The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-04-06

The practical element of science finds one of
Its best developments in the attention given by
the most eminent scientists of the day to p;sci-
culture. Professor Huxley was u leading mem
her of the English commission that visited
eIghty-sIX places on the coast of England in
the stndy and Investigation of this subject
Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian, has spent
two Summers on the New England coasts,
studying, in con junction with Professor Yer
r!ll' of Yale, the habits and growth of fishes,
that government may do something toward in
creasiug the supply OF fish food, which has
largely diminished in that locality during the
last twenty years. Agassiz says that the time
Is coming when an acre OF pond will he as val
liable to the farmer for the support of his fam
l!y as an acre of solid land. Through the eff
forts OF Professor Baird, over two hundred
large negatives of many species of fish. in their
different stages of development. constituting n
series OF illustrations hitherto uueuualcd IN the
natural history of fishes, were taken the past
season, not only for the Smithsonian, but for
other scientific institutions. 1t va, the study
OF fish, not the eating, that Drought together
during the past summer, at The lrt.e village Of
woods Hole, ASasst@ # Harvard Baird, Of
the Smithsonian; ti"Tn Jctfces, of England,
and other distiH .niohed scientists. Not only
the sea, not "ply the fish, but fishermen of the
limo and of the net, of pound and trap and
seine, We're examined, and their experience
noted for the benefit of science and the table.
These Investigations fully establish tho i'm
rnrfant fact that every fish that spawHs on our
or near our shores has in
stinctive bat definite relation to the place of
AtS bttbH 30 thaG Saph hSn returns, as nearly
as possible, to its own birthplace, there to ex-
ercise its function of reproduction. Ii tho fish
is not disturbed CT hiudcred this revisitation of
its birthplace becomes habitual, and continues
through all the period of its existence. 1t is
not sufficient, therefore, toremove tho obstrnc-
tlonS that have once Succeeded in preventing
the inward OF upward run of fish. Ihc birth
place once deserted, it is no more revisited. A
colony of young fish must be established in
the head waters of the different streams, aud
these, running down to the sea mt the proper
time, VIII return again the following season,
fully matured, to populate the deserted water,
Tor tue support of all who dwell upon their
shores. Tho probable success of this theory
has been demonstrated on small scale. Fifty
inillions OF shau Tin plsciculture only fifty mil
lions may be considered as on u small acale)
were, two years ago, Matched out in the upper
waters of tue Connecticut river. In the spring
OF 1877, immense schools of this favorte fish
were recognized along the Atlantic coast max
ing their way for the Connecticut Valley. In
n few weeks later, shad became SO common
throughout Southern and Central Now Eng
land that immense dumbers of that fish we're !
in tho market at five and ten cents each |
During the past year ninety million eggs were |
in tho upper waters of tho CUnneoti- |
cut. Bqt the National Government is doing q |
national work IN stocking the waters of the |
mississippi, the Aleghauy, the White and the !
Flatto rivers with tue best specimens of the |
same fish and but few years " i'll elapse be-
lure shad will swarm in unlimited numbers |
through these rivers as they now do in the |
waters of the Pntomac and the Delaware.
hose who remember the amount and import-
lnce OF fish. food that the teeming waters of
China supply to her deuse population, NAV
wei rejoice in the part that psciculture, guided
ny mon of science, is to perform in providing
ood for the growing millieus of this country.
sat Government is not content with the ma. |
'Ionai'zatiou of the shad. 1t is importing SAL
non by tho miRlinn from Europe, and planting
hem in the head-wAterS OF the Susquehauna
md OF her rivers suitable for their growth. The
and Germ an lI,r,igraaS is hence |
Onward to find his fHvorite fish Rwaiting his
coming. Still more interesting and moro hope
uI IL the introduction of the saltwater fishes
hto the heart of the continent. Prof. Baird
proposes to introduce the lobster, the oyster.
to into Nha Car--k n.ia 49, 80 e. 80. -