The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-18
Fieh Culture.

,rrcc with our city contemporaries anu WY"
. s,h;act Is hroachcd ny any one OF thehi III
which orr views and theirs agree 1t eo''i's
like a bright summer day upon Inc co''ora'
ea,s And whenever our venerable neigh
hor thc Wing rcvivcs the question OIL 'ne
s,h ,,,,ur,. we hail it with pleasure. we
,v,,,)d call for the rod, the mnnow-puc6e',
,bc sandwiches, and the whatever else
,r,, fisherman needs in an excursion to the
,.,,;ct and secluded shores Of Il country stream
or pond. there TO talk about fish culture
while watching the float, a situation IN winch
man thinks more and mentally frames more
sound projects and good measures Tor the
welfare and comfort of society than in any
other we know Of.
Dcharrcd from this latter qualification ny
circumstances we cannot control, we must
as well as the Wing, have word upon TINS
important theme.
We know the present Legislature Will DO
nothing for the culture of fish but the opiy
way 20 educate people and representatives
i tn keep hammcriug away at useful mea-
s,re~. If our efforts don't succeed TINS year
they NAV the next or the year after; and no
matter when. It is the duty of tie Journalist
never TO despair. and to continue TO laoor III
promoting the good Of the community
The business of stocking streams ana
n,nds with fish is one Of the most Important
TO society ever undertaken. 1t has bcch con-
ductcd so long and with such signal success
in Europe and at the North TINT in adVoc'-
ting it here we arc not arguing III 1a'of oil
something that is uncertain and to be tested
bv experiment. We have work cohllal'-
lively easy. One great difficulty is the lgno-
rance that prevails here Of the process Tue
mechanical appliances and the delicate art oil
manipulating the iishand tn" eggs and taxing
care of the Young. Nobody III Virginia
until last year ever rssaycd 10 pracllcc
the art, and the commissioners then aP-
nontcd had not only their own want %
ovncricnce. but numerous Obstacles, local
and peculiar TO the season. to overcome
The late DR.. BALL Or. WALL had pre-
yiou.lv rcsigncd) succeeded IN transfer
ring from the Shenandoah to the James,
.Jarkson's. Dan, and other rivers, few "1
,I,c black bass. which it is hoped may i'll
wear or two begin to appear in liberal num-
hers in those streams. Hu, the beginning,
while not discouraging. was not extensive III
It's generations. When the Legislature re-
Turns TO the subject there may tie something
v,t TO show for them; but if there Is not, we
have volumes to prove the great advantages
Of fish culture in every country where it lEr:
been prosecuted with tolcrablc skill and libe-
rality.
so perfect has become the system that pro-
frSsional fish cultivators are prepared in season
to supply spawn to be transported with en-
tire >llccc>>. and to supply mInnows in any
lvmHtity at all times. The business is re-
duccd to entire order, 50 Us to be carried on
with us much certainty rs any other.
The Wig quotes the veteran SETH
GREEN. Of New York, who says that in few
wear. Gt1 rivers and lakes of that State will
ne sh COlIplCtcI. sloChSu Will l'SiI '1"' 49,
body will be supplied with food and sport.
Other northern States will Ee in possession
of the same public blessing-one that is
worth millions to n people.
Let the people Of Virginia think what
benefit it wo,;ld he to them if their streams
were we'll filled with choice fish. They
would become an important part of Subsi>t-
cnce to the community, besides supplying re-
sources for sport which, in their genial na-
turc and invaluable benefit in the way of
mental recreation, cannot be too highly
priced.
The subject is one worthy OF tho states
man. and the people should not forget it.
We know none other which promises more
general good, and which comes more directly
home to every house and flreSidc i'll the State.