Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-26
Fish Propagation.

Our dispatches of Feb. 9th, announced
the safe arrival in New York, direct from
Germany, of Rodolph Hessel, an experience
ed fish culturist, with 100000 fish eggs,
most Of them sound. Half a million Of
these we're purchased of the German "Fish-
erel Yerein !" the remainder were sent free
as a token of German regard, and in re-
Spouse to inquiries by Prof Spencer +.
Baird, U. S. Commissioner Of fish and
fisheries. 1t will be remembered that Con-
gress made an appropriation Of $4,000 in
aid Of the experiments set on foot to stock
our rivers and lakes with the best class Of
fish Tor food. The appropriation not being
available last year tillJuue, little was done.
The service Of experts, however, were Sc
cured, and the Allegheny river at Sala-
manca, the Upper Mississippi, near St. Paul,
and the White river, near indianapolis,
were stocked with young shad. Several
thousand young fish were also planted in
the headwaters Of the Platte. 1t is be.
lieved that the Mississippi and its tributa-
ries will swarm with shad within five years.
In Connecticut by careful propagation, the
supply Of shad has been immensely increas-
ed. In 1871 the aggregate was about So
100000; in 1872, they increased to o.
GOO, 900
Prof Baird will begin early this season,
working all the Atlantic rivers commenc.
ing with the St. Johns river, Florida, and
ending at the Connecticut The young
Fish can thus be taken along the la
ternal railroads and planted in all the south.
ern and Western streams. IL is proposed
to attempt the same with the great lakes,
if authority be obtained, and the Professor
believes the experiment will be successful,
as the minute crustacea on which the sNad
feed, is found in them.
Experiments in spawning salmon have
resulted favorably. This branch Of fish
culture is that which most interests New
Englanders Formerly our rivers swarm
ed with them; now they are quite uu-
known in many streams. With a better
knowledge Of the habits aud requirements
Of salmon, it is believed our rivers may
again be stocked, in spite of sawdust and
dams, and deleterious substances, the refuse
Of manufactures, all Of which contributed
toward the extinction of this most delicious
Of fish
Mr.. Atkins, former fish commissioner
Of Maine was the first to undertake the
task Of spawning salmon Prior to ISL,
the only Matching place was in Canada,
and the spawn was owned by the Canadian
government, which charged $40 in gold
per thousand. But in 1871 Mr.. Atkins
caught some salmon when they first enter
ed the rivers and held them until the spawn
ing season. This last year the larger ex-
periments resulted in obtaining about 600
good salmon, and now Mr.. Atkins has at
Bucksport on the Penobscot, mile and a
half of eggs, valued at, according to Cana
dian scale, 100000, the cost Of which was
about $4,000. Half Of them belong to the
United States
Mr. Stone, of this State, has been for
some time on the Pacific coast, experiment
ing on the same matter, and has shipped
East some 10000 eggs. There is great
interest felt in this experiment, as the Pa
ci6c waters are relatively of much higher
temperature than those in which the young
salmon arc to be placed.
Prof Baird thinks that all varieties Of
salmon, European, etc, can be made avail
able, and that many delicious fish not
known to our waters can be successfully
cultivated If he can demonstrate as much
he will merit high praise, for that man
must be held true philanthropist and hu.
manitaran who, by any process, whether of
simple discovery, or by scientific research
and adaptation, succeeds in bringing within
the reach Of the thiunest purse, and plac-
ing in profuson upon the table Of the low
liest, rich and wholesome food hitherto en-.
joyed only by the favored few-Iude-
pendent (N H. Statesman.