fisheries. He thought the
advice he had given was most excellent, and only regretted
that the House of Commons was not more largely repre-
sented. He could only hope that through the press the
members of the Legislature would be able to read, mark,
learn and inwardly digest what had passed, and would per^
suade the Government of the day to recognize the import-
ance of giving assistance to our fisheries. lie could not
specify any one particular direction in which that iuid should
be given, but he went on the principle that inasmuch as
State aid was given in foreign countries and in our own
colonies, tiie same assistance ought to be given in Kngland.
The Marquis of Hamilton had much ])leasure in
seconding the vote of thanks to the (vh.iirman. Ho could
not but tliink that the speeches which had been delivered
that morning would have the most practical effect on all
those interested in fisheries. He hoped the observations
made by Mr. Wilmot witii reference to State aid being
given to the fisheries of this country, would be earnestly
taken up by the public at large, and that before many
months had elapsed they would take a practical form, and
be brought forcibly under tl)e notice of the (Tovernment.
-X5^(
r
28
CONFERENCE ON THURSDA Y, JUNE^^, 1883.
TiB.. Lyon Playfair in the Chair.
THE HERRING FISHERIES OF SCOTLAND.
By R. W. Duff, M. P. .
Discussion by Dr. Lyon Playfair, Dr. Francis Day, Mr.
Brady, (Inspector), Honorable Mr. McLelan, (Canada),
Mr. Ronald Macdonald, (Aberdeen), Mr. Johnston,
(Montrose), Mr. Wilmot, (Canada), Earl Ducie, Sir
George Campbell, Mr. Duff, M. P., Mr. Brnce, M. P ,
and the Chairman.
Hon. Mr. McLelan (Canada), said that some of the fish-
ing grounds on the great lakes in Canada, where the mode cf
fishing just referred to was adopted, were 400 or 500 miles
long ; and the reports coming from fishermen were, that
mirestricted fishing diminished the number of fish even in
these large lakes. Application had been made to him
repeatedly to permit a smaller sized mesh of net to be used ;
but in consequence of the testimony which had come to
him from all fishermen, he had refused to allow it. He
considered it was a very, important question whether sea
fisheries were exhaustible or not ; probably the most im-
portant question which could be discussed. Previous to
coming to England, all the testimony he had received from
the fishermen of Canada, both shore fishermen and sea
fishermen, was, that on the great lakes, fisheries that had
hitherto been very profitable were being exhausted from
over-fishing, and from all he could hear from fishermen
all round the coast, he had come to the conclusion that it
was possible to exhaust the fisheries of the Dominion of
Canada. Mr. Duff had told them that with regard to her-
rings they first had an open season, in which an average of
600,000 barrels of fish were taken every year ; then for
some seventeen years they had a close season, in
which there was an average of 600,000 barrels, and then it
2»
was made open again, and the average rose to 800,000 bar-
rels. The inference from all this was, that it was better to
have free fishing ; but at the same time the honorable gen-
tleman stated tliat the appliances for catcliing the herrings
had been multiplied five-iold, and it occurred to h.im that if
that were so. they ought to have had three million barrels
of fish instead of 800,000 seeing the appliances had so
largely increased. Then the question arose, with these mul-
tiplied appliances and the improved boats which had been
referred to, was it not the fact that they went further to sea,
and were sweeping over a larger area and not getting a propor-
tionate return of fish ? This was a point on which the
testimony of practical men was needed. Science told them
that fish produced so many eggs, and multiplied very fast ;
that one fish fed on another ; and that the balance of nature
ought to be preserved ; that the little fish had larger fish to
oat them ; the larger fish had bigger ones to bite them, and
so on ad infinitum / but they left out of sight a certain
kind of fish which preyed on the others, but were not fit for
food and therefore were not caught. To keep up the balance
of nature they ought to fit out expeditions to destroy those
fish which preyed on the edible fish ; but if they left them
to multiply and prey upon the others, and at the same time
man went in with his five-fold machines to catch the herrings,
the result would be, according to the testimony of Canada,
that the fishing grounds would be gradually destroyed. It
would simplify things on the other side of the Atlantic very
much if it could be settled, by the testimony of fishermen
and the investigations of|[science, that the sea fisheries were
inexhaustible ; then all they would have to do would be to
improve their appliances for catching. Mr. Duff had re-
ferred to the want of harboi-s round the coast, and if he
might be permitted to give the experience of a young
country, he might say that they had felt the same want in
Canada ; but there the Government took hold of the mat-
ter, considering it of great public importance that the fisher-
ies of the country should be protected, and that suitable
harbors should be provided. Year by year large grants
were made for the erection of suitable breakwaters and har-
bors of refuge, with the most beneficial results. He did not
pretend to argue the advisability of this^system in a country
where it was tlio State policy for every industry to be lelt
to its own resources ; but in Canada, which might be con-
sidered more protective of native industries, that course had
30
been purKiied, and fishermen had been proteeted not only by
the providing of harboi-e, but by the distribution yearly of a
quarter of a million of dollars in the encouragement of
hsheries.
Mk. Wilmot ((.'unadian Commissioner), having heard
the Canadian name mentioned conspicuously in regard to a
Iiarticuliir description of net, wished to say a word upon it.
Je was not going to discuss the question of herring fisher-
ies to any great extent, but merely to state, as ho did on a
former occasion, that if herrings were caught in such vast
numbers as it was proposed to do b}' these machines it nmst
more or less affect all other fish in-shore. The herring was
the principal food of a hv^c class of fish, and if they were
destroyed to such an extent by these improved machines and
all the ingenuity which man could bring to bear, not only
would the herring be gradually exterminated, but it would
very seriously affect the other fish which fed upon them. He
regretted very much to find that the system pursued in
Canada was now being taken hold of so readily by gentlemen
from Scotland for the greater destruction of these poor inno-
cent fish. These appliances were sent over to merely illustrate
the mode by which fish were sometimes caught in Canada,
and it was being taken hold of to exterminate, to a greater
extent than was now^ done, the class of fish which in Canada
they were desirous of protecting. The fresh-water herring of
Canada was a different fish from the herring of the sea ; it wa&
a salmonoid very nmch superior to the herring of the sea, and
atone time existed in vaist abundance in the inland lakes of Can-
ada. In some of those lakes there were scarcely any herrings
left at all, and the consequence was there were no salmon,
few salmon-trout, and not many of the species of fish which
feed on those herrings. If this could be done in a short period
of time in the great inland seas of Canada, the same results
would follow here if these destructive engines were adopted,
and no protection given to the fish. The food of the larger
fish must not l)e destroyed if they were to be retained.
Providence had made all things wisely ; He caused the
herring to multiply beyond almost any other fish, because it
was fed upon more largely than any other descrij^tion ; con-
sequently the herring must produce a greater number to
keep up their kind, and if they went on inventing engines,
and using every effort to destroy the smaller fish simpl}' be-
cause he was small, the result would be, in the end, to extermin-
ate the larger ones. However he would not speak at any length
81
on tliiw Hubject, because he anticipated it would come up for
discuHKion later. He rose to thank his friends who had
thought proper to draw attention to the superior modes of
fishing pureued in Canada, and to warn thera not to use it
very larj^ely, for fear that if they did they would help to
reduce the vast supplies of herrings in the sea, and as a con-
sequence the larger and better description of fish also.
Mk. Wir.MoT asked leave to add, in explanation, ihat
the salt-water herring fisheries of Canada were more exten-
sive than the whole of those on the shores of Great Britain,
and that whilst \w. spoke of the herrings of the fresh- water
lakes Mr. AtcLelan had spoken of the herrings of the sea.
CONFEREXCE ON ^Wi JUNE, 1883.
On Coarse Fish Culture by R. B. Marston.
Mr. Thomas Si'reckley Chairman.
Discussion by Mr. J. C Bloomfield, (Ireland), Mr. Mann,.
Mr. Wheeldon, Mr. Thos. Speckley, Mr. Geen, Mr.
Senior, Mr. Crumplen, Mr. Seymour Haden, Mr. Wil-
mot, (Canada), Mr. Marston, !Mr. Crossman, and Mr.
C. E. Fryer.
Mr. WiLMOT, Superintendent of Canadian Fisheries,
said it afforded him great pleasure to indorse the sentiments
contained in the Paper. If anything, it was as desirable
to cultivate coarse fish as the higher orders, for, speaking
from an experience of 10 or 18 years, the higher orders of
fish could not exist without the lower orders. The
Almighty, in His Providence, had thought proper to put
into the same water fish of high order and of a low order^,
and it was frequently found that the high order lived on the
low orders. If the latter were exterminated, the former
would disappear. All the finest salmon rivers had in them
certain species of fish of a very low order ; they entered
the river at a diflierent period to the salmon, to reproduce
their species, and the young went down the rivers to the sea,
and there in turn were fed upon by the salmon which fre-
quented the same river. It was said by some gentlemen that
you could not produce the lower orders of fish, but he main-
32
tained that you could produce a thousand of tlicse to one of the
higher orderw, because they deposited their ova in the spring
months when the weather was warm, wliilst the higher
•orders deposited theirs in the autumn months when the
weather was cold, and took from three to six or seven months
to reproduce, whilst the lower orders were hatched in from
three days to three weeks. Consequently nature had given
the lower orders the greater preponderence. Tliroughout
nature, as a rule, the lower orders supported tlie higher,
and, tlierefore, it became the duty of man to carry out that
which Providence had ordained. Carp was a poor man's
iish altogether ; it could be produced in ponds and small
preserves, and ought to be protected and cultivated almost
above every other, whilst the salmon and trout were the rich
man's fish, because those who sought them had to spend a
large amount of money on the sport. Witli regard to bass
it was a very bad voracious fish to introduce amongst others
of a better quality, and he said tliis coming from a country
where it was more famous than in any other part of the
world. Where they found the black bass they never found
the salmon or trout. There were lakes innumerable in
Canada, where the bass, the pike r.nd other fish of the same
•character abounded, but they never found in those lakes any
of the higher orders of fish. There were also magnificent
rivers, teeming originally with salmon and trout, and they
never found black bass in them until lately, when, in con-
sequence of man having killed all the salmon and trout,
black bass had been introduced, and in consequence there
was plenty of black bass there now. Black bass was a
good game fish and a food fish, but they should be put into
waters by themselves, or where there were plenty of inferior
fish for them to feed upon, but not where they could inter-
fere with better kinds. There was a lake in Canada which
teemed with black bass, maskalonge, perch, sun-fish and others
•of the lower orders, and being a small lake the temperature in
summer was 70° to 80°, and there the black bass abounded ;
but the inhabitants fished it to such an extent that they ex-
terminated the bass. A petition was sent in to the Legislature
about it, and an order was passed that there should be no net-
ting or spearing for three years. When that period expired
there was an abundance. No one was permitted to spear in it
or to net ; none but anglers fished it, and there was abundance
for all. You never could destroy fish by angling, but in
•one year they could be destroyed by netting. Still it was
33
no U8C for an intelligent man to read such an instnictivo
Paper as they had heard to-day, or for other people to dismiss
it, if men of science, holding tlie highest positions in the
country, told them that it was useless to protect the fish, and
that they could take care of themselves. lie could only
say, if such views were to prevail, the time would come
when there would be scarcely any lish in Great Britain or
any other part of the world.
