Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-02
SHAD HATCHISG IN THE COSNECTICUT. -

of shad in this State this year we are indebted
TO Dr. VIM. NJ. Hudson, one OF the Fish Com
missioners The artificial Matching OF shad at
South Hadley Falls, under the direction OF the
Fish Commissioners Of this State, during the
present season has proved very successful.
Operations were commenced on the 10th or
June and continued one month. The total
number of ova taken is estimated at 81, 23O, 900,
and as the number which fail to hatch Is very
small it is safe to say that G0,00O,OOO young
shad we're produced from these eggs. About
five million of the young fry were taken to
Westport and placed in the Saugatuck River.
In transporting this number from South Had
lev Falls to the place Of their destination less
than one hundred died, the remainder arriving
in good order About three hundred thousand
we're carried to the eastern part OF the State
and placed in the Paquonnock River, in the
town of Groton All the rest We're turned into
the Connecticut. The average length OF time
required for the Matching OF the eggs after be
ng placed in the boxes was four days varying
somewhat according to the temperature OF the
water. The shad We're taken in Il seine at night
ripe fish rarely being found in the daytime),
the first haul being made at $50 p. H.,
and the two following ut about go and
lD:3Op. m The number of ova taken per night
ranged from l45, 900 to S,OOO,O0O, the average
being about 2,92O,UOO. About the 10th OF
June, before these operations commenced,
number Of shad were taken in the evening and
thrown into large box, where they were lett
through the night. In the morning, on taking
them out, some ova were noticed IN one corner
Of the box in 4 moist place, and for the sake OF
the experiment they: were carefully collected
and placed in Matching box in the river. a
few of them proved to be impregnatea, and
Young shad were produced from them. The
fry were retained in the boxes TOR SIX weeks.
They grew very rapidly, and alter few weeks
some young fry just hatched out were placed
10 with them, and it was noticed that these lat
ter soon disappeared. One of the Fish Com
lnissioners of this State saw few young fry
and IN few seconds witnessed the TACT
that the older deyoured the younger. Wheth
er this may be considered an indication
Of the food Of young shad, or was in
this case the result Of confinement, is an open
question. These five weeks-old shad had in
creased three times in length and probably ten
times in weight since they were hatchcd. 1t
is well attested fact that many shad were Ia
ken below the falls with hook during the sea-
son, one man having Aaken thirty. They were
taken with worms and flies, the majority with
the latter. Only few instances have been
known heretofore of shad having been taken
with hook, three of which are mentioned by
Frank Forester The young shad Matched this
year. or their survivors, will be fit for the table
in three years.
PLANTS of the cactus family are principally
confined to the Western continent, and although
most abundant in tropical regions, some forms
extend far into the temperate zone, and some
species even have an alpine character. BACK,
iu his northern expedition, saw with astonlsh-
ment the banks of the Rainy Lake, in latitude
l0o 40\, entirely covered with the prickly pear
(Opuntia vulgaris). Humboldt found on the
Andes several species of cactus on elevated
plains from 5000 to upwards Of lO,600 feet
above the level Of the sea. Some have even
been gathered at an elevation of 1900 feet,
In size and height the different kinds present
remarkable contrast In Mexico and Arizona
mauy kinds assume an arborescent form. 9th
er kinds have a globular form, some with a
diameter of three feet; and attaining a weight
of2000 pounds while cactus in South Amer
lea is so small and so loosely rooted in the sand
that it gets between toes Of dogs .-Entom0lO-
gst.
STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY For many
Years it has been one of my constant regrets
that no schoolmaster of mine had knowledge
Of natural history. so far at least as to have
taught me the grasses that grow by the way
side, and the little winged and wingless neigh
bors that are continually meeting me with 4 sal
utation which cannot answer, rs things are.
Why didn't somebody teach Inc the constclla
tons too, and make me at home in the starry
heavens which are always over head, and
which don't half know to this day? | love
to prophesy that there will come time when,
not in Edinburgh only, but In all Scottish and
European towns and villages. the schoolmastcr
will be strictly required to possess these two
capabilities, (ucithcr Greek nor Latin more
strict and that no ingenious little denlzen of
this universe be thenccforth debarred from his
right Of liberty IN those two departments, and
doomed to look on them rs If across grated
fences all his life - Carlyle.
CRICKET. The fashionable passion tor Crick
ct in England was thoroughly displayed at
Lords cricket grounds, London on the l4th
and 18th of July, on the occasion OF the annual
match between Eton and Harrow. The Crown
Princess of Prussia was there, the Princess
Royal Princess Louise, Marchloness OF Lorne;
and Prince Arthur More than six hundred
vehicles formed an outer ring around the ring,
many of them flied with NJ. P 5 and members
Of the Marylebone Cricket Club and their fam
lies 1t was computed that 10000 visitors
We're present On Friday, and $4,000 on Satur-
day to witness the athletic skill of young Eng,
land. \ London paper calls it wonderful
gathering of beauty, fashion, rank and intellect.
1t might have added skill, as one youngster
made the heavy score OF H.
SALT ON TOMATOES. -lfit be proven on sut-
hciemt trial that salt has beneficial effect as
crlbed to it in the succeeding paragraph, the
discovery will be Il useful one: But first try
the matter -
\ market gardner of Lake county, ILL.,, says
that he has the most remarkable success in
the use of salt on his tomato plants He ap,
plies it at various times during the season, and
IN every case its effect is marked in the IN
creased growth of both plant and fruit In
some cases he lays the roots of backward plants
bare, sprinkling them with 4 tablespoonful; OF
ordinary barrel salt, and covers Wi tn soil: -
Plants ordinarily treated this way take an I'M
,.,l Goo Gr,,1k