Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-06-05
tgfumcts' gGpartm'nt,
PROPAGATION OF FISH.

The President Of the American Institute
Eew.Y crk, lately read lengthy paper upon
The subject Of artificial propagation oil hsh'-
In answer to q question be said The propo-
stion that / made last year to the Legslu
ture was that il law was passed TO protect
seed would stock tho waters oi the state
with salmon.
lie also stated =! have eight ponds upon
nv farm stocked with forty-five kinds OF iish
among which have one pond Of trout. They
grew more rapidly in pond where well fed
than in streams. l have also some il o cask
aud they are so tame that they will come to
me at the sound Of bell and eat from my
hand. There is no reason why ish.growing
cannot be made profitable My gold fish are
very gentle and fourishng, but are not es-
teemed for food. They are however very
ornamental.
| have one pond devoted to pike, which are
extremely Yorucious but have become quite
docile. They pair about the first Of April,
and desr rosit their eggs and never look after
them ogain until their young are hatched,
when the old pike devour their own offspring.
Their layorite food is frogs. think small
fish-pond would produce greater profit than
a ten acre field well cultvated. The yellow
perch is alsu a good fish. md does we'll in my
bonds. Sometimes perch die from bursting
their b!adlcrs in shallow water in warm wea.
ther.
The striped bass have also succeeded in
growing in fresh water to advantage, notwth.
standing it is sea fish. The common shad
is the most interesting Of all my fish. They
spawn about 10000 eggs, each, and would
multiply to a great extent if not destroyed
| succeeded in growing shad in fresh water,
and have had them to grow five or six pounds
in single year. y shad eats by succor and
never bites at hook.
have also a variety offish from the great
lakes, all OF which are in fourishing coud-
tion. ! deposited in one pond 5000 eels, and
have succeeded in raising them by feeding
them with salt, as they are only found natu-
the ocean. ! am satisfied that the eel is
aoyiporous, notwithstanding the contrary opn-
ion has often been advanced
The sense Of smell in fish is generally very
strong, and the sc9se Of hearing is also well
developed. The sight is also very. keen in
some species, though they cannot see in
tnrbii water. The sucker is acutely sensible
10 touch. Their taste is the least delicate of
any Of the senses, since some Of them devour
food indlscriminately without regard TO quail
Is. Feb for fool are always in the finest
condition when full of eggs.
After spawning thoy deterorate very rap
luiy. IlSh lOod IS proved 10 be nutritious
and wholesome by the healthy condition OF
hslermen'S families. | have not been able to
dcmes'icate cod fish in fresh water ponds
intend however, to continue experiments
1t is an interesting fact that the common
school fund Of Massachusetts owes its origin
- cod.iishcry. ! expect to be able to domes
tlcate the tench the physician fish Of the race
It's slime serving to heal wounds in other
species. There is no difficulty Of transporting
fish ova from one part of the country 10 an
another, nor in Matching the young fish,
Transactions Of he american Institute.
10 the foregoing we would add the follow
ing from the London Aheacum:
The experiment made by the Emperor Of
the French to stock the waters OF St. Cloud
with trout hatched artiiicially, has met with
complete success. Trout twelve months old
are eight inches long, and weigh from % to
= ounces. Their value in Paris market
would be from 20 TO % cents The trout 80
months old are from 10 TO 20 inches long, and
would sell at from 60 cents TO 81 %. 1t is
iGrlher stated that the waters at St. Cloud
were never inhabited by any species Of sal.
mylntG. The trout are extremely numerous
ana promise TO yield highly productive returns
IN commercial point OF view. The principal
ooJect OF the Emperor is to ascertain whether
Inc production Of fish by artificial means is
more profitable than the cultivation Of the
'aEd' taking the same superficial area in both
cases.