The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-06
The Fish Question.

The Fish Question.
Mr. WALL will "deserye we'll OF his
country" if he can bring the matter OF
stocking the large rivers in the Valley and
the eastern part of the State with fish, and
the protection of them after they are there
from those modes Of capture that tend to
their destruction.
The translation Of fish from one stream to
another is very simple matter. Take the
black bass, for instance. This fine fish
flourishes in the head waters Of the Ten
nessee river. 1t may be taken in the Hol.
ston, on the line of the Virginia and Ten
nessee railroad, and brought directly by
rail to Lynchburg, and there turned loose
in the James river. But it should also be
put in the Jacksons river, above Clifton
Forge, for which purpose it may be con-
veyed from Lynchburg via the Orange and
Alexandria road to Charlottesville, and
there transferred to the Chesapeake and
Ohio train, by which it may be deposited in
Jacksons river, where it would flourish in
admirable style, stocking the Jacksons and
Cowpasturc rivers in short time very
abundantly, thus affording an important
source of supply for the inhabitants and a
new means Of amusement for the summer
visitors in the mountains, who will in a
wear or two more be counted by thousands.
The black bass taken for propagation
may be put into large Tin buckets perfo-
rated with lolcs. and thus put into the
water tanks Of the trains. In this way they
NAV be transported thousands of miles in
excellent condition. Or, indeed, they may
be put into the tank without being impris-
oned in the bucket. They can be readily
fished out of the tank with scoop-net.
A process so simple and economical
might be carried out by any gentleman
with the cooperation Of the railroad offl-
cials. The benefit conferred upon society
by so slight service should be sufficient
inducement for any citizen of leisure to
perform it, But we hope the Legislature
will be liberal enough to devote at least
small amount to the object to ensure its
accomplishment.
But stock fish can be purchased from
those who make the cultivation OF fish a
trade, Il: very moderate prices by the hun
bred or thousand, and they provide the
sure means OF transportation.
The black bass is named as a fish that will
multiply rapidly, and as being exactly suit
ed to our waters. 1t is so very similar to
our club, so common in our eastern wa.
ters-e>permlly in the large mill-ponds of
he tidal district. that the two cannot well
ne distinguished from each other. Yet
their habits and tastes are different. The
bass particularly delights in rapid water,
while the club seeks the deep, still, and
shady places. The bass would find genial
home in the falls Of James river, while 1t
would be even more delighted in the bright
waters that 90 leaping and laughing
through the mountain gorges. 1t is rapid
grower, and becomes as large rs our club,
which is often caught weighing twelve
hounds; but generally the angler takes
them weighing from one to four pounds.
The black bass is q igame bitter and an
excellent table fish, fully as good, if not
better, than the club.
There is in the Dan river another va
riety locally called the "king Wil|iam,'
mamed by the early settlers after WILLIAM
Of England, and by no in compliment
TO the Prussian King which so closely re-
scmbles the club that it cannot be well dis
tingushed from it. Indeed, the rivers
generally have their peculiar fish, whose
habits and tastes are affected of course by
climate, rocks, velocity of water, &c. A
man who will travel from the North to the
Gulf, and who has any tastes for such
study, and especially if he be that happy
fellow known rs an "angler," will be great
y interested in observing the many shades
Of difference that display themselves in the
tinny tribes of different ATTITUDES.
For our waters the black bass seems to
be Il sort Of leader in the plan Of piscatorial
immigration. But those who will have the
matter in hand will of course study the
tdaptablity to our waters and climate Of
other species. live could introduce into
our mountain streams some OF the large
lake trout of the North it would be 4 good
thing. and an experiment should be made
with them.
knowing how much benefit would be
conferred upon the community-how much
subsistence and how much pleasure-by
streams we'll stocked with good and game
fish, we most earnestly desire the success of
the movement in the Legislature for this
purpose.