The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-04-23
miscellaneous.
Pisciculture or Fish Hatchins.

Pisciculture or Fish-Hatchins.
This art cannot be strictly described as
recent one, as those officious Chinese claim
it, Of conrse, as they do the mariners COM
pass, gunpowder, printing, the steam-engine,
and almost every other discovery of our
modern civilization. The early Romans al
so used it, though it was, strangely enough,
neglected in the voluptuous days Of the EN-.
perors, when
"--all fsh Of shore,
Frrshet of purling brook or shell or fn
An erqulstest name. for which WAS drained
Pontus and Lucrnv lake and Afrc coast,
were summoned to swell the luxury of their
monstrous repasts. And although attempts
were made in England, in Italy, in Sweden,
and elsewhere to multiply fish artificially, in
the last century, the experiments were not
successful enough to introduce the practise
as part of the economics Of production. -
Lurd, Swedish naturalists, declared, as
| the result Of his experiments, that twenty
five mule,s produced, if protected from
their enemies, million of fish 1t is GER
tain that the spawn of all fishes is number
less almost as the sands on the sea shore
bountiful Nature thus providing against as
cdents which might endanger the continu
ancc of her races.
The first practical application of the theo
ries of naturalists as to the increase Of the
broods of fish by the proper treatment of
the germs Of their being, was made few
years ago by simple fisherman Of La Bresse
in France, named Joseph Remy. 1t is not
likely he had ever heard of the experiments
of the philosophers; but, by applying a
shrewd and intelligent mind to the facts with
which his daily business brought him ac-
quainted. he discovered and reduced to prac.
tice the principles of the new art. He OBJ
| served that it was the habit of the female
| fish TO resort at certain times to certain wa
tiers, and their express the spawn or eggs,
and then leave them TO their fate. Subse-
quenty, the male fish sought the same waters
and expressed the mlt, which impregnated
such Of the eggs as it came in contact with,
SO that they could be Matched into living fish.
| Remy observed the immense waste of these
germs Of piscatory life, thus exposed to the
accidents of tide and chance, as well as the
destruction of myriads Of the young fish by
their natural enemies before they could take
care Of themselves, and he bethought him,
self of a simple remedy. He took the male
and female fishes alive, and expressed the
spawn and milt by a gentle pressure, not a,
all in urious to the fish, and gently mingled
the result together in properly prepared
receptacler The greater part of the eggs
were thus viviiied, and the young fish brot'
! up in the way they should go until they were
Of years Of discretion, when they were turned
loose to seek their fortune. Much care
however, had to be bestowed on the mora
education of these young fry, as they had nc
just idea Of fair play, and big fellow woulG
"gobble up his weaker brother with q.
little remorse as rebel guerrilla does {
struggling Yankee. This was affected mainly
by giving them as much as they could eat o
something else they liked as well. The
French Government recognized the service!
of Remy, decorated him with the Legion 0
Honor. and placed him at the head Of &
: Commission for stocking the waters o
France with fish. The result, several year,
ago, was sufficient to improve visibly the di
etary Of the French people, and it was ther
estimated that the value Of the fish GRO,
would be raised from 100000 to $780,
100000 That it has been the source o
great increase Of national wealth is beyont
a doubt.
The French establishment is near Stras
bsrg, and erected by the government at q
cost Of $50, 900, with an allowance of $40,
600 year for expenses. Immense quaint
ties of impregnatel eggs are sent out an
nually to replenish the rivers of France, and
liberal supplies are furnished to other coun
tries. The administration society of Eng
land, devoted to the introduction of foreign
animals, have made small experiment a
Twickenham, on the Thames, at an expense
of less than $500. The eggs were frs
placed in the Matching troughs last Decem
Der, and last month 10000 formulated egg
were distributed among the members, and
10000 are getting ready for the same dispo
sition. The loss of eggs was about five OF
six per cent. This small and cheap exper
iment must stimulate by its success large,
attempts. This is matter we'll deserving
the attention Of our national and state gov
ernmsnts. There is no reason why our
lakes and streams should not abound moi
only with fish native to their waters, but
with such as have never yet been known OF
this side the ocean. Not only may our wa
tiers be stocked afresh with trout and salmon
which have been wel-nigh fshed out in The
older regions but the shores might rejoice
in the presence Of the imperial turbot ana
the lordly sole, barbe and mullet Nay
the royal carp might dsport himself in oul
ponds, on his progress to our tables.
Independent.
pIryzIrn IIrSrIrr "A man NJ mad