CONFERENCE ON MONDA Y, JUL Y 2, 1883.
ON THE FISHERIES OF CANADA.
By L. Z. Joncas.
was
Hon. A. W. McLelan (Minister of Marine and Fisheries
of Canada) in the chair.
Discussion by Mr. R.M.Watson (Montreal) Mr. J. C. Parker,
Mr. Herbert Hounsell, Prof. Brown Goode (IT. S. Com-
missioner) Dr. Francis Day (India) Sir P. C. Owen,
K.C.M.G'., C.B., CLE., Mr. Wilmot (Canada) and the
Chairman, Hon. A. W. McLelan (Canada.)
Mr, JoNCAS said when Canada was iirst settled our
rivers were celebrated for the number of salmon that were
taken in them.
Afterwards, the rivers ceased to be so well stocked with
fish in consequence of too many being taken at all seasons
of the year, and of the want of laws and regulations for their
preservation. But within the last few years, there has been
a great change ; good laws and judicious regulations limit
the fishing to certain seasons of the year, and prescribe the
kinds and number of fishing implements that may be used.
Officers have been appointed to enforce the law ; the coasts
and rivers are well protected ; from the eleven fish-breeding
establishments which are under the control of the Govern-
ment, millions ol young salmon are distributed yearly in our
rivers, and we have every cause to hope that in a few years
our rivers will be replenished, and we shall be again able to
procure and send to foreign markets, at moderate prices,
this delicious fish which ranks so highly amongst the luxu-
ries of the table. This mew is j^ulVy home out hy the
c
34
affinal returns of mtr inapertors of jiaherieH^ and overseers j
v)hose returns J^ or the year 1882 give a most satisfactory
account of the greatly inoreased number of salmon in the
rivers and coast Jisnerics of the Dominion. SpeciaUy is
this noticed in the river's where young f?'y have been distri-
buted from the hatcheries. I am happy to say that letters
addressed to me from Canada., last week., state that the catch
of salmon this season will be^ according to all appear
ances, much superior again.
Professor Brown Gooue said that it seemed to him
that the Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries was
one of the most vahiable organizations in the world, and
that their system of gathering Htatistics was one which otlier
countries ought to study witii a great deal of care. In the
United States they had nothing of the kind. They had an
inspection in 1880, but there was no permanent organization
for gathering ntatistics. Another matter which he looked
upon with admiration was the great progress Canada had
made infixh culture during the last twenty years ^ and more
especially under the direction of Mr. Wilmot, ivho was one
of the pioneers of jish culture in America.
The fisheries of Canada and of the United States were
80 closely interwoven in all their interests that they really
should be considered together, and compared very carefully
"with each other, and some calculations he had made con-
vinced him that the annual production of the two countries
amounted to more than all Europe, Great Britain excepted,
namely, from 12f» to 150 million dollars aimually. It
seemed to him that in Canada, as well as in the United
States, the resources of the sea had hardly yet been apprecia-
ted. Here were millions of pounds of the most valuable
food products annually wasted, and no doubt one of the re-
sults of this Exhibition would be that they would learn to
niake better use of them than they had hitherto done.
Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen said it was now his pleasing
duty, as a member of the Executive, to propose a cordial
vote of thanks to the Hon. Mr. McLelan, the Minister of
Fisheries of the Dominion, and he thought the very fact of
his taking the Chair at the Conference, as a Minister of an
important Government, such as that of Canada, was a proof
of the importance which that Government attached to the
protection and development of the fishing industries there.
This gentleman, who had come over on the part of the
35
Dominion (Tovorninent, and Imd shod Instro on the Kxhibi-
tion by his j)re8oneo and active assistance, was, he believed,
the only Minister of Fisheries tiiroughont the civilized
world. They had heard fron: i'rofessor Brown (U>ode that
there was none in America, and he know that in Europe
such a Minister did not exist, and he wanted this fact to come
home to them all. It was important that it should come
home to all their foreign friends, and leave them to feel the
great importance it was to the civilized world generally, to
protect that which Providence had given them so bounti-
fully.
Mk. VViLMor, in seconding the motion for a voteof thanks
to the Chairman, said he felt sure the presence of the Min-
ister of Marine and Fisheries had added much to the welfare
of their great Exhibition, and when they learned that he
was the only Minister of Fisheries present, he thought that
fact said a great deal for the country which sent him here.
Had he been in Canada, he would have spoken more fluently
than he could hope to do, because it was stated that in Can-
ada about 100 lbs. of fish were eaten '•'' each inhabitant
annually, whereas here, they onl}'^ at» o lbs. ; he had cer-
tainly not eaten as much fish in this 'intry as he did at
home, and therefore the intelligence which was supposed to
arise from the eating or" fish wculd not be so manifest with
him. This Exhibition was fraught with a good deal of good or
harm. Good if they took hold of the sentiments put forward
by Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, but if of sentiments derogatory'
to fishing interests, which were put forward in what was to
be considered one of the text-books of the world hereafter,
then great injury would be the consequence. His friend
and associate from Canada, Mr. Joncas, had read a most
lucid and instructive Paper ; and, without desiring to eulo-
gize it too much, ho must say that if like views were in the
inaugural address, it would have been fully better, and
superior to those which were read because there was a ring
about this which meant protection to the fisheries of the
world, whilst in that which was read, there was a prevailing
sentiment that no protection was wanted, and he contended
it was very injurious to put forward the idea that protraction
was not required. What did they find in this Paper ? That
in Canada, a young countiy, fishermen found already that
they had to go farther away to catch the fish. The fish came
in near the shore to spawn, and went out into the deeper
36
waters again to feed, and wlien an article of food like fish
came to the shores of any conntry to reproduce they should
be protected in that act, and not slaughtered as they invari-
ably were. Wiis it not agreed that they should protect
aalmou when they came mto the rivers to breed ? Laws
were passed, saying that men should not kill salmon for a
certain period when on the spawning grounds, and did not
the same laws of nature hold good with regard to other fish ?
If any animal were destroyed in an advanced state of preg-
nancy, it was a mere matter of time to exterminate it, and if
the herring •/? cod came from the deep waters to our shores
to reproduce their species, should it not be the duty of those
who conducted the affairs of the country, to say that man
should not destroy the pregnant creature, because by refrain-
ing from doing so a much larger quantity would be produced
hereafter. What possible harm could there be to the fish-
ermen to do this 'i it was doing him good ; he would reap
more fruit from it, and, not only he, but posterity after him.
It was, therefore, in his opinion, the duty of Legislatures to
pass some such measures as would prevent people continu-
ally killing these fish. There were twelve months in the
year, and if during those twelve months there was one when
the cod came to deposit their eggs and another one when
mackerel came to spawn, why should not man be restricted
during those particular months, and allowed to catch fish
•during the other eleven. Why sliould he fish. 365 days in
the year? Et was found that the principal cod, herring and
mackerel fishing was witliin a certain distance of the shore,
they were not caught so much in the greater depths of the
ocean. Many people said the sea could not be exhausted,
but that was a fallacy, because in every civilized country of
the world they were using means to increase the number of
fish, and it was evident that they found they were getting
less and consequently \,_ie anxious that something should
be done. Britain was one of the countries which did not pass
laws for the protection of fish in the sea. All along the coast
of Norway and Sweden fish were getting scarce, and within
the three or four miles' limits where they used to catch cod in
great abundance, they were almost gone. They had to go
farther and farther, showing clearly that they had destroyed
them on the nearer limits. Professor Goode, in his lecture
the other day, intimated that it was unnecessary to pass
laws for the preservation of fish in the sea, Init now he said
that in Canada the progress was very satisfactory because it
37
had judicious laws for the preservation of its fish. Within
the hist tweiity-foiir hours he had received a letter from a
very slirewd and clever fisherman of the Bay of Chaleur, in
Canada, in which he said that (on account of the protection
given and tlie immense number ot young fry turned out in-
to the rivers), on the 12th June, the day he wrote, they had
caught more salmon than were caught last year altogether.
He said :
Dear Sik, — I have been down here since the 1st, and
am glad to say I have got more salmon already than the
whole number we liad last year, and every appearance of a
very fine catch, and oh ! such beauties, and even prettier
fish than the old Restigouche salmon. So far they give an
average of twenty-two pounds ; of course markets are dowTi,
Montreal and New York glutted ; we are now freezing the
fish. My son wrote me from the Restigouche fishery on
Saturday, telling mo that he put 300 salmon in his freezer
that day averaging 25|^ pounds each, and says they are bet-
ter than the 'big run' of 1879. Now, Mr. Wilmot, I am
pleased at this, and I am sure you will be ; but 1 confess it
is nothing more than I anticipated, notwithstanding the
jeers and scoffing of such poor narrow-minded wretches,
who, carried away by spite, envy and malice, have done all
they could to bring our efforts into public contempt ; even
parties from whom better would have been expected were
almost convinced by these specious pleas, until the clear neces-
sity and benefits of artificial breeding were shown as over-
coming the natural losses of eggs and young fish from ice,
freshets, etc. "■'■ * *
" I hope your Exhibition is a success, as I know you
will try to make it. If you can, find time do drop me a
line. ^
" Yours, etc.,
'' JOJIN Mow AT."
Some people said that the Fisheries were inexhaustible,
now if we could get practical knowledge that that M'as so, he
would not object to it, but they had only theoretical know-
ledge of it. They were told the other day of a peculiar case
whicli would prove that the sea was inexhaustible of fish,
but if a theory were built on a theory there ought to be
some practical basis to commence with. If it were theor-
etical from beginning to end it could be of no value. Hav-
ing read the passage from the openi'"'^' or Inaugural Address
I'
38
referring to the cod at the Islands of Lofoden, Mr. Wilinot
said tliat WAS put forward to substantiate the theory that fish
were so numerous that it wasimpossible to exhaust theui, and
thciefore, it was unnecessary to have judicious laws to protect
thein.* He contended on the contrary that there was not a
tittle of foundation to show, because codfish might be numer-
ous there, that it was not necessary to protect them. There
were 27,800.000 and odd square feet to the mile superficial
measure. That would ^ive 185,5)56,000 codfish, supposing
them to be in 60 layers 180 feet in depth. It was said they
came in all along the coast continuously for two mouths, as
the coast could not be less than 50 miles, that would give
9,000.000,000 of codfish, and as they came in for two months
or 60 days, multiplying that 60 it would be 540,000,000,000
of codfish within that area of 50 miles along the shore, and
adding one-tenth for herring space (the food of the codfish) it
would cover 64,566 superficial miles of ocean. When theories
were commenced in that way it appeared to him to iimount
to an absurdity. It was wrong to put forward such data to
any intelligent community ; it was unfair to the community
and unfair towards those who had laboured for so many
years to protect fish, and unfair to all who had stood on that
platform, most of whom accorded with him in his views that
fish should be protected. If documents of this kind went
forth it would do a vast amount of harm, and he hoped the
and Great Britain
intelligence of that audience
would go
with those who were anxious to get laws passed to protect
fish universally, not select one kind of fish because it was
comparatively easy to protect them, but all fishes should be
* Prof. Huxley says : " At the great Cod -fishery of the Lofodcii 'slands,
the fish approach the shore in the form of what the natives call " Cr -moun-
tains "—vast shoals of densely-packed fish,l20 to iSofcet in vertical ckness.
