Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-14
Curious Facts relative to the
Breeding and Growth of Fish.

1t is known that the impregnatcd spawn OF a.
ny two live breeding fishes OF the same family,
may be artifciay Matched and preserved in wa
ters other than those in which the parent species
are wont 70 live; as even the Salmon in fresh
water; and it is a Curious fact that the same re-
suit may be obtained by the comuixture in
a;ed woter of the mllt and roe OF dead fishes 4
recently taken. 1t is absolutely necessary that
the water should be aerated, or highly sup led
with oxygen. For it is for the purpose OF hnd-
ing water in this condition, that the Salmon, the
Shad, the Bass. the Smelt, and all those fish
which resort to fresh waters, for the purpose of
spawning, run to the shallow, pure and swiftly
flowing brooks, TO which their rapidly and fire.
quent falls impart purity and vitality, by ming
ling them with the atmosphere. In the same
manner, the fish of the sea resort for the dispo-
sIton of their ova to the weedy shoals, where the
vegetables. in process of their growth, under the
influence of the sun, distribute ar though the
waters around them.
The science required for this object is easily
attained, and the difficulties are quite ina giBary.
The impregnation of the ova OF fishes Is per-
formed out of the body. and it is only necessary
TO pour the seminal fluid from the nit upon the
ova In water. MIR. Jacob, a German gentleman.
who made, many years ago. experiments on the
increase of Trout and Salmon, informs US, that
the ova and mt of mature fish, recently dead,
will produce living offspring. His plan OF rais-
ing trout from the egg was very simple one
He had box made with small wire gra'ing at
one end in the cover, for admitting wa err fro a
fresh source or stream, and at the otner end OF
the side of the box, there were q number of
holes TO allow the exit of the water; the bottom
of the box was filed with pebbles and gravel Il
different sizes, which are kept covered with waet
that was always IN motion. In November, or
the beginning of December, when the Trout
were in full maturity for spawning, and collect
ed in the rivers for this purpose, upon the beds
of gravel he caught the males and females IN a
net, and by the pressure Of his hancs received
the ova In basin of water, and Suffered the
mIlt, or seminal fluid, to pass into the basin;
and after they mad renamed few minutes TO-
gether. he introduced them upon the gravel IN
the box which was placed under a source OF
fresh, cool and pure water. In a few weeks the
eggs burst, aud the box was filled with an I'M
mense number OF young Trout, which had small
bag attached TO the lower part OF their BODY,
containing part Of the yolk of The egg, which
was still their nourshment. In this site they
were easily carried from place to place. IN Con-
tiBed portions of fresh water, for some days, re-
quring apparently no food; but after about
week, the nourishment in THEN bag teiig ex-
hansted, they began to seek their TODD IN the
wafer, and rapidly increased in size. nave had
TINS experiment repeated twice, and with perfect
success; and it offers a very good mode OF. In
creaslng to any extent the qlantliy oil trout IN
rivers for the young ones are preserved from
the attacks Of fishes, and other voracions ans
mails or insects, at the time wien they are most
easily destroyed, and perfectly helpless. Inc
same plan. | have no doubt, would answer equal
iy well with Grayling, and other varieties Of the
Salnlo genus. But in all experiments OF THIS
kind the great principle is to have constant
t,1x
the eggs.
Now it is manifest from this, that any person
resident in the near vicinity of any lake or river,
Astounding in any species of this family, the
Common Trout, the True Salmon, the Lake
Trout and probably the Otsego Bass. Coregnnus
Oisego, which is one of the same fimily, likewise
having also the command of the smallest posi-
bic source of fresh running water, can raise, IN
the space of few weeks or months, an indea-
mite number Of young fish. Of any OF these va
Iieties which, during the first week or ten days,
can be removed to any distance that can be
reached in that time and, in these days OF steam
velocity, what distance cannot be reached !-n
any ca.k jar, or other vessel, capable oi con-
tanning few gallons OF water.
There would not in this manner, be the small
est difficulty, and very small trouble or expense,
in transatng the Mackinaw Salmon and the
Siskawitz Trout from Lake Huron and Superior,
to Inc inland waters of New York, New Jersey,
and Penhs, lvania-not the smallest difficulty IN
introducing the true Salmon from the Penobscot
or the St John, to any lake, river OF stream in
the Middle States; and, it having been proved
by the experiments of Mr.. Upton, in LilyEere,
that the salmon will live and preserve Its excel
ence in fresh water, entirely debarred from
egress to the sea- would it not be highly H.
,eresting, and, if successful, valuable expert
ment, to attempt its Introduction into the hun
dreds of limpId lakeets which gen the inlands
and uplands of our Northern States +: