The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-01-11
Oaf 0lio.
Fish Culture.

If the Legislatures of the various States
willencourage FISH propagation and culture,
stock the rivers with good fish and prevent
their destruction in wasteful manner. the
price of fish will be cheaper. In other
countries such action has been taken with
good results. In New Zealand Mr.. James
You'll recently made study of the acclima.
tization in the lakes and rivers of that
country Of various species of North Allan.
tic fish, and particularly of those common
to the United Kingdom. SO under his
direction, at Otago, in New Iceland, there
has been made an extensive series of breed.
ing ponds, with the expectation of stocking
the waters of the province with fish
Like experiments in fish culture have been
made in various parts Of Europe, and the
question is now agitating the public mind
in an unusual degree.
In this country several of the States have
legislated upon the subject, and appointed
Boards Of Fish Commissioners to examine
the matter and take such action in regard
to increasing thu 'upply of fish as in their
judgments was most likely to effect that
result. Foremost among the States which
moved in this matter was New York Her
Commissioners are Hon. Horatio Seymour.
G.. G. Cooper and Robert b. Roosevelt
and their fourth annual report is full Of
interesting facts as to the propagation and
care of fish in the rivers and streams Of
New York. The Commissioners declare
that the total number of shad eggs taken
in 1872 was S,915,000, of which $685.
900 were hatched and turned into the
Hudson river. In n few years the Com
missioncrs hope that the fisheries will be 50
improved that 500, 900, 900 of fry will be
arti6cially hatched, when the yield will
defy diminution by all the engines of de-
struction that the wit of man can devise.
To this end the Commissioners urge on the
Legislature of New York the necessity Of
passing an act to establish weekly close
time, and forbid all netting of shad from
Saturday night till Monday morning. This
will give the shad a chance to reach the
upper waters to hatch their young, and
will supply those engaged in artificial cul-
tivation the materials to work with.
In order to obtain the best species Of
game fish for food, Matching and breed.
ing-house has been established at Caledonia,
n. T., and the stream at the place is now
alive with salmon trout. Black bass, white
fish front, pike, and other excellent fish
have been put in all the important streams
and lakes of the State by Seth Green, un-
der the directions of the Commissioners
Besides the public operations in restocking
the waters of New York, private indiyid
uals are everywhere assisting in the work
and fish ponds, say the Commissioners, are
becoming almost as common as wheat
fields. From the reports of fishermen on
the Hudson, statistics are given showing
the vast and rapid increase that has already
been made in the catch Of shad in that
river since the work of artificial propaga
ton has been fairly started In Connecti
cut this system of matching fish and placing
fish in the rivers, has been adopted to q
great extent, and the price of shad thi'
year was three dollars per hundred il
opposition to eighteen dollars in Other
years. Such a result shows what can bt
done by properly directed efforts in in
creasing the supply of fish food for th'
masses in this country.