The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-22
The California Fish Seth
Green Introduces Shad In the Wa.
ters OF ehe Pacific.

From the Rochester Union, Saturday.
Messrs. Seth Green and c. A. Kellogg, of
this city, arrived last night from California,
having been absent since the 18th Of June.
They are in good health, and have enjoyed
the journey very much, and bring favora-
Bile reports Of the fish expedition.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Green, ut
the request Of the fish commissioners Of the
State OF California, consented to undertake
The doubtful experiment of conveying
young shad from the Hudson to the Sacra-
mcnto, in order to introduce this valuable
fish to the Pacific waters, where it was un-
known. The work was attended with great
difficulty.
the transportation must be under taken
in SIMMER, and the fish must leave the
Hudson on the day of Matching, with only
its natural food for four days. II would re-
quirc six or seven to 80 through. The
character Of the water for considerable
distance on the route was known to be
such that no fish coulG live in it, and it
Was by 10 means certain that any OF the
! water on the PLAINS and mountains would
agree with the shad. The obstacles were
many. but by great care and foresight they
were overcome, and the fish, or ut least
ninety per cent. of them, safely deposited
in the Sacramento river.
These ti>h, about twenty thousand in
ing about ten gallons. They were placed
in the baggayc-car of the train. and were
accessible at all times to Mr.. Green, who
watched them closely, changing the water
several times each day, as the temperature
and other circumstances seemed TO require.
AT each watering station test to be made
of the water before taking it. A few fish
were put into q glass OF it. ard under
the practical eye of Mr.. Green it was
soon discovered what would be the result
of its use. At Omaha was found the first
water that would be fatal to the fish. Prcpa-
rat:ons had to be made then to 90 on five
hundred miles without taking water by the
way. \ small stock Of water was procured
from the tanks, and this, with ice. had to
carry the fish over the plains. The mercury
stood in the car for days at 101. t.othing
but agitation of the water and the free use
OF ice saved the ti,h. at the end of the
fourth day of the trip the natural sac at
tachcd to the fish to supply it with food
was consumed, and for two days there was
apparently nothing for the little creatures
to eat. But they survived and only showed
i lcanncSS.
On Monday morning, June Goth, the party
reached Sacramento city. On examination
OF the river Mr.. Green concluded that, as
the water was rollC, young fishes would
not do us well as near The source OF the
stream. Accordingly, at 2 p. NJ. he took
4 train on the road leading north, and
at 10 =. NJ. had proceeded one hundred
and seventy five miles, accompanied by MIR.
MusSer, fish commissioner Of California,
and MIR. kellogg. The river at this point
appear ed to be favorable. The three gen.
tlemen named accordingly went to the
river at midnight, and thus, in turn, MIR.
Green taking the lead, each deposited
can of shad in the Sacramento-the first
that probably ever swan in tributary OF
the Pacific. The water appeared to be
agreeable to the young fish, and they struck
out eagerly to procure food and explore
their new home.
A careful examination of the river bed
and waters satisfied Mr.. Green that the
stream is adapted to the shad. There are
the insects and animalcula upon which
the saad feeds, and the grayelly banks on
which it deposits its spawn.
The party proceeded to San francisco,
and remained Il week. During this time
Mr.. Green examined the shores OF the Pa
cific, and found the peculiar insects that
form the subsistence OF the shad in the At
lantic. Everything promised success to The
shad in the Sacramento.
MesSrs. Green and Kellogg were kindly
received and entertained everywhere on
the route. At San Francisco and else
where they met many old and new friends.
Every facility for prosecuting the enterprise
was Afforded by the railroad men and others
on the way: ALI seemed interested in the
success of the undertaking.
On the return trip the party stopped by
invitation a couple of days ut Salt Lake
City. Mr.. Green examined the waters in
that region, aud gave such advice as he
could i'm regard to stocking them with East
ern fish. He advises the trial of some At
lantic fish in the tributaries Of Salt Lake.
The hospitality shown by the authorities
and people was unbounded.