The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-03-31

destroys the fish by its effects. They die
very fast from this cause, and can no Ion
ger multiply with success.
Observation shows it to be a fact that
fishes, instead Of laying their eggs in
places they generally haunt, at the time Of
propagation seek other places where to
perform that act, and then leave their eggs
to take care of themselves while they re-
turn to their natural haunts. In conse-
quence Of this natural instinct, which no
human power can control, these fishes will
seek those places even if they are not as
favorable to their condition as they may
have been before Much less precaution
is required to restore fishes to those places
which they have abandoned, if the me
chanical obstacles to their ascent are re-
moved, or if way is provided by which
they may overcome these obstacles.
Prot: Agassiz supported his opinion by
his observations in France. The eastern
part of France is traversed by brooks
emptying into the Rhine, which were in
former times filled with trout, which were
greatly celebrated even in ancient times
by latin poets and others. These brooks
became depopulated until hardly a trout
could be found, and on a visit of the pro-
fessor to family in that neighborhood an
apology was made for the absense of the
traditional trout from the dinner table
The fish are as plenty to-day as in ancient
times, having been restored to those wa
tiers, and manufactures there are as pros
porous as ever. The professor remarked
that he believed we could do as much as
Frenchnen have done by following their
example. This result has been obtained
by two humble individuals, of whom one
was fisherman. There has never been
any complaint on the part of the manu-
facturerS, and science has been benefited
by the experiment.
Professor Agassiz continued that in
1910 he began experiments III the artiti-
cial propagation of fish, and he believed
he was the first person in this country
who had done it. He did it for the sake
of study He raised them in his wash
basin in his bedroom, where he raised
trout, white-f>h and Il number of less val
liable fish without taking much care.
The manner of constructing a trough
was illustrated; and the statement made
that the fish in passing over dams did not
90 in the main current, but at some dis
tance from the shore They found places
where the current was least and the few
est distractions We're to be overcome.
The cost of suitable trough sufficient
for fail of not more than 10 or l5 feet,
would be, perhaps, $3.50. If the fish
way is SO steep that the current will be
very difficult to overcome, cross bars
should be arranged on the sides to check
the speed of the water and to allow an
opportunity for the fish running up the
stream to rest themselves. BY this means
fish might pass up the steepest falls
There Is no difficulty in restoring fish by
these ways at 4 nominal cost.
{ In 1859 he visited friend in the north
west OF Ireland who had such fshwavs rs
he had described. The fall was about q
feet high, and he stood there half an hou1
and saw salmon rush up in such rapid sue
ccssion that two men with hand net:
threw them out of the trough in grea
quantities, some of them weighing 25 anc
30 pounds. lie had seen salmon repeat
cdly resting on these ways and starting
the moment they were disturbed. Th'
professor said that tshwavs were tormida
bic only to those who knew nothing abou
them. The difficulties in ascending river
can be easily overcome Only few hun
, dred dollars for building wooden step
r were needed. They must be made so tina
c they would, if carried away, be like TIN
G loss of net to fisherman, of no grca
5 los to cne who made fishing a profitable
e business. even if two or three are carries
= away in Il year.
e Prof. Agassiz stated that the revenue
derived from the fisheries in Europe wer
e enormous, and it was an important itel
e in the matter of food for the people. II
y gave some illustrations, by, stating fact
: in regard to practical experiments i
= France in relation to fish.
Y In reply to inquiries, the professor stat
: ed that the passage of river by steam
: boats constituted no obstacle The Rhin
J. was constantly navigated by steamers, bu
l. salmon were not less numerous than the
! were a century ago.
Y I The Boston Journal says: "A cit
l. zen had the curiosity on Wednesday la
% to note the names of twenty-five of IL