The Cod are so close together that Prof. Sars tells us "the fishermen who use
lines can notice how the weight, before it reaches the bottom, is constantly
knocking against the fish. "And these shoals keep coming in one after another
for two months, all along the coast.
A shoal of Codfish of this kind, a square mile (in superficial extent, must
contain at the very least 120,000,000 fish. This allows over four feet in length
for each fish, and 1 yard between it and those above, below, and at the sides.
But it as an exceptionally good season if the Lofoden fishermen take 30,000,
000 Cod ; and not more than 70,000,000 or 80,000,000 are taken by all the
Norwegian fisheries put together, so that one fair shoal of all that approach the
coast in the season must be enouc^ to supply the whole of the Codfish taken
by the Norwegian fisheries, and leave a balance of 40,000,000 or 50.000,000
over. — The principal food of adult Cod appears to be herring. If we allow
only one herring to e.ich Codfish per diem the Cod in a square mile of shoal
will consume 840,000,000 herring in a week.
39
protected, because mankind needed tliem all. It Lad been
ajabour of love witli him for many years to study the habits
of lish, and he regretted that, with many peiaons at the pre-
sent time, there was too much theorij and too much science
without practical knowledge at the bottom of it.
The motion was then put by Sir P. C. Owen, and car-
ried unanimously.
The Chairman, Hon. A. W. McLelan, in responding, said
he felt quite overcome by tlie flattering terms in which the re-
solution had been proposed, and the enthusiastic way :n which
the work which he and his goverinnent were doing in Canada
had been spoken of. It was true that the Government of Can-
ada felt a deep interest in the preservation of fisheries, because
they knew how important it was to her people that ^I'ose
tishei'ies should be used, and not abused. Dieir object had
been that what some scientific gentlemen there called the
balance of nature should be preserved, or that it should not
be too much broken. The balance of nature had been run-
ning for centuries before the flshermen came in, and the
jjroper proportions of fish were all preserved ; the fishermen
came in, and Avith their multiplied engines for destroying
flsh were likely to destroy the balance of nature, and so to
destroy quantities of food fish, so important to the people
of the Dominion and other countries, for they believed with
proper care they should have large quantities for export,
feir Philip Owen said they should all live on fish, and cer-
tainly in going to the meat markets of England there was a
great inducement for people to live on fish if they could.
But if they would come over to Canada, and take a free
farm — such as they were ready to give to millions of people
— of 160 acres of as fertile land as ever rain or dew descend-
ed upon, they would have not only fish to live upon, but
good beef, mutton and poultry, and all else they desired to
make a variety on their table. The Government of Canada
not only passed laws, but believed it was necessary to pro-
vide shelter and protection on the more exposed portions of
the sea coast to protect the lives of the fishermen. They had
heard from time to time how dangerous was this occupation,
and that it showed the largest percentage of loss of life of any
occupation in which man engaged. In Canada they built
harbors and breakwaters to which the fishermen in exposed
places could resort in case of sudden storm, and young as
they were, and poor as they had, been, they had expended
40
about six million dollars for that purpose. Thev had also
been told that sometimes iisherinen went out ana toiled all
day and night but caught nothing, but the Government had
also endeavored to provide against that by laying down tele-
graph cables along the coast to all the stations, so that when
the fish struck on any particular point they could telegraph
to all the fishermen who at once could come there and load
their vessels. Professor Goode had referred to the fact that
a great many Nova Scotians went to the famous fishing-port
of Gloucester and manned their vessels, and that was no
doubt the case ; they found that in the summer their own
fishermen were employed off the coast, but in the winter
season they went to the United States because they had a
better class of fishing-vessels for winter service, and could
go out to sea with more safety ; they therefore encouraged
the building of a better class of vessels in their own country,
and for a number of years had devoted 150,000 dollars a
year to this pur])ose, paying so much a ton for a better class
of vessels, so that their own fishermen might be employed
during the winter and not have to go to a foreign country.
He had been referred to as a Canadian Minister to tne
mother country, and he must say it was a pleasure to him to
be received in the kindly manner that he and his associates
on the Executive Board had been received. He was proud
of the plirase which he had used, coming to the "mother
country.'' There was no name of which they were more
proud in Canada than that they were sons of Great Britain ;
that they were connected with this great Empire, so glori-
ous in her past, so great and mighty in her present, and
which had before her such a gi-ancl and magnificent future.
They were proud to be connected with Great Britain, but
they were proud also that they were no weak, helpless,
dependent members of the Empire ; that they were no en-
cumbering members, for they felt that they in Canada were
bounding forward in prosperity ; they were going forward
with a great tide of healthful blood flowing in their veins
and beating in their hearts, hearts strong for the present,
and big with hope for the future, and hearts which he trusted
would long be true and loyal like British hearts when waked
by the strains of " God save the Queen."
41
C(> NFEBENCh ON TVESDA T, JUL Y 3, 1883.
The Marquis of Hamilton in the Chair.
ON FISH DISEASES.
By Prof. Huxley.
Discussion by Mr. Follett, Prof. Huxley, Dr. Spencer Cob-
bold, Mr. Marber, Mr. Mackenzie, Mr. Siggin°^ Mr.
Wihnot (Canada), Marquis of Exeter, Sir James Mait-
land. Prof. Honeyman, Mr. Fell Woods and the Mar-
quis of Hamilton.
Mr. WiLMOT said it afforded him much pleasure to be
able to say a word or two on this very destructive agency,
which was causing so much injury to the rivers of Great
Britain, Saprolcgnia ferat!. It had been his misfortune to
have differed with the lep.rued Professor on t le protection
of the fisheries of the world ; but on this occasion he was
glad to offer hi in his best thanks for the interesting lecture he
had given on this most insidious disease. lie felt that in this
case science was doing most useful work, and hoped that by
further investigation a cure for this terrible disease would
be arrived at. He believed, too, that it was only within a
few years past that it had prevailed very largely in the
rives of Britain ; he had been engaged in connection with
fisheries for many years past, and sixteen years ago this dis-
ease was known within the small confines of the house where
he was engaged in fish breeding, and his opinion, though he
might be wrong, was that it was largely brought about by
a pollution of the reduced flow of water in the streams, oc-
casioned by the country being cleared of its forests and
being over-heated by the sun's rays.
germinate in the river immense quantities
vegetal)le spores, which, floating down,
•with the diseased fish, or fish which had been injured by the
fishermen and others and produced 8a2>rolegnia. In catch-
ing these fish in the stream, in the Province of Ontario, for
the purpose of cultivation, it was found that many fish died
This tended to
of infinitessimal
came in contact
42
from the following cause : The iish had to be caught by
hand in the stream, and strict instructions were given to the
men always to catch them by the tail, because, m catching
them by the head the gills were always injured, and that
necessarily proved fatal. The men went into the river,
waded up the stream, ind caught the fish on their beds at
night, and at other times, in the day time, when they had
their heads underneath the logs which abounded in the
stream. The fishermen then carried the fish sonu; distance
to the house ; but they invariably found, after the first
or second year, that many of these fish died, the reason being
that round the tail where the men had caught the fish,
sometimes braises were made, and there this peculiar
sort of fungoid growth appeared, and spread until the
fish died. This was in 1867 or 1868, before he knew
anything of Sajjrolegnia. In order to avoid this they intro-
duced woolen or cotton gloves which had been used ever
since, because they were found less likely to injure the fish.
Sometimes, also, a man from hurrying or carelessness, would
grab a fish across the back, leaving finger-nail marks upon it,
and in a few daj's after they invariably found three or four
stripes of fungoid growth appearing, and the fish invariably
died. He, therefore, came to the conclusion that this fun-
goid growth was the result of infinitessimal spores coming
down the stream, which produced this growth on the bruised
portions of the fish, and the fish could not shake it off be-
cause they were generally in a prostrate and lean condition
after spawning. This disease did not prevail generally in
the United States, or in any other country in its natural
state. Nearly all the rivers and streams, when the country
was first inhabited, were pure and limpid, the waters were
cold, and these immense number of spores did not then vege-
tate in the rivers ; but as countries became cleared, and tlie
volume of water was reduced by absorption and evaporation,
and by tlie superheating of it by the sun's rays, more of
these spores were produced, and when the fish were hurt,
as they now were by fishermen catching them, and by pass-
ing through nets, and in getting injured as they
came up into the rivers, they were more liable to be
attacked, and so the disease was produced. He believed
there was no possibility of overcoming it until they could
somehow change the waters up which the fish migrated.
Another mode would be by improving the protection of
those fish which could escape up the river. He might
43
dilate on this subject, and would assure the Conference that
unless some greater efforts were made to protect the fish in
every possible way, they must expect them to be decimated
in the end. He believed the practical remedy was to pre-
serve fish by judicious laws, and prevent nien destroying
them at improper times, and also to prevent the polluted
matter being allowed to flow into the stream.
CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1883.
ON FISH AS FOOD.
By Sir Henky Thompson.
Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.I.E., in
the Chair.
Discussion by Dr. Cobbold, Mr. Kenneth Cornish, Mr. Wil-
mot, (Canada) ; Prof. Goode, (IT. S. Commissioner) ; Mr.
Alfred Jardine, Sir Henry Thompson, and the Chair-
man, Sir Cunliffe-Owen.
Mr. Wilmot (Canadian Commissioner), said he had
listened with nmcli attention to Dr. Cobbold's remarks, but
he was of opinion that the parasites referred to were in the
fish at a time when they might be called foul or unclean, or
unfit for human food — at any rate they predominated in
them dnring that period. If they were only to consider that
there was a time for eating fish, as there was for any other
food, when it was in a proper condition they need not be
alarmed at these parasites, but unfortunately large quantities
of fish were caught in an unfit condition, their abdomens
distended with the ova. Was it not a fact that they had
laws forbidding the killing of salmon in that state ; and no
farmer would be allowed to bring into the market a beast
that was far advanced in pregnancy. Fish were out of sight,
and therefore to a certain extent, out of mind, but tliey
laboured under the same difficulties as the domestic animals,
and it was the duty of man to protect them during the
breeding season.
44
!i
■ f
4
CONFERENCE ON TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1883.
ON SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES.
By David Milne IIomk, F. E. S. E.
The LoKD LovAT in the Chair.
Discussion by Prof. I>rown Goode, (U. S. Commissioner^ ;
Mr. Wilmot, (Canada) ; Mr. C. E. Fryer, (Home Office) ;
Mr. Jas. II. Crossman ; Mr. Bloomfield ; Mr. Mihie
Home, M.P., and the Chairman, Lord Lovat.
