Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-14
rrsn the E..lr.r, seslinsl.
Fish Breeding.


The Agricultural Report issued from the
Pa,en, ofics IN 1859, under the heading
" Breeding Of Migratory Fishes" says;
In addition to the experiments already
alluded to. others Of even greater interest,
IN some respects, are now in progress -
Tho.e which are mex, 10 be mentioned wall
eseutually. It Is hoped. ahord much practi-
cal information in regard to the question
whether the breeding OF migrai0ry fishes can
10 80 managed as to be made source OF
prof, TO the breeder in other words, whe'h-
or ,hcse fishes. alter beng reared in private
waters, and allowed to follow their instincts
by soius to the sca a, the proper as", will
return when adult. at the spawning season.
70 the place where they are hAtehed, in 'ui.
fcien, numbers TO enable the brceter 10 re-
ray hinselffor hi. care ot them while young.
by capturing and selling them whom full
gown.
Somewhat similar experiment. have
beer made in other countries, for the pur'
rose Of settling the .ams question; but.
notwithstanding the enthusiastic an,ieiPa'
tons Of foreign fish breeders, we have as
vet. no positive and reliable accounts BY
which 20 estimate their value
The RePor; shsn proceeds TO s'a'e that
this sIperincp, has been undertaken by
Msssrs. L. :. Treat A Son. The breedin;
oper. tions were commenced in the spring OF
1867, at which time number Of salmon,
striped bass. shad. and alewives were placed
m pond. which Messrs. Treat bad obtained
control Of. and which are located in the
northern portion Of the town Of Robbinsion
The shAd and alewives spawned about the
fret Of June. AM the gate which held the
water Of the lakes wa. closed for aboG, three
months. when IL was opened and portion
OF the young s.h were allowed TO 80 to .ca.
The remainder were retained two month.
longer when they were dismissed to sal,
water. The number Of young produced by
thi. spawning was estimated !, more than
Eve millions. At the time o, their going TO
sea they bad grown to the length Of ,hrcs to
Eve inches.
Tho Report closes It's references 20 the eI'
pertinent Of Messr-. Treat, as follows
mir. Treat confidently expects the re-
turn Of hrs t.h-.uch Of them a. survive the
dangers OF the -eas--as soon As they become
capable OF reproducing their species and
feel the impulse Of that instinct which IN
duces them to SEEK the fresh water for tho
purpose OF spawning"
A letter received by Us from L. s. Treat,
E-q.. under date Of May 2itb, say,
1.-The question which has been 80 fire.
quently asked me. when will your hshc- re-
turn ! 4. ,5lrsl. Our fishes have returned
in great numbers. This NAV add another
leaf to the history Of 6sh breeding. They
made their appearance in the Red Beach
stream on the 22l, and in the Lowe .'rea IN
the 9Th. shall be very busv in seeing
that they reach their new ho'n,,.
Who eau doubt the success Of our expert
msni3 Here We have the water. crowded
With a specie. Of f,h never before known to
these waters. IL has as.oni'hsd the old set
tiers. assure you. The cultivation Of the
water, !. now no longer an uncertainty and
The road Is open to the public Tree OF
charge"
We heartily rejoisc with Mr.. Treat IN the
success Of his entsrpriss. lie has pursued
il under great difficulties. The expense 10
time and money has been considerable, and
he has borne il all himself. lie has en-
eoguterei not a h,ilo opposition, and those
who have no, opposed, have gravsl' shaken
their heads. as much as to cay, you are
wasting your money wha, fishes return
70 place Of their birth when arrived al the
period TO propagate their species Absurd
But the thing has seen done. The fishes
have returned. and Mr.. Treat will now Be
repaid We hope for all hi. labor, anxiety
and expense. lie has in hi.eIperimen' doas
more for our State. We fully believe, than
any other man hA. done since We have eI.
listed a. State.