The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-09-01

pIsc1cuLTuRE.

OR THE REPEoPLIsG OF STREAMS WITH FISHES
The July issue of Si2iman's Journal has
a very interesting article upon this sub
ject, from which we abridge the follow.
ing:
Thanks to Remy, the modest fisherman
Iof the Vosges, fish is now manufacture in
France; fact most valuable to old Europe,
which has hardly means OF sustaining its
inhabitants, and whose streams have been
depopulated OF the better kinds Of fish: by
manufactures, drainage, &C., destroying the
spawn.
Remy observed the time when the female
deposited its spawn; he observed also that
the male came and spread over it the fecun-
dating liquor. But as these eggs were liable
to various chances Of destruction, he learned
at length how to initiate nature, by promo
ting the spawning of the female, and the
formulating of the same by the males, which
was performed by passing finger lightly
over the surface Of the abdomen Of the fe-
male; or inclose her in cage with double
bottom, formed Of bars rather far apart; the
females drop their eggs by organic contrac-
ton, and aid themselves by rubbing against
the bars. The eggs, in both instances, fall
upon frame; the males are then introduced
and often they fecundate the eggs at once
being melted to do SO by the presence OF the
female and the odor Of the spawn; but should
they not do so of their own accord, the fe-
cundation is provoked by slight friction,
as in the case of the females. The eggs
are preserved and placed in position favor
able to their development. He thus had
the pleasure of finding that he could breed
any number of fishes at will, and had now
only to provide for the Interior preservation
of the young fry. The fish experiment up
on were trout; for their support he placed
frogs in the basin containing the trout,
Judging, correctly too, that the spawn OF
the frogs would supply food for the spawn
of the trout. This, though effective, was
an expensive mode of feeding, and Remy
who scarcely knows how to read or write,
yet from experience. that best though some
times dearest of schoolmasters, contrived a
process based upon one of the great laws of
nature; in the same basin with his carntu-
erous trou he placed herbiuerous fishes; and
thenceforth had no difficulty.
After having been six years in preparing
living food for his fishes, the result of his
idUDfS was UlaQe huON " tHC aCouCMy
of Sciences, by NJ. Haxo, and full in
quiry into the process was ordered by Gov
crnment.
Pisciculture has been introduced in the
basin of the canal of the Rhone, on the
Rhine at Luningue, under the direction OF a
NJ Coste, who succeeded in appropriating
to his own profit the labors of Remy. A
spirited contest ensued, and some very able
pens have engaged in the discussion. But
there seems to be little doubt but that JUS
tice will be done, and Remy receive pen
sion as national recompense.
M. Millet, the inspector of forests, under
whose control come all the rivers and
streams of France also, is now organizing a
regular service for putting into practice this
simple plan of repeopling the rivers and
ponds. The plan to be adopted is to raise a
supply of the fishes at first in boxes properly
prepared, in. which within SIX weeks, M
Millet has bred about $4,000 trout or salmon
and expects to breed some millions Of
different species in the course of the
year.