Professor Brown Goode, (United States Commissioner),
said he had listened with v^ery ^reat interest to the Paper
wliicii Mr. Milne Home had presented, and lie rose to say a
few words, M'hich were perhaps invited by the closing sen-
tences of the address, concerning what America had been
doing in the wf.y of salmon culture. He was led to do that
by the fact that certain documents had been distributed fi*oin
Canada, which had rather a tendency to depreciate what had
bean done in fish cultare, not only in Europe, but in the
United States. It had been said that fish culture was only
an experiment, and had not been attended with commercial
success : he, however, wished to say that it was in no sense
an experiment, but that in the United States and in Canada
it had been a decided success, and was so recognized by every
one. It was not likely that the American Congress, or the
Canadian Government, would for a period of ten or twelve
years keep on making annual appropriations for fish culture
if they were not satisfied that it was not only a success from a
scientific stand-point, but a success from a commercial point
of view. In the Ilnited States the general Government had
appropriated considerably more than a million dollars, and
the individual States a sura almost as great. Up to 1798
large numbers of salmon were caught in the Connecticut
river, but until 1870 the fish disappeared entirely from the
river, .and until about 1875 no salmon whatever were seen in
the river. In 1875, however, the salmon began to appear,
and this was the direct result of the planting of a large num-
ber of young fry in that river three or four years previously.
n
45
Then again in the case of Sacramento River of California,
where about two million young fish were planted yearly, the
catch had increased in five years from five million pounds to
fifteen million pounds, and in 1881 there were more fish than
could be utilized by jjU the canning establishments on the
river. He would not proceed with the multiplication of ex-
amples, but would refer to the fact that the fish in the De-
troit River, where the United States and Canada had estab-
lished hatcheries, had been increased, and the supply im-
mensely improved. The shad was taken in twenty or thirty
great rivers on the Atlantic coast, and was for several months
of the year a most important food supply. About twenty years
ago it was found that the supply of shad was beffinning to
decrease, and Fish Commissioners were organized with the
special object of increasing the supply. He had seen shad
which four or five years before were selling at is. or 5*. a
pair, and were therefore beyond the reach of poor people,
become so cheap and common that they could be bought for
a shilling a pair, which was entirely the result of fish culture.
Professor Baird had been the leading spirit of fish culture
in America. He was asked recentlv if rrofessor Baird was
not an enthusiast, and he replied that he was not, but a man
possessing the widest general and philosophical knowledge
of natural laws, whose sound judgment ana experience had
enabled him to tali:e up the work of fish culture and carry it
on on an immense scale in the United States. People were
sometimes dissatisfied because fish were sometimes planted
in streams and notliing was heard of them afterwards ; but
it was the theory of their Commission and of their Govern-
ment that it was a proper thing to make experiments, and if
they happened to be unsuccessful there was so much ground
eliminated over which it was unnecessary to go again. He
thought the experiments which had been sicecesspil ought
to he allowed to balance those which had not. Experiments
in fish culture in Europe, especially in Holland and Ger-
many, had yielded exceedingly promising results. Mr.
Whitclier had singled out two rivers in Canada, out of
many, for the purpose of supporting his view that fish cul-
ture had not been a success, and had stated that although a
large quantity of salmon was taken out of certain waters in
18Y1 there was none in 1881. Mr. Whitcher, as Commis-
sioner of Canada, was charged with the preparation of a re-
port to the Canadian Government upon the state of the fish-
eries. The report for 1882, which surely ought to have been
46
within Mr. VV hi teller's access when he published the circular,
stated that the salmon fisheries nearly all over Canada, had
been much better in 1882 than within tlie preceding ten
years ; and other testimony showed that there had been a
mai^nificent improvement. He knew that Mr. Wilmot, who
had been criticised somewhat in the circular, would feel
some diffidence in speaking on the point, but he thought he
owed it to him to point out that the official documents prov-
ed that fish culture had not been in any sense a failure, but
a decided success.
Mr. WiLMOT, (Canadian Commipsioner), said it was with
considerable diffidence that he rose to make any remarks
npon that important question. He had l)een much delighted
by the very instructive Paper on salmon fisheries, a subject
which of course required a great deal of time to enter into
fully. Mr. Milne Home, on the opening of the Exhibition,
visited the Canadian Court, and he felt sure, from the way
in which he expressed his views, that he was extremely de-
lighted with the modus oj)erandi of fish culture in Canada.
A few days ago Mr. Home called upon him and stated that
he was somewhat astonished to see from a circular he had
received from one of the officials in Canada that fish culture
had been seriously found fault with, at the same time stating
that a-s he was about to read a Paper on salmon fisheries, it
would be his duty to refer to the subject, as it was of great
importance, and affected very seriously the interests of the sal-
mon fisheries throughout the world. He was pleased that Mr.
Home had only briefly done so, as it gave him the opportunity
of going into the matter very fully ; but as it appeared that
many other persons had received circulars of the same kind,
he felt, on behalf of that great and important portion of the
British Empire, Canada, wliose government had thought pro-
per to expend large sums of money in advancing the inter-
ests of salmon culture, he ought to say a few words on the
point. Salmon culture was initiated in the Dominion by him-
self as a private individual, and he was pleased to say that from
the day it was initiated it liad gone on progressing and pros-
f)ering. The Government of Canada at first thought very
ittle of it, but looked upon it as one of those things which
required further development before they could grant aid.
In 1868 there was a small grant of £40, but the annual grants
now amounted to some $30,000 a year, which showed what
importance the Government now attached to salmon culture.
47
The salmon fisheries of the world required the utmost pro-
tection, and care must be taken to prevent fish being destroy-
ed during the breeding seasons. Salmon culture ought to
be carried out in every country v^here those fish were indi-
genous to the waters. In Canada fish culture had been car-
ried on for a length of time, and its fruits were beyond cavil.
There were, however, some people who found fault with
everything, no matter what it might be, and he regretted
very much that Mr. Whitcher, a colleague of his in the
Canadian Fisheries should have thought proper to issue cir-
culars amongst the Commissioners, stating that fish culture
had not been satisfactory. Mr. Whitcher's own documents,
evidently not written nor read l/y himsdf^ however, proved
the very reverse of that statement, and the blue-books of
Canada contained returns which showed most conclusively
the beneficial results arising from the protection of rivei*s
and the raising of salmon Iry artificial means. After (pioting
a number of returns from Inspectors of Fisheries and other
officers from the annual reports of 1882, proving that there
had been a very remarkable improvement in the sahnon fish-
eries of Canada, he said it would be quite unnecessary to
read the individual reports of fishery officers in all parts of
Canada, which, with only a few exceptions, indicated that
the salmon were increasing wonderfully during 1882. He
might also mention that he liad received letters stating that
the catch of salmon by netters and anglers in 1883 had been
in excess of any previous period, especially in those nvers
where salmon hatcheries were in operation. It was the duty
of all civilized governments and intelligent people to adopt
such means as would bring about a better supply of food,
and he had no hesitation whatever in saying that the means
adopted in Canada had in most instances been very beneficial.
I'erJiaps on some future occasion the matter might come on.
again; if so lie could give volumes of even stronger evidence
in proof of the success attending fish culture.
It was painful indeed to be obliged at this Conference
to refei to the circular issued bv this well-known official grum-
bier in Canada, who, to gratify personal spleen, had wantonly
attacked an industry of world-wide beneficial reputation ;
more especially as the Canadian Minister at the head of the
Fisheries Department, and himself, were here on behalf of
that country advocating the importance of fish-cultural opera-
tions in the Dominion, the practical display of which, at this
great International Fisheries Exhibition, had gained for it-
II
48
self ^reat uopuhir favour, and also materially aided in the
general oxhibit, and placed Canada amongst the foremost of
the nations for etHciency and completeness in the science of
artificially propagating fish. From the gratifying way in
wliich Professor Uooue's remarks and his own had been re-
ceived on this subject, it was clearly unnecessary to refer
further to this "under the belt" stab in the circular, feeling
assured that similar conduct is always frowned down by the
manly English j)ublic.
Mr. MiLMo r '", in reply, said that if there had been
nothing more tha j opportunity which had been given to
his friends from the United States and from (yanada to give
the explanations to which the meeting had been listenmg,
the Conference had done good. He had been somewhat
astonished when he read the circular referred to, because it
was in contradictio-i to what he had read of the complete
Viccess of artifical fish culture, and lie could not be-
(Hve it possible that such statements were correct, but
he felt it was not for him to brin^ the matter forward in a
paper relating only to the fisheries of this country. They
had had the pleasure of hearing from Mr. Wilmot and Pro-
fessor Jirown Goode that the statements were not to be cred-
ited, and he cordially agreed with the views which had been
expressed as to value of artificial hatching. They had
in their own cor a hatchery belonging to his friend Sir
James Maitland, w mch he had visited twice, and knew to be
a success. There was one in Dumfriesshire, and there were
two or three others, on a smaller scale. He hoped they
would soon have more of those private establishments, but
he also could not help thinking and saying that there ought
to be some encouragement given to them ' y Government.
If they were to appoint an inspector to visit those establish-
ments and report upon them, with a view to make known
what they were doing, it would be a good thing. He had
for some years past endeavoured to possess himself of the
Reports of the Canadian and United States Commissioners,
and had obtained from them very valuable information ; and
lie thought we in this country ought to learn a lesson from
Canada and the United States.
Mr. Milne Home then proposed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman, which wan carried unanimously.
The Chaijrman, in response, thought the pith of what
had been said was, that they should all use their best endea-
49
voiirs to induce (lovoi'imient to assist in the propagation of
fish and in the incrciiee of the number of sahnon in this
country. Out of evil often came some little good, and lie
thought the circulation of the documents which had been
referred to, instead of doing harm, had brought out more
cleai'ly the great success which had attended the artificial
pro])agation of fish.
UONFKRKNCK ON WEDNKSDA Y.JUL J" 18, 1883.
lu
the
His Excellency M. Dk Falhk took the chair, when the fol-
lowing })aper was read by Mr. llowrrz on
FOREST PROTECTION AND TREE CULTURE ON
WATER FRONTAGES, WITH THE VIEW OF
PROVIDING A CONSTANT AND STEAD^'
SUPPLY OF WATER, FOOD, SHADE, AT\ '
SHELTER FOR FRESHWATER FISH.
Discussion by Prof. Rrown Goode, Major Sewell-(iana
(Chili), the Marquis of Hamilton, Mr. Wilmot (Canada),
and his Excellency M. Deluilbe.
Mr. WiLMOT seconded the resolution of thanks. There
was no doubt that this paper was of a novel character as con-
nected with fish culture, for he was (piite aware that it had
not been discussed before in any public maimer, but he
might be pardoned for mentioning that on two or three occa-
.sions on sending reports to the (xovernment of Canada he
had expressed his views that the clearing of the forests had
"been one of the principal causes of the destruction of salmon
in the Province of Ontario. He could speak from experi-
ence in the matter, on account of salmon being very numer-
ous in a stream that ran through his property. Before the
forests were cleared off, salmon and the better kinds of fishes
were there in vast numbers, but as the trees were cleared off
the water changed its temperature, it became less in quantity,
and the consequence was they had lost all those valuable
fish. He should not attribute it wholly to the want of trees,
lovii that had been one of the principal agencies. Man, with
his destructive engines, had of course aided by killing the
parent fish when laying its eggs in those streams, but there
was no doubt that the want of sufficient shade and coldness
so
were unable to raise tlic
years ; therefore it was
of the water for the fish to hve and breed, was also an im-
portant element, because these higher breeds of fish were
always found in cold waters. So important was it, that for
the last two or three years he had set out a large number of
trees round the ponds were lie was carrying on fish culture,
and found it very beneficial, and he had often noticed the
fish run underneath the shade of the trees on hot days, the
temperature being lower there than out in the open stream.
He had always contended that farming, forestry, and fish
culture should go together, l)ecau8e one aided the other^
Forestry aided agriculture, because if the whole forest was
cut away the rainfall was interfered with, and agriculture
was more or less affected. There were localities in Canada
where forests had been ^/holly destroyed, wliere now they
same kind of grain as in former
evident that the total clearing of
forests was injurious to agriculture. He was very glad that
this Paper had been read, because it would now be spread
abroad and carry authority with it, and would, no doubt, do
a vast deal of good. In ids opinion, forests were useful in
tiltering the water which passed into the stream, The trees
themselves filtered it, and so did the leaves on the ground,
and the water was more pure than when it fell direct on the
soil and ran straight into the river. There was no need to
interfere with cultivated land, but rows of trees might be
planted by the side of streams, which would not affect farm-
ing operations, and would conduce to the growth of fish.
There was no doubt that the greater amount of forests on
the face of the earth the greater the rainfall. Last year the
Legislature of the Province of Ontario passed an Act incor-
porating a Forestry Association, the object of which was to-
set out trees for the benefit of the country, and to prevent
the destruction of those around the fields and along the sides-
of the roads. ' * ••
51
CONFERENCE ON JULY 27, 1883.
E. BiRKBECK, Esq., M.P., in the Chair.
A NATIONAL FISHERIES SOCIETY.
By Charles E. Fryer.
Discussion by Dr. Francis Day, (India), Mr. O. T. Osleiiy
(Grimby), Mr. Oldham Chambers, (Lowestoft), Mr. Wil-
mot, (Canada), Prof. B. Goodc, (United States), Mr.
Moiideliare, (Commissioner for France), Mr. Fryer, and
the Chairman, Mr. E. Birkbeck, M.P.
Mr. WiLMOT said tlie subject of a National Fishery
Society was a very important one, and one which should
have been taken up by this country many years ago. Had
that been done there would not have been the present out-
cry about the want of fish, for it would have brought such
force to bear on the Legislature as to cause it to undertake
the protection of fish more liberally than it had done. The
remarks which had fallen from Mr. Fryer in many points
were exceedingly good, but coming as he did from a far off
country, where the protection and production of fish was
advocated very largely, he regretted that the paper had not
touched on that subject. He did not recollect a syllable
was mentioned with regard to protection or production of
fish, but that was one of the most prominent features in
connection with the requirements of the fisheries. In
Canada there was a Minister of Marine and Fisheries whose
duty it was to look after this i'nportant work. Previous
to the Confederation of the Provinces each Province had
some sort of law for the protection of the fisheries, but they
were so abortive as to prove useless. At the time of the
Confederation, however, when the seven Provinces were
brought together, it was deemed so important that the fish-
eries should receive protection that a Cabinet was formed
for the purpose which had been of vast service in bringing
about many tilings which otherwise would not have been
accomplished. Statistics were obtained from the fishermen,,
the fisb.ary officers, and various other resources, which were
IR
collected and submitted to Parliament annually, and Parlia-
ment legislated on any improvement which might be re-
quired for the purpose of advancing the general interests of
the fisheries or Uie fishermen. It seemed to him extraor-
dinary that in a vast and intelligent country like Great Britain
the Government had not taken up this great question of
protecting, improving and advancing the interests of the
fisheries, a step which had been taken by Canada, the
United States, and many other countries. It seemed to him
a mistake to leave such an important matter to indi/iduals.
No doubt great benefits would result from this Exhibition
and the papers and discussions connected with it, and he
hoped the question would be brought before Parliament,
for he had heard the Chairman himself say it was the duty
of Parliament to take it up. Notwithstanding everything
that had been said, he contended that the fisheries were de-
creasing. Even though a million barrels of herrings might
be collected to-day, and at the beginning of the century only
a quarter that number were taken, it would not follow that
there were any more fish. It was the reverse ; because the
fishermen had to go further to get them and to employ ten
times the amount of wealth and ability, and a hundred times
the appliances which were formerly applied. He contended
that until some means were instituted by which fish could
come nearer to the coast to carry out the laws of nature in
reproducing their species they would be gradually extei*-
minated. He knew of no kinds of fish whicli did not come
nearer the coast when laying eggs than at any other times.
They were out in the far deptlis of the ocean feeding, but
when spawning time came they approached the shore and
protected places ; and if man, by his greed, was determined
to kill these poor creatures, the authority of Parliament
ought to step in and prevent it. If such a course were not
pursued, before half a century the larger proportion of fish
which now frequented the coast would be destroyed, and
none would be found at all. In Canada there were large
expanses of water, 200 to 300 miles in length, in which the
fish had been nearly exterminated. He thought the idea
of a National Society was a good one, but they should go
farther and apply to the Government of the country to
establish some department which should encourage the
fishing industry by protection and propagation.
Mr. WiLMOT seconded the motion of thanks to the Chair-
man with much pleasure, because he understood that Mr. Birk-
5d
be(^k stood foremost in this country with respect to the inter-
ests he took in thegreat lishinw industries. He was the inaugu-
rator of the first fishery exhibition, and was Chairman of the
Executi veof thisone which is the International adjunct to that
held at Norwich. He had been a member of Parliament for
some time and no doubt would remain so for a long time yet
to come, and he hoped that before long he would liold an
oificial position at the head of a Government Department
which would preside over the interests of Britisli Fisheries,
for tliere was certainly no one more competent to occupy so
important a post.
CONFERENCE ON TUESBA Y, JUL Y 31, 1883.
Lord Abinger in the Chair.
FRESHWATER FISHING IN GREAT BRITIAN
OTHER THAN TROUT OR SALMON.
By I. P. WifEELDON, late Editor " Bells Life."
Discussion by Mr. Wilmot, (Canada), Mr. Wheeldon,
Admiral Bernabe, and the Cliairman, Lord Abinger.
Mr, Wilmot said he must say a word with regard to the
somewhat notorious black bass of Canada as his name had
been i.entioned. Mr. Wheeldon had rather misunderstood
his feeling towards the black bass, which was not a favourite
of his by any means ; and on two or three occasions he had
expressed the opinion that it was unadvisable to introduce
it into Great Britain, unless it was into waters where there
were no other fish of a superior kind. The black bass was
a fish of good feeding quality ; not a bad fish to eat ; but
not a favourite of his. He fished more for trout and salmon,
and a man who was in the habit of doing so, would not fish
for bass or any inferior fish. Black bass were a very vorac-
ious, greedy fish, and invariably cleaned out any other fish
in the same waters, unless it was perch, which sometimes
would hold their own, being of a somewhat similar character.
Fishing in Canada was quite different from what it was in
Great Britain. There they did not have barbel, dace, and
'v-i.
54
roach, nor any fish of that kind. There might' be some de-
ficriptiuns of fish of that class; hut at present the siuggisli
streams liad chub, pike shiners, and coarse fish of that sort.
These fisli were evidently of a low order, because they fed
at the bottom of the rivers as a rule, and were therefore not
to be compared with those of a higher order, such as trout,
which rose to tlie surface for their food ; in fact you did
not find trout in streams which were not limpid and clear,
because they must see their food at the top of the water. He
could readily understand why in a country like England, and
in a city like Loudon, so many people were fond of fishing.
It was very fortunate that the riiames gave the people re-
siding in London so many opportunities of fishing, even al-
though tlie fish might be of an inferior order. It was a
pleasant, healthy pastime, and if they got only one or two
fish to eat for their day's labor, it was very j)leasant when
they came home to sit down and tell the tale of the day's
sport. He thought, therefore, that angling in every possible
way should be encouraged, because it could never seriously
diminish or destroy the fish in any stream as netting would.
If more encouragement were given to anglers, it Mould be
beneficial to fisheries as a rule. In Canada no one was allow-
ed to fish for salmon with bait ; the law was very distinct,
that it should only be fly surface fishing. The belief there
was that salmon did not take food in the rivers at all :^' and
* Note by Mr. Wilmot — Salmon do not take food on their migration
iip rivers to their spawning grounds. This view is now ahnost universally held
by all persons practically acquainted with the nature and habits of the Salmon,
There are, however, some disbelievers of this statement. The following facts
are given to sustain Mr. Wilmot's position, viz :
(1) The stomach of the Salmon is found distended with food in a half-di-
gested state, whe'i captured beyond the estuaries of rivers and in the sea.
(2) Food is never found in the stomach of the Salmon above tide water
or in the fluvial parts of rivers.
(3) Salmon begin to deteriorate, in flesh and in color, as soon as they
enter the fresh water, and continue this falling off" until they reach salt water
and commence feeding again.
(4) After l)eing in the rivers for a time, from the fat, silvery-coated Salmon,
they change to a lean, lank, emaciated, dirty, black-looking fish ; in many
instances after spawning they become so poor and prostrate that great num-
bers die.
(5) The fatty substance of the body put on in their feeding grounds in the
sea, is consumed by internal absorption, to partially sustain the fish on his
migration up rivers, and to nourish the growth of the ovaries and milt for
maturity, previous to being laid in the spawning beds. The fatty substances
of the body thus passing into the ovaries, presents'to the eye the small, oily
globules seen in the eggs when laid, and forms the food of the embryo fish be*
fore, and for a short time after, hatching out,
(6) The writer has seen many Salmon opened, and has opened many
66
the Government was so particular witli regard to the pro-
tection of salmon when they passed all the nets and other
engines which might be set at the estuaries, the lish having
got past those, were only to be caught by the %. lie would
surest that if a law — something of that sort — were passed
in England, it would be beneficial, and encourage a higher
order of [angling than catching salmon with bait. He beg-
ny
hundred himself when caught in fresh water, but in no instance was t+iere ever
one particle of food found in their stomachs. lie has also kept confined in
ponds numbers of Salmon before and after spawning for periods of two, eight,
and twelve months, where natural food was plentiful, yet they never took it,
but could, nevertheless, be caught with an artificial fly.
(7) In all cases when opened the gullet, or entrance to the stomach,
seemed, as it were, from its closely contracted appearance, to forbid the possi-
Ijility of food of any kind passing through it.
(8) The great numbers of Salmon that enter many of our rivers would,
if they took food to sustain their large bodies, consume at one single meal every
living creature in the river that would be adapted for them to eat — yet in
many instances, and in many rivers, Salmon are from one to five and six
months in the fresh water, on their journeys to their spawning grounds.
