The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-17
TransplantIns Fish.

AZ the close oil navigation by ice the
water is drawn from the canals in the
vicinity of Rochester, New York, and
yast numbers OF fish accumulate in the
great basins near that city. Formerly
these fish became the spoil Of such
fishermen Rs chose to net them for lG
market, A few Eyears since the Canal
Commissioners, acting under the advice
of HOptio Seymour, r. d, Roosevelt,
and others, gave the right of fishing in
these waters exclusively to the Commits
sioners of tho State. Their superin-
tendent, Mr.. Seth Green, ut once mr.
ranged to secure these fish by means Of
nets drawn beneath the ice. The fish
thus taken were placed in large wooden
cars or tanks, which were kept beneath
The ice, and preserved the fish in perfect
condition. Circulars stating the varie.
ties of fish and the description Of water
TO which they were suited wero dis
tributel, and citizens of tho State were
invited to come to Rochester, bringing
barrels or milk-cans, to convey such
fish as might be desirable for tho waters
Of their immediate neighborhood. The
fish are delivered to them at Rochester
without cost.
The following varieties are deemed
most favorable for stocking the general
waters Of the hikes and streams Of New
York and the Middle States l. Wall.
eyed pike 9. 0swcgo bass; 3. White
fish; 4, Yellow perch; 8. Rock bHss !;
@. Black bass. The rock bass must not
be contounded with tho fish OF that
name taken in the Delaware and further
South.
Waters suitable to tho black bass
should not be loft unstocke1 any more
than land which is in perfect condition
for cropping, and It is u matter of doubt
which will yield the better return. Seth
Green, an authority on fish.culture, aud
person of intimate knowledge Of the
habits of all descriptions of fish, gives
numerous illustrations of the wonderful
increase Of black bNss and kindred fish.
He instances small lake in WcstchGster
county, in which twenty-four bass were
placed by him. The lake was not Stlllel
during four years, ut the end Of which
time a ton weight Of fine black bass
were taken with hook and limo during II
single season, and this druin did not
diminish the supply during the succeed
ing summer. Each year gives an in
cr:nsed yield, afTortling excellent sport
and nutritious article Of food.
The favorite mode of stocking a lake
or stream is for number OF persons
residing in the vicinity to make n con-
tribution with which to defray the ex.
ponses of one of their number, who,
proceeding to Rochester with proper
vessels for transporting the fish, will
receive such secl.fsh from Mr.. Seth
Green MS in his judgment are best suited
to tho location which it is proposed to
stock. Twenty dollars is, ms o general
thing, nn ample fund to cover NIL ex-
pense of travel and transportation Of
the fish.
The seed-iish may bc obtained until
the month Of March, or until tho ice Mt
the distributing station becomes too
weak to bear tho men engaged in scCur-
ing the stock. In depositing the fish it
10 huNlhubiV w plhGu tlGlui ~ III LlhSt
at n distance from the outlet, or in tho
highest still water OF stream.
The black bass deposits its spawn in
May, tho bed being watched by tho fe-
male and kept FREQ from intruders.
From three to six days, depending on
the temperature OF the wnter, arc re-
quired to hatch the oya, after which the
female broods her young, and keeps at
q distance such fish Ms may desire to
lunch on her fry. AT the end Of twelve
months these fry will each weigh u
quarter Of . pound at the close OF the
second year upward Of n pound. The
third spring they cast their spawn, and
tho lake or stream may be thrown open
for fishing with hook or line, but never
to the not, unless you desire to exter.
inmate tho stock, which will otherwise
yield neyer-failing supply of desirable
food.
During the year 1872 Mr.. Green dc.
livered no less than seventy thousand
fish for seed purposes.