Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-06-14

PROPAGATING FISH.-The State of New
York has set to work in good earnest to re-
plenish the stock of fish in all the lakes and
rivers within her borders. The task has been
intrusted to Commission composed of Hora
ito Seymour. George G. Cooper and Robert B.
Roosevelt and Seth Green, who is the Gener-
al Superintendent -Four years since Mr..
Green discovered the method Of Matching shad,
and tried his first experiments at artificial pro,
pagation in the Connecticut river. 1t seems
that shad 60 out into the ocean, and by an
unerring instinct return In three years to their
native river. Last spring shad were SO abun-
dant that the price fell from eighteen dollars
per hundred to three dollars per hundred. The
accomplished pisciculturist very naturally attri-
buted the glut 10 the fish market to his en-
thusiastc labors three years before. Very prob.
ably some Of these shad found their way into
the Hudson, as more were taken in that river
than in previous years. The fishermen of the
Hudson were at first somewhat increduous,
but they have been convinced Of the merits OF
artificial propagation, and are willing to suomlt
to the law which requires them to desist from
hauling their seines on certain days during the
spawning season. in order to permit the shad
to reach the spawning beds, where the ripe
meters and spawners are taken and the lmpreg-
mated eggs placed 10 the Matching boxes. When
the eggs have developed into young shad they
are put into the river to follow the instincts
with which nature has endowed them, and In
three years they return to reward the fisher
man for his painsta king labors.
List year S,295,0OO small fry were turned
loose in the Hudson. The Commissioners
hope in the course ola few years 500,0OO,O0O
of young shad can be artifcially hatched, when
the yield will defy diminution by all the engines
of destruction that the wit of man can devise.
The Legislature is asked to enact a law probib.
itiug the netting of shad from Saturday night
to Sunday morning which would give the
breeders chance to reach the upper waters,
where they can alone hatch their young.
THE MOSQUITO The Mosquito has arriv-
ed His cheerful hum [ heard on the quiet
shores of Saten Island; he monopolizes the ru-
raj wastes Of Brooklyn; he covers with his mnl-
titudiuous wings the marshy levels of Long Is
lind, and he drops into the homes of this city,
aud with playful persistence makes himself one
of the family. He is a gentleman of diversiG
ed tastes. The novels Of the poor are not be-
nccc:h his contempt, while he is not disconcert-
cd on entering the mansions Of the rich He
is lover or places of public resort, and instead
of paving an entrance fee, like other amuse-
ment seekers, he always presentsa bill. ln tact,
he isftted by nature for playgoer, as he always
makes point of carrying bill Of the play with
him. At concerts he takes part in the perfor,,
nance, and one is often startled at the Central
Park Garden by hearing his melodious notes
amid the exbilarating strains of one of Strauss
waltzes or amid the tender harmepies of Lum.
byes ''Visions in Dream Some people
even speak of him as a vision IN their Dreams
and make odious illusions to the nightmare;
but such persons are undoubtedly overscnslt'vte
We like the mosquito. His note is not OBJ
trusve, although he sometimes is. There is
such energy about him, such persistence, such
go-ahead quality, that one at once knows that
he is to be amused whether he is 10 the humor
or not. And, then, there is such fidelity about
the mosquito; no sights not even positive rude
ness, can drive him way from those he likes
and he is a universal lover He remains your
friend in spite of yourself. We suppose there
will be more of him" here before long. It is
cheerful prospect for company during the Sum
mer, when the rich people and the ofhce-hodd
ers are out of town indling their time away 10
Seaside loiteripgs" In the meantime we
welcome the mosquito who has come, and wait
With patience for the arrival of his family
Ecening Post