(9) In the Fraser and other rivers on the Pacific slope Salmon are so
abundant in them as to actually crowd themselves upon the banks. Query —
Where and how could it be possible for these vast shoals of Salmon to procure
sufficient food to sustain them in the narrow confines of the river ? On the
contrary they become lean, exhausted, and after spawning die in thousands from
sheer emaciation.
(10) It is well known by anglers that when salmon are taken with the fly
the hook is seldom found deep in the mouth, and iwver i.i the gullet, but
almost imvariably the fish is hooked on the inner or outer sides of the jaw, and
now and then in the tongue. If taken voraciously for food why not find the
hook in the gullet, as in trout and other fish that actually take it for food by
swallowing the bait.
(i l) It may be asked, then, why do Salmon rise to the fly at all if not for
food ? It is the exception, not the rule, to take Salmon with the fly ; they
take it sometimes in anger when crossing their vision ; and, sometimes from a
sportive mood, in seeing a luring, dangling object above them. Dozens, yes
hundreds of Salmon are often seen in pools by the angler, who may cast over
them for days without taking a fish, and then, perchance, some morning or
evening he may hook one, two, and sometimes more. Now, if these took the
fly for food, why not capture many more of the hundreds that certainly ought
to be in the same eating mood as their fellows who were taken ?
(12) The sequel is here — by a wise ordination of Providence Salmon are
not permitted, by an instinctive feeling in their nature, to feed upon their own
off-spring, and in the very same nurseries, too, in which they had at a former
period laid their eggs to re-produce their species. Did the Salmon feed in the
rivers and other streams which are their breeding j^rouniis, in like manner as in
the sea, which is \\\€n feeding ground, the beautiful aim of nature to safely
maintain their species would be thwarted. For the countless thousands oi
these large, (at other times) voracious fish on their journey up to their nurser*
ies to reproduce their kind, would meet their broods of young of the former
years coming down as "parrs," as "smolts," to the sea and devour them,
thus actually destroying the very object for which the Great Creator had ori-
ginally so wisely ordained all things.
i
56
ged to propose a vote of thanks to Mr. Wlieeldon for the in-
structive lecture he had given.
Doctor HoNEYMAN, in seconding the motion, said he did
not know much abont angling himself ; but he so much ad-
mired the enthusiasm of Sir. Wheeldon on the subject that
he was very much inclined to wish he was an angler himself.
CONFERENCE ON Uth OCTOBER. 1883.
Mr. Func; Yee, Secretary of the Chinese Legation in the
Chair,
ONXEWFOrNDLAND; ITS FISHERIES AND RE-
SOURCES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
By Silt Ambrose Shea. K.C.M.G.
Discussion by Mr. Sayer, Mr. Wilmot, Captain Curtis, R.N.,
Sir Ambrose Shea, (Newfoundland) ; Mr. Herbert
Hounsell, Mr. Mackie and the Chairman, Mr. Fung
Yee (China.)
Mr. Sayer proposed a vote of thanks to Sir Ambrose
Shea for his very valuable Paper. He said there was not
much dried cod used in this country, because we were sup-
plied so well with fres^. cod. We used to get fish off Rams-
gate and Margate, bid now me had to yo nearly to the Goa,st
of Norway for it, and there vms no dovht the time wonld
come when\ English fishennen woidd have to make their
way to Neiofoundland, and perhaps even to America.
There was no town in the world so well supplied with fish
as London, as was shown by the fact that Mr. Hewitt sup-
plied Billingsgate with 13,000 tons of fresh fish, at a coast of
l^t^. per 11>. He had no doubt there was an opening in New-
foundland for English merchants, and he hoped the time
would come when the Labrador herring won la be brought
to the London market. The nets formerly employed had a
mesh of twenty-eight to the yard, but they were used nov^' forty
to the yard^ the result of which was that immature fish were
caught, and fishermen had to go farther and farther off.
57
Mr. WiLMOT, in seconding the motion, said it afforded
him great pleasure to find that the adjoining colony to his
own took such a prominent part in the Exhibition, and he
hoped the time would arrive when his friend Sir Ambrose
Shea would come to the conclusion that it was advisable not
to stay out in the cold, but to join the Canadian Confedera-
tion. Had the two colonies been united, they would have
stood foremost in the world for the exhibit of fish. No one
was better fitted to prepare a Paper on this subject than Sir
Ambrose Shea, who had been identified with Newfoundland
for a long time, and who recently had a title conferred upon
him by Her Majesty, which was esteemed an honour by all
the colonies. Mr. Sayer had referred to the possibility of
England having to go to Newfoundland or Canada or
America, for some portion of her fish supply. It had been
his object throughout to press the importance of protecting
the fisheries of this country, and he was glad to find that Mr.
Sayer held the view that England had, in an improper and
wanton manner, destroyed the fish round the coast. This
had been brought about by the avarice of the fishermen not
being checked by the Government. He would not dilate
further upon this topic, but he could not express too
strongly his sense of the want of some protection being
afforded to the fish.
Mr. WiLMOT then proposed a vote of thanks to the
Chairman, which was carried unanimously.
CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDA Y, OCT. 24, 1883.
Sir Ambrose Shea, K.C.M.G., took the Chair.
FISHERIES OF CHINA.
By J. Duncan Campbell, Commissioner for China.
Discussion by Mr. Wilmot (Canada) Mr. Clias. Fryer, Mr.
Sayer, Cap. Curtis, R.N., Mr. Herbert Hounsell, Mr.
Newman (China) Surgeon-General Gordon, C.B., Mr,
Campbell, Mr. Fung 1 ee (China) and the Chairman^
Sir Ambrose Shea.
Mr. Wilmot said that as his name had been mentioned
in the Paper he might say briefly he had no doubt the salin-
58
•on could be introduced to any part of the world where the
water was of such temperature and clearness as to suit their
habits of life. When they found that through the opera-
tion of pisciculture salmon had been introduced from Great
Britain to waters below the Equator, where they were not
indigenous, Jie saw no reason why *.t should not be equally
possible to introduce them elsewhere, particularly in a
country like China, some of the rivers of which he was
strongly inclined to believe were frequented by sahnon, but
even if that were not the case he was quite sure that many
of her more northerly rivers were adapted to this fish. It
was a mere question of temperature and limpidity. The
Sacramento river in California, where the atmospliere some-
times rose to 120° in tlie summer, was at one time overflow-
ing with salmon, though it had been to some extent reduced
by over-flshing now.
Mr. Fryer understood that the Chinese in California sur-
prised the Americans by the wonderfully small fish which
they caught and ate, and if tlie same habit prevailed witli the
three hundred millions of Chinese in their own country, and
they were continually catching these small fisli in season and
out of season, it afforded a strong argument again:it the pos-
sibility of depleting the waters.
Mr. WiLMOT said he could not allow Mr. Fryer's
remarks to pass without a word or two. Being a strong
advocate of the artificial propagation of fish, and of their
protection generally, he felt bound to point out that the
temperature and climate of China was very warm, and con-
sequently the fish there produced their young in \ cry warm
water. They knew that under such circumstances fish were
hatched in as many days as it took months in colder climates,
and thus the propagation and natural increase of fish there
would be a thousandfold greater than in England or in Can-
ada. The salmon familv took from three to six months for
the eggs to incubate, whilst some other descriptions that
laid their ova in warm climates would hatch out in from
sixty hours to six days. There was therefore no foundation
for the idea put forth by Mr. Fryer that because protective
laws might not be in operation in China they were equally
unnecessary elsewhere.
59
CONFERENCE ON THCRSDA Y, OCT. 25, 1883.
Mr. S. WiLMOT (Commissioner for Canada) in the Chair.
FISH PRESERVATION AND REFRIGERATIOxN.
Bv Mr. J. K. KiLBOURN.
Discussion l)y Mr. Kenneth Cornish, Mr. Alward (Grimbsy)
Mr. F. N. MacKay, Mr. Ilesbeth, Dr. Rae, Sir Am-
brose Shea, Major Sewell-Gana (CliilHan Commissioner)
Mr. Alward, Mr. Kilbonrne, Mr. Mackie, Chevalier Bik
ker-Caarten, and the Chairman, Mr. Wihnot (Canada.)
The Chairman, (Mr. Wilmot), in putting the resolution
of tiianks to Mr. Kilbourn, said he held in his hand a slip
from a newspaper to the effect that some thirty-live tons of
fish were thrown away in the London market the other day
as being unlit for food, yet at the same time thousands of
poor people were on the point of starvation for want of .food,
fciurely some means ought to be provided whereby such a
state of affairs could be prevented. He believed this was
largely brougiit about by avarice and greed upon the part of
the fishermen in catching more fish than was necessary to
supply the market, and the iish dealers allowing over-stocks
of fisli to spoil rather than sell them at reduced prices to the
poor ; too many were taken, they were brought to shore
and, without proper supervision, were sent off, and in many
cases became unfit for food before they reached their destin-
ation. In Canada, iish were caught in the great Western
Lakes in great quantities. They were put on board of little
steam tugs in refrigerating boxes, and conveyed, perhaps,
100 or 200 miles to nearest harbour or railway station. The
boxes were then put on the railway car and went on in some
instances, 1,000 or 2,000 miles, and were sold as fresh fish,
and were eaten as readily as those caught within a few
miles of the market. He had been struck with astonish-
ment that within the area of this small island, as it was com-
pared with Canada, similar means were not introduced, instead
of having so many Iish spoilt. Not only were the fish taken
60
1:
*
to marketin these refrigerators, but tliey remained in the celhirs
of the dealer for a week or ten days after they arrived there.
The process was very simple ; the fish were taken out of the
water in tons weight ; on deck were a number^of boxes, of
which a specimen could be seen in the Canadian Court, for-
warded by Mr. Leckie, oi Toronto, each box holding about
one ton. It was packed round the outside with non-con-
ducting material ; a layer of finely powdered ice was put
in the bottom, then a layer of fish, then another layer of ice,
and so on imtil there were fifteen or twenty layers oi fish
and ice, and it was then shut down tight and sent off, lie
need hardly say tliat if the fish were not in good condi-
tion, the inhabitants of the great cities of the United
States would not eat them. He had often eaten this fish in
the best hotels in Toronto, and it was difficut to distinguish
them from fish caught in the l>ay in the front of the city.
