The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-25
got its news,

The Fish Culture I'm American Wa.
ters-A Good Appropriation by Com
gress.
The Sundry Civil Appropriation bill passed
at the recent session of Congress contains an
item of fifteen thousand dollars to be applied
to the erection of shad and salmon Matching
establishments in American waters, and to be
expended under the direction of the United
States Commissioner of Fisheries. This ap-
preparation was secured through the efforts of
Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, of New York, one
of the New York Commissioners Of Fisheries,
q gentleman who, both as a true sportsman and
a sound political economist, has studied the
subject of fish culture and understands it's
great Importance in every point Of view. Few
people reflect upon the evil that may be in
ficted upon populous country through the
indiscriminate destruction of the fisheries, or
upon the benefits that may be derived from:a
wise protective policy in the regulation of the
taking of fish and from a careful application
Of the artificial means by which their
cultivation can be promoted. In his exhaus-
tive speech on the subject in the House of
Representatives Congressman Roosevelt called
attention to the value of the fisheries as q
means Of national wealth and as a source OF
support to millions Of our people, and showed
conclusively that with little exercise Of
industry and o small outlay of money the
government has it in its power to add materi-
ally to the economy as well as to the luxury of
living. The practice of everlasting and Of
unreasonable fishing is one incident to the
growth of the population, and should be
restricted as far as possible by wise laws but
this alone is not enough. Indeed, it is bat q
small portion Of the work the government ID.
called upon to perform. By whatever strin-
gent regulations the indiscriminate destruction
of fish and their taking at improper seasons,
when they should be left undisturbed to
breed and to grow, may be prohibited,
there will still be wanting the encourage
ment of their increase by artificial means
and the introduction into the several waters
where they are unknown of the most desirable
species for food. Of these latter salmon and
shad are prominent, and their culture and
spread are the immediate objects Of the appro-
priation.
The artificial culture of fish has been prac-
tised for centuries with success. 1t is not an
experiment, but certainty, and there is no
reason why it should not be regarded as impor-
tant as the cultivation of the land for the pro.
ducts it yields. Mr. Roosevelt in putting for
ward this idea, remarks that while an acre of
land will produce corn enough to support
human being on acre Of water will sup
port many persons, and can be made with
proper aid, to sustain the lives Of
still greater number. The expense OF
securing the food in the latter case is
far less than. in the former, and hence the
products can be sold at cheaper rate to the
poor. sWe raise animals for mans use,'
says Mr.. Roosevelt, 'cross their breeds,
study their food, and try and
adapt their surroundings to their greatest
development. We cultivate plants and
vegetables, and strive to obtain new species
and improved varieties. We import cattle
from Europe horses from Africa, sheep from
Spain, wheat from Egypt, sorghum from Asia.
Our daily struggle is to make the most Of what
ever can be turned to the support of the human
race, except with one great class, which has
always contributed, and, unless exterminated,
always will contribute largely to that end"
This reasoning is unanswerable and it is only
surprising that the culture of fish has not long
since been taken hold Of by the government
as national work. The appropriation now
secured is small but it may prove the opening
wedge to a great undertaking which will be
of more practical and immediate value to the
poor than all the agricultural bureaus that
could ever be established.
spain-The Montpensicr Manifested
In his manifesto, just issued, the Duke dc
Montpensier asserts the right to the throne Of