The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-05-28
PROPAGATION OF Fish.

We are induced to lay before our readers the
following letter from General Spinner, the
Treasurer OF the United states, which we ind
in the New York Evening Post, with that jour
nails comments thereon. The letter speaks for
itself The comments Of the Post seem to US
to be entirely irrelevant The Poet does not
object to encouraging the propagation Of ash,
but 1t does object to the Government going
into the fish business, because 1t opposes to
Its embarking In the shoe business or the rail-
road business.
Now, 1t strikes Us that the Poet eonfounds
things which are obviously distinct. The sim
pie proposition to Appropriate t7,Soo to propa-
gate and protect the shad Of the Potomac 10
not going Into the ash business. II 10 like
thousand things which the Government does,
and which 1t ought to do, to encourage the
business OF the country. Some people have
very peculiar notions Of the functions Of the
Government.
LETTER FROM NE. y. L. sPiSSrR-rRorAoA-
TIoN OF rIsH.
WARRINGTON, Nay 2, 1865
To THE EDITORS oy THE EvEsiN0 PosT: In
your leading editorial, under date OF May 20,
appears the following:
the House Of Representatives on Monday, Mr..
Myers, OF Pa, introduced q Joint resolution,
which was referred to the Committes on APP.
the necessary expense, Of experiments 81
Seth Green In the artificial pr opagation Of
shsd and o., other nsh In the rivefs Of the United
supervision of Francis E. Spinner, Treasurer
Of the United States
nsh already engages the capital and attention
of several persons In this country; and will no
doubt, attract more and mole capital, AZ Il 10
a Eo sss Ts
undertake the attidsIsi breeding Of a.h IN this Is
s seSaaIy; but ota S have been quite as sue.
does this,wh 1t should not present like sum
h to every other person engaged In the same
The truth e your remarks, when applied to
competency from the sale OF young trout and
impreynsted trout spawn. He has not only
restocksd brooks and ponds, but has filled WA
had never before been. You evidently had
your mind upon this, and overlooked the fact
that Mr.. Green 10 now dey oting his time to and
OF sea nah, that cannot be kept In preserves,
nor any way be made prirdfe property; and
which never come into our waters, except In
protected In their breeding seasons, but the
obstruction OF salmon and shad at that time,
sSs %s ,ss ,ss
tsinty that II the spawn Of only one nsh In
thou1huu tHht arc now taken hnOul0 De cared
for according to Mr.. Green's plan, our Ash
depleted streams would soon be made to swarm
with them In numbers that would seem fabu.
to take an interest In this matter. They know
that the quantity regulates the price. It mat
tiers not to them whether they get dollar for
The common fisherman says, what's the
use my Matching 'eml The fellers below will
kstch 'em all II ! do" The community is TO
should not those benefited contribute Gov
and Mr.. Green have been constituted a com,
look after this matter, 80 far as The Hudson
river Ia concerned. Mr.. Green's expsrimentV
last year In Massachusetts and Connecticut
.ect He asks nothing now for his time or
personal expenses, but he does think II right
that the community that 10 to receive the bene-
neeesnsa1y breeding boxes. For TIT. purpose
shs $500 appropriation was asked from Con.
Unless governments, state or national, shall
assist In this matter, as France and other
enlightened European nations have already
done, AZ our rivera will soon be as bare OF al
already become OF salmon. Encourage the
breeding Of these hsh and you will soon greatly
reduce their price all over the country, and 70
degree the cost OF meats In proportion. In
this view is not this subject Of national In.
terest, and one well worthy the attention, not
9Iiy Of Phiiia,nnthropists and political eco1o,
Very respectfully yours, F.E. SPINNER.
EVERY good cause is worthy Of attention
from eyerybodyi but not every good end 10 TO
be sought by the use Of every means. Our OBJ
lection 10 not to stocking rivers, or encourag-
ing the oreedlng OF hsh. II 10 not even to the
though these ought, we think, to be few aim.
Pile, and limited to the elearest dictates OF |
public policy. But we object to the proposi.
lion that the United States Government mai
70 into the fsh business, just as we should OBJ
yect to Its undertaking the shoe business or the
fish, cheap shoes, and cheap frafic are not 10 |
BE desired; but that II 10 no part OF the func. |
lions OF government to furnish them. No
smount OF argument In favor Of the end In
view can meet this pointl