If some similar mode were adopted here they would not
hear of fish coming to the London market and being con-
demned the next day as unfit for human food. It was said
by some persons that frozen fish were not fit for fc )d, but he
could contradict that in toto. The fish he had previonslv
been speaking of were principally white fish, pickerel,
pike, sturgeon, and fish of that order ; but he would now
say a word or two with regard to salmon. This was caught
in large numbers in the Canadian rivers. This year there
had been so plentiful a supply that they had been unsaleable
at a remunerative ])rice, and large quantities were imme-
diately liozen. Since he had been over here he had written
to dealei's in Canada to have some of this frozen salmon
sent to England, but the reply he got was that they could
not do so, as they were under contract for all their fish to be
delivered next January, February and March in New York,
Boston and Philadelphia. Kow, if in Canada they caught
fish in June, July and August, and froze them up, and the
fisli dealers in New York and Boston would buy them for
delivery next year, it was evident the fish could not be very
much detoriated by freezing. He had eaten those fish for
several years past, and it was the usual custom to have it
on Christmas Day, when, the waters being frozen, of course
it was impossible to catch fresh fish, but they were con-
sidered as good then as when caught in June. There might
possibly be a very slight difference in the quality, but tnat
was not the question. Fish could be preserved in this way
so as to form food for the greater portion of the people, and
61
il
if those who cultivated more fafltidions palates wc/e not
satisfied with it they need not eat it. It seemed to him a
burning shame that so much fish should be thrown away as
unfit for food when there were evident means of preserving
it. In the Canadian Court there were specimens of fish
caught in June, 1882, which had been kept in the frozen
state up to the present time. A fortnight ago one of those
cases was opened and some fish taken out, and they were so
hard they had to be sawn in slices. He took a piece home and
had it cooked, r*nd it certainly was very good, but perhaps
to the epicure not so delicate jis a fresh piece he might have
bought in the market ; but it was a delicious food, fit for
any one to eat, and he certainly thought the more frozen
fish they could get the better. The vote of thanks was then
carried.
Mr. Mackie proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman
who had been so regular in his attendance at these Con-
ferences, and had conveyed so nmch useful information to
those who attended.
The motion was seconded by the Chevalier Bicker-
Caarten, and carried unanimously.
The Chairman, Mr. Wilmot, in reply, said it was very
gratifying to him to find that his remaaks had been received
with approbation. One of the main points v\'hich he had
endeavoured to impress upon those who attended those
Conferences was, that if the present destruction of fish went
unchecked, the time would come when the supply would
be entirely exhausted.
Note — Since the above discussion took place Mr. Wilmot has taken
some of the salmon frozen in June, 1882, out of the Canadian Freezers on
exhibition, and presented them to persons of high distinction in London. In
dining with one of these, the salmon when served up was not distinguishable
by the host or his guests from fresh caught fish.
62
FISHERY INDDSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES.
By G. Bkown Goode, M. A.
His Excellency the American Minister (James Rcsskll
Lowell, Esq., LL.D.) in tae Chair.
EXTRACTS.
" Especially prominent in this work has been the
'American Fish Cnltural Association,' organized in 1871,*
whicli has always led public opinion in matters connected
with fishery protection and propagation, and has published
a valuable series of Transactions.
'• In 1871 the United States Fish Commission was es-
tablished. Arrangements were at once made for a thorough-
ly scientific investigation of the fisheries, and a little later
the work of artijicial propagation was begun. The opera-
tions of this Commission nave increased from year to year,
and mnch has be^n done in extending the range of impor-
tant food-fish, and in re-stocking depleted waters. The snad
has been introduced into the waters of the Mississippi Val-
ley and the Pacific Slope ; the California salmon and rain-
bow-trout have been placed in the Atlantic tribntaries ; and
German carp have been distributed over the greater part of
the conntry."
'' Up to 1878 the work of the Commission was confined
wholly to fresh-water and anadromous species. In this year,
however, a station was Cbtablished at Gloucester, Mass., for
the propagation of marine . p» cies ; and cod, herring, and
haddock were succesefnll' iiatched. In 1880 snccessful ex-
periments were m'» '■ with sev»_-rel food-fishes from our
southern ser'^oar*' '
" Be ent of apparatus, radical changes
have be( ' hods of fish culture. The most
import^' 1 till - iC building of mvi 'eable floating
hatchcnt in tl form of barges and steamers, by the
• At first cali'-l the Amerig/ Fish
changed in 1878 i the American Fish <
to membership thosr not actually engage
ULTUKisTs Association, but
TURAL Association, to admit
sh culture.
68
United States Fish Commisaion. By means of these^
different spawning c^rounds may be visited during the samo
season, and tlie result of the work enormously increased,
with a comparatively small increase in its cost. The appli-
cation of steam for pumping the water and for work-
ing the apparatus is also of great value. Equally impor-
tant with these is the improvement in the methods of
transportation. Formerly tlie fish were carried in sniall
([uantities in the baggage-cars of ordinary passenger-trains,
but refrigeratoi' cars, Luilt expressly for the purpose, are now
almost exclusively employed. Trained experts are placed
in charge of these cars, and immense numbers of fish arc
now distributed with small loss and at a great reduction in
cost as compared with the old method."
Table of Piblu; Aimmjopriations for the ITnitei) States
Fisn Commission and for Twenty-Eight StateJCom
MISSIONS.
United States, 187 1-9 .
Eastern States (6).
Maine, 1867-80 . . .
New Hampshire, 1866-79
Vermont, 187 1-9 . . .
Massachusetts, 1866-79 .
Rhode Island, 1870-79 .
Connecticut, 1868-80
476,200
36,975
22,663
7,800?
80,500
10,500
43,300
Middle States (3).
New York, 1868-79 • . .
. 165,000
New Jersey, 1872-80 . .
. 29,500
Pennsylvania, 1873-80 . ,
• 99,630
Southern States (6).
Maryland, 1874-80 . , ,
. 76,500
Virginia, 1875-79 . . . ,
. 15,000
West Virginia, 1877-79 .
. . 3.900
South Carolina, 1870
800
Georgia, 1876-79 . . , .
2,000
Kentucky, 1876-80 . . ,
, , 11,000
2oi,73&
294,130
Western States (13).
Ohio, 1873-80 . .
Illinois, 1880-81 .
Michigan, 1873-80
109,200
• 29,000
. 3,000
. 53.000
64
Wisconsin, 1873-80 . , ,
, 38,860
Minnesota, 1874-80 . . .
. 22,500
Iowa, 1874-81
22,750
Missouri, 1877-80 . . .
7,000
Kansas, 1877-80 ....
2,000
Nebraska, 1879-80 . . .
1,000
Colorado, 1877-80 . . .
2,400
Nevada, 1877-80
5,000
California, 1870-80 . . . .
37,000
Wyoming, 1880 ....
1,600
225,110
- -'i.- ,■ ■ V,; . ■' ;,.-.■ :.. !
■ ■''■.,_■'. t ■'
• 1 t
1,307,378
The Oyster Industry. — The oyster lisliery is the largest
upon the list. It employs 52,805 persons, and yielded, in
1880, 22,195,370 bushels, worth to the producer $9,034,861.
There is to be considered an enhancement on 13,047,922
bushels, in passing from producers to market. This en-
hancement, which amounts to $4,368,991, results either
from replanting or from packing in tin cans^ and increases
the value of the products to $13,438,852. This fishery
employs 4155 vessels valued at $3,528,700, and 11,930
boats. The actual fishermen number 38,249, the shores-
men 14,566. About 80 per cent, of the total yield is ob-
tained from the waters of Chesapeake Bay. A speedy
extermination of the most valuable mollusk will doub Jess
result unless some effective means of protection and
artificial cultur^e are soon employed.
2. The Pacific Salmon industry. — The Salmon fishery
of the Pacific is another industry peculiar in its methods
and extent. The Quinnat, or King Salmon {Salmo ^^tiinnai,
= OncoJ'hyncnus chouiGha), also often called the California
Salmon, is the principal object of capture, though other re-
lated species are also taken. Though the capture is enor-
mous, it has been demonstrated that the supply can easily
be kept up by a small outlay in artifieial culture.
On the 9th of February, 1871, Congress passed a joint
resolution which authorized the appointment of a Commis-
sioner of Fish and Fisheries.. The duties of the Commis-
sioner were thus defined : " To prosecute investigations on
the subject (of the diminution of valuable fishes) witii the
view of ascertaining whether any and Vv'hat diminution in the
number of the food-fishes, of the, coast and the lakes of the
United States has taken place ;. and, if so, to what causes
^
G5
1^
the same is due ; and also whether any and what protection,
prohibitory or precautionary measures should he adopted in
tlie premises, and to report upon tlie same to Congress."
Tlie principal activity of the Commissioner, however,
has heen directed to the wliolesale replenishment of our
depleted waters. The success of fish Gulture \ii well recog-
nized in the United States, but it was especially gratifying
to its advocates that in 1880 the Grand rrize of the Inter-
national Fisheries Exhibition at Berlin was awarded to Pro-
fessor Baird as "the first tish-culturist in tlie world."
The
origin
of the Commission, its pui'poses, and
methods of organization, having been described ; it now
remains to review the accomplished results of its work. In
many deparments, especially that of direct research, most
efficient services have been rendered by volunteers ; in fact,
a large share of what has been accom])lished in biological
and physical exploration is the result of unpaid labor on the
part of some of the most skilful American S])ecialist8.
A suitable place having been selected, a temporary
laboratary is fitted up with the necessary appliances for col-
lection and study. In thif are placed from ten to twenty
tables, each occupied by an investigator, either an officer of
the Commission or a volunteer.
The permanent head-quarters are located at Wood's
Iloll, Massachusetts, where wharves are being built for the
accommodation of the fleet of the Commission, and a house
for use as scientific and fish-cultural laboratories, and where
the propagation of sea-fishes will be continued on a larger
scale than heretofore.
For several years steamers were lent for the work by
the Secretary of the I^avy and the Coast survey and Eevenue
Services.
In 1880, however, a steamer of 450 tons, the Fish
JIawli\ was built for the Commission. This being needed
ioY fish-hatching purposes^ another larger steamer, of 1000
tuns, the Albatross, has just been put into commission. She
has already, since April, made two successful deep-sea ex-
})lorations, and has been supplied with every means for work
of this kind.
In connection with the work of fish culture much at-
tention has been paid to embryology. The breeding times
and habits of nearly all of our fishes have been studied, and
their relations to water temperatures. The embryological
history of a number of species, such as the cod, shad, ale-
66
wife, salmon, amelt, Spanish mackerel, striped bass, white
perch, the silver gars, the clam and and tne oyster, have
been obtained under the auspices of the Commission.
The preservation of the oyster-beds is a matter of vital
importance to the United States, for oyster-fishing, unsup-
ported by oyster-culture, will, within a short period, destroy
the employment of tens of the "ands and the cheap and
favorite food of tens of millions of our people.
Something may be effected by laws which allow each
bed to rest for a period of years after each season of fishing
upon it. It is the general belief, however, that shell-fish
beds must be cultivated a? carefully as garden-beds, and thnt
this can only be done by leasing them to individuals. This
is already the practice in the N<)i*theni States, where oysters
are planted in new localities ; tliere is difficulty however, in
carrying out this policy in the case of natural beds, to which
the fishoiTTien have had continued access for centuries. It
is probable that the present unregulated methods will pre-
vail until the dredging of the natural beds come to be trans-
ferred from the improvident fishermen to the care-taking
oyster-culturists, with a corresponding increase in price and
decrease in consumption.
