Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-04-21
Artificial Propogation Of shad.

| ing description of process for the artificial
| propagatioT Of this valuable fish will be read
! with interest. 1t is taken from the Holyoke
/ Transcript:
In last Saturday issue of the Transcript
we spoke Of the attempt then being made at
the falls to propagate shad by artificial means,
| by Mr. Seth Green, of Aumford, n Y, and
! that it was proving successful. At this date
the method of artificial culture of fish is a
fact, and already millions have been hatched
and let loose in their native element
Mr. Green is a native of Rochester, n. Y,
and is one of those tough, sinewy men, who
/ has devoted nearly his whole life in tramp
ing with gun aud fishing rod through the
wild country of Western and Northern New
! York. Some ten years ago he became con-
vinced that by cultivation the waters could
be made as productive for mans estate, as
the tiling of the soil, and with far less phys
ical effort, since which time he has devoted
himself to the study of fish and their habits.
Three years ago lie purchased in Caledonia,
New York, large creek. the waters of which
were supplied from living spring, and be-
gan the propagation of trout with very great
success, and nov supplies the country far
and near with this favorite fish of the Amer
lean waters. He has long possessed desire
to come here and try his luck in raising shad
and finally, after repeated correspondence
with the State commissioners, came at his
own expense and began operations, with what
success any one can see for themselves by
visiting the scene of his exploits on the oth-
er side Of the river
The Shad are caught in the night, in
seine, and by gentle manipulations stripped
and'the spawns placed in breeding boxes, of
oh i y,A
impregnated By squeezing upon it the mit
of the male sLad. The eggs in the first
stage, or after about twelve hours, resemble
white beads; in twenty four hours they be-
come transparent; in thirty-six hours the
fish takes form inside the egg, and its moves
ments are plainly discernable through the
thin covering, its eyes being the most plain
ly seen; at the end OF forty-eight hours the
fish breaks loose and can be seen darting
hither and thither in the water, at this stage
it has attached to its body a sort of trauspa-
rent bladder, from which it obtains susten-
ance for some days. During this trial Of ar
tifcial propagation one interesting fact has
been developed, and that is, that within from
forty two to forty hours after the spawn
has been taken from the mother fish, it has
Matched millions Of lively young shad, when
heretofore it has always been supposed that
it required one or two weeks time and what
is more important 95 per cent. of the spawn
is Matched with perfect success, while if the
shad are allowed to make their deposits in
the river not more thar five per cent. are ev-
er hatched being destroyed by other fish,
the change in the temperature of the water,
and sediment washed in from cultivated lands.
This last fact is one Of the chief objects Of
the experiments and also to impress upon
Gsb hot b,ro To-
the last run Of shad they can re stock the riv-
er and increase the run the ensuing year
many times. Mr.. Green will probably let
loose in the river very soon, with what are
already gone, more than, 100 GOO, 600 little
fellows, who will seek the salt water and in
due time return to their breeding places
The river can be stocked with salmon in the
same manner.
Mr. Green is nov experimenting on the
best method to construct breeding boxes
As they are now made, the fish have to be
removed soon after Matching. He proposes
to have one so that the fish at proper time
can of themselves seek the river, thus doing
away with the necessity of watching them,
and decreasing the labor accordingly.
He is quite willing to show visitors the
process of artificial propagation, and exhibit
samples in the various stages of incubation
1t is a success of the greatest Importance, and
with reasonable protection and the ezpendi-
ture of a few Thousand dollars for few years,
the time and money would be returned twen-
tytoid, for there seems to be no limit to the
increase OF shad that could be made if the
States would take hold of the matter and help
along the enterprise. Thus would the waters
of the broad Connecticut become resources of
revenue, and the people be greatly benefited
thereby.