Fishes in ponds, lakes or streams are quickly extermin-
ated unless the young fish are protected, the sjiawning
season is undisturbed, and v/holesale methods of capture are
prohibited.
A river may quickly be emptied of its anadromous
fishes, salmon, shad, and alewives, by over-fishing in the
s])awning-season, as well as by dams which cut off the fish
from their spawning-grounds. Examples of this may be
found in dozens of American rivers.
In the same way, sea-fishes approaching the coasts to
spawn upon the shoals or in the bays may be embarrassed,
and the numbers of each school decimated, particularly if,
as in the case of ihe herring, the eggs are adhesive and
heavy.
Sea-fishes spawning in the estuaries are affected by
wholesale capture with stake nets, much in the same man-
ner, though in a Jess degree, than salmon in the rivers.
Almost any piece of water, be it a bay or sound, or be
it the covering of a ledge or shoal at sea, may be over-fished
to such a degree that fishing becomes unprofitable, especially
if fishing be carried on in the spawning season.
The policy of the United States Commissioner has been
67
to carry out the idea that it is better to expend a 8inall
amount of public uioiiey in making fish so abundant that
they can be caught without restriction and serve Jis cheap
food for the people at large, rather than to expend a much
larger amount in preventing the people from catching the
few that still remain after generations of improvidence.
The proper function oi public fish culture is the stock-
ing of the public waters with fish in which no individual can
claim the right of property. This is being done in our
rivers, with salmon, shad, and alewives, and in our lakes with
whitefish.
Public fish culture is only useful when conducted upon
a (jigantic male—\\& statistical tables must be footed up in
tens of millions. To count young fish by the thousand is
the task of the ])rivate propagator.
The use of steamships and steam machinery ; the con-
sti'uction of refrigerating trans])ortation cars, two of wliich,
with a corps of trained experts, are constantly employed by
the Commissioners, moving fish and eggs from Maine to
Texas, and from Maryland to California, and the mainten-
ance of permenant liatching stations, 17 in number, in
different parts of the continent, are forms of activity only
attainable by government aid.
E(pially unattainable by private effort would be the
enormous experiments in transplanting and acclimatizing
fish in new waters ; California salmon in the rivers of the
east ; land-locked salmon and smelt in the lakes of the in-
terior; such as the planting of shad in California and the
Mississippi Yalley ; and German carp in ten thousand
separate bodies of water in almost every state in the Union ;
the two last-named experiments, carried out within a period
of three years, is a success beyond doubt, and of the greatest
importance to the country ; the others have been more or
less successful, though their results are not yet fully
realized.
It has been demonstrated, however, beyond jDossibility
of challenge, that our great river fisheries, producing in
1880, 48,000,000 pounds of alewives, 18,000,000 pounds of
shad, 52,000,000 pounds of salmon, besides bass, sturgeon,
and smelt, and worth "at first hani," between 4,000,000
and 6,000,000 ot dollars, are entirely under the control of
the fish Gulturist to sustain or to destroy^ and capable of
immense extension.
The same is true of the Coregonus fisheries of the
■ i
68
Great Lakes, and there is every reason to believe, from ex-
j)eriments in part completed, that the dominion of Jish
culture may be extended in like manner for certain of the
great sea productions, such as the cod, haddock, herring,
mackeral, and Spanish mackeral fisheries.
The immense influence upon the sea fisheries of the
maintenance of the abundance of anadramous fish in the
rivers has already been indicated.
The following is a list of the hatching-stations operated
by the United States Fish Commission in 1883 :
1. Grand Lake Stream, Maine, station for collecting
eggs of the Schoodic salmon (Salmo mlar var. sebtujo).
2. Bucksport, Me., station for collecting and hatching
cijgs of the Atlantic salmon {Salmo salar\ and for
hatching eggs of whitelish.
3. Wood's Holl, Mass. Permanent coast-station, which
serves as a base of operations for the scientific in-
vestigations of the Commission, and as a hatching
station for eggs of the cod and other sea-fishes.
4. Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, New York.
Station for hatching eggs of various species of sal-
monida> for distribution in New York and vicinity.
5. Havre de Grace, Maryland. For the ])nrpose of
collecting and hatching eggs of the shad {JJlupea
sapidissimu).
C. Washington, District of Columbia. •,
a. National Carp ponds.
h. Arsenal ponds. Ponds for the propagation of
carp.
c. Navy Yard. Station for collecting and hatch-
ing eggs of the shad.
(L Central hatching station. A station fully
equi])ped for scientific experiments connected
with the propagation of fishes.
7. Wytheville, Virginia. A station for hatching eggs
of brook-trout and California trout.
8. Saint Jerome's Creek, Point Lookout, Maryland.
A station for the artificial propagation of the oyster,
the Spanish mackerel and the bandy porgy. ' -
9. Avoca, North Carolina. For collecting, hatching
and distributing eggs of the shad, alewife and
striped bass.
60
10. North vi lie, Michigan. A hatching station for the
development and distnbution of eggs of the
whitc-tish.
11. Alpena, Micliigan. A station for tlie collectio"
and development of the eggs of the white-lish.
18. Baird, California.
a. Salmon station. A station on tlie McLoud River
, for the development and distribution of eggs of
the California Salmon.
b. Trout ponds. A station near Baird, for collecting,
developing, and distributing eggs of the California
trout.
13. Clackamas River, Oregon. A station on Columbia
, River for collecting and hatching eggs of the
California salmon.
" The hatchery at Northville, Michigan, is provided
with natural and artiticial ponds in which brook-trout, rain-
bow-trout, land-locked salmon and lake-trout, are kept for
breeding purposes. In addition to the eggs ob<-ained from
these ponds, many millions of eggs of the white-fish, lake-
trout, and wall-eyed pike are obtained in the waters of Lake
Erie, and forwarded to Northville to be hatched and dis-
tributed. A large refrigerator is being put in in readiness
for next season's work, when it is expected that fully 500,-
000,000 eggs of the white-fish alone v ill be hatched.
There are hatcheries at Bucksport and Grand l^ake
Stream. The former of these is ])r( vided with ponds in
which salmon, purchased from the fishermen of the Penob-
scot River, in May, are confined till November, at which
time the eggs are taken and the fish liberated. At Grand
Lake Stream, the land-locked salmon is hatched. There
were secured at these two stations, during the past season,
0,675,000 eggs of these species for distribution to different
parts of the United States.
" The hatchery on the McLoud River in California was
established in 1872. Large (Quantities of eggs of the Cali-
fornia salmon are collected there annually. The eggs have
been taken from the wild salmon, which have been pre-
vented from ascending to their natural spawning grounds
l)y a dam which he has caused to be thrown across the river
just above the hatchery. Eggs of the rainbow-trout also
liave been secured in considerable numbers. In the eleven
years since the salmon-breeding station has been in opera-
70
tioii, 67,000j000 eggs liiivc boon taken, most of which liave
been distributed in tlie vai'ious States of the Union. Several
million, however, have been sent to foreign countries, in-
cluding Germany, France, Great Britain, Denmark, Kussia,
IJelgium, Holland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the
Sandwicli Islands."
" About 15,000,000 have been hatched at the station,
and the young fish placed in the McLoud and other tribu-
taries of the Sacramento River. So great have been the
benefits of this re-^tockiug of the Sacramento that the statis-
tics of the annual salmon catch of the river has increased
5,000,000 jwimcls during the lad few years.
" The shad stations at Washington, D. C, and Havre
de Grace, Maryland, have been i-eccntly enlarged, and are
capable of holding immense numbers of eggs. At one of
the "Washington stations alone nearly 50,000,000 of eggs
were received. An estimate of those for the other stations
gives a total of over 70,000,000 eggs of this species.
" In 1877 the Gennan carp was introduced into
America by the United States Fish Commission. These
were placed in ponds, especially prepared for them, at
"Washington and [Baltimore. In 1880 the distribution of
fry began, and up to January 1st of tiiis year, the carp have
been planted in no less than 17,800 localities. They prove
to be especially adapted to our watei's, and in some localities
they grow with surprising rapidity. A lish, four inches
long, placed in the waters of Texas, was found to have in-
crciised to 20|- inches in eleven months, at which time it
weighed four pounds eleven ounces.*"*
The propagation work has iuci'eased from year to year,
as may be seen by the constant increase in the amount of
the annual appropriation. A review of the results of the
labors of the Commission, in increasing the food supply of
the country, may be found in tlie annual reports ; the rude
appliances of tish culture in use ten years ago have given
way to scientifically devised apparatus, by which millions of
eggs are hatched where thousands were, and the demonstra-
tion of the possibility of stocking rivers and lakes to any
desired extent has been greatly strengthened. This work
is now carried on with machinery for propagation on a
gigantic scale by the aid of steam.
The work of the Commission in tish culture has been
that of stinuilation and co-operation. The efforts of indi-
viduals have been encouraged in every way ; indeed, there
71
is hardly a fish culturifit in tlio TTiiited States who is not or
has not been attached to its staff. What was done in im-
proving the methods of artificial propagation has already
been summarized, and need not be repeated here.
The same policy of co-operation has been extended to
the State fish Connnissioners and to fish culturists in every
part of the world.
DiscuKRioN by Mr. Earll, U. S. Coniniissioner, The Marqnis
of Exeter, Professor llnxley, Manjuis of Hamilton,
and the Chairman, James Tlnssol I^ovoll, Esquire. LL.D.
the American Minister.
Mr. Earll said he had enjoyed most thoroughly listen-
ing to Professor Goodo's Paper, but national modesty would
prevent his saying anything with regard to it, and he would
proceed to give a few details of the working of the Commis-
sion during recent years. They had heard from this Paj^er,
as well as from Professor Huxley, of the enormous quantity
of fish consumed as food by other fishes in the sea and
rivers, and it thei-efore became necessary, in order that fish
culture should become practicable, and in any way increase
the supply of fish in a country, that there should not only be
thousands but millioiis of fish hatched annually. The at-
tention of the Commission had therefore been turned
recently towards improving the apparatus, to secure greater
enconomy of space and concentration of work, and also
towards devising more efl^ective methods of distribution.
Each specialist had taken up a special line of work, and had
carried on his investigations until he had either introduced
some new form of apparatus which had enabled him to ac-
complish better results, oi' had invented some form of
apparatus for transporting fry to a greater distance. At-
tention has also been turned to secnring a greater number of
eggs than was formerly obtained. At first the practice of
the Commission was simply to attend the nets of the fish-
ermen, and take such eggs as might be found in spawning
females, but later it was found expedient to collect the fish
and pen them until they should, be ripened, when the eggs
could be secured.
The Marquis of Exetkr said he had been asked to
72
move a v(>te of thanks to Professor Goode, and he felt that
very few words of his were requisite in so doing, for he was
sure the whole meeting would concur in giving hitn a most
hearty vote of thanks for the very able, instructive, and ex-
haustive Paper which he had read!^ It entered so completely
into the details of the great breeding establishments of the
United States, that all who took an interest in pisciculture
would derive great benefit from it, and it would enable
them to improve their owa establishments ; he was quite
sure that many of the hints he heard would enable him t(j
do so.
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