New-York tribune., 1873-03-14
FISH CULTURE.
FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE
COMMISSIONERS


The Gftb annual report of the Commission
ers Of Fisheries Of the state of NewYork gives with
other information the following interesting details con-
cerning fish raising In this state
The principal for the production Of shad have
had reference to stocking Hudson River. The opera
tons were commenced the nth day Of May and we're
discontinued the I'd OF July But the hot SPELL which
had In nearly two weeks sooner than usual greatly
interered the successful management of the under
taking. The total number Of mature shad caught
during this period l5s7, and from these s7S6OOO
spawn extracted
The ordinary production OF the Hudson River, incud-
ing the entire fisheries from mouth TO the Troy DAM
docs not exceed million of full grown shad yearly so
that the addition Of nearly 100000 OF young must
eventually largely increase the supply Hitherto Voe
breeding of shad the upper waters of the Hudson hau
been undergoing process OF gradual extinction
series of nets OF diaerent kinds Interposed of every
available point from New-YOrk City to Troy, largely
prevented the shad from reaching the spawning oeuS
Only the interpostOn Of the Fish Commissioners mas
Ayerted the utter extinction OF the fisheries Iho No"
missoners propose that law be passed Ioroiuos
the use of Saturday night tall Monday morning
of every week Some steps have been taken toward
stocking the Genesee River with shad. which are, Is
hoped successful had have also been lntroduceu
into Lake onondaga and the Mohawk River
HABITS or sHAD.
sha6 moke their appearance along the Atlantic coast
of the United states early 10 the year The first school
usually strikes In the Florida rivers In February, and
is succeeded by schools which enter the streams
further north as the advances aud the temper
ature OF the water increases.
shad long in the requiring either three
or four years 10 become mature although the males
probably reappear year earlier than the females IL
may be concluded that shad do not roam about the
"yasy decp" ia immense shoals, making journeys OF
thousands Of miles, and sending of relays to each
river whose mouth they pass, but that they remain
quietly near the where they are bred till the
thu comes for them TO leave the ocean, seek the fresh
water aud complete their duties Of procreation. NO
migratory tribe of fishes accomplish the round OF us
life duties one element it may live and grow In the
sea, but cannot breed there while although 1t must
breed aud may live IN the fresh water, twill not attain its
full proportions in that element alone When the mature
shad prepare perform the duty OF propagatng their
race they direct their energies TO that and without inter
mission They to be pressed by an overpowering
necessity. and will do their best 10 overcome all obsta
ces that nature or art may have placed IN their way
and they never rest until they have reached their proper
spawning grounds. IL March they make their appear
ance at the Of the Hudson aud continue TO arrive
until June. when the fishing at the estuary portion
ceases and Of school has escaped the net
OF the fisherman at its appointed work OF continuing
its species
The same arrangements made this year as n the
previous the distribution of black bass, Tke
perch Of the lakes QucOperca. Oswego bass, yellow
perch white bass. bulheads. and other fishes which
have ~ yet been advantageousy cultivated by art
6cal methods These taken from the Erie Canal at
Rochester large numbers, and applicants for them.
who desire stock public waters have been supplied
with all they could use. BY this not only are
depopuaed rcstocked but the rotation OF crops
already spoken OF is effected, while inferior varieties are
suppantcd by the moro valuable kinds. This system
might first to be any especial saving TO
Stae but. in fact, OF the fish thus obtained
would perish the hot days of early Spring before the
canals are reded with water, when the foul matter
collected at their bottom is warmed into putrdity As
the distribution these FISH is proceeding at the pres
ent time. II is impossible TO give statement Of the
number used. but doubt is entertained that the
demaud. however large 1t may be- can be supplied.
VALUE FOOD
so soon a hatched and is turned loose in pond
stream he obtains his own living Some species live
the pro iuct of vegetable matter being the only har
yesters fields Of the In which there is yearly
growth or ais nutritious OF rarely est
mated. OF these species. few such as the whitefsh
and suckers themselves fit for human food but they
prime Iy useful furnishing the support OF more
desirable varieties 1t is mistake to feed fish
on auimal food, unless 1t be perfectly worthless
refuse for IL IA reversing the order Of natural
economy Cattle only raised and attened at high
expense the Of the world requiring large
expenditure OF human labor and wasting heavy pro-
portiOa the operation, whereas fish If left TO them
selves or properly fed would only what costs
nothing ITSELF and what could not otherwise he utli
zed. They should directly ultimately graze the
meadows Of the the production from which is
ordinarily left % destruction and waste and not
at present turned TO mans profit Nor is the flesh
of the inhabitants Of the water less valuable when
obtained that OF the beasts upon the earth Pound
for pound it contains the amount Of nutriment
and will sustain human life equally well, while in GER
tain particulars it possesses superiority IL supplies
phosphorus to the brain and nerves, element which
il not obtained kinds OF food but which is
essential to perfect health gluten aud starch while
at the time II is much more dgestibe than the
meat Of terrestrial animals birds that is used
modified form OF fasting and at certain Of the
year is more wholesome than grosser food. wise
ecoaomy of the OF the world w therefore,
population increases. compel attention TO this easily
cured harvest of the sea-"
THE HATCHINC HOUSE.
An improvement in the arrangements Of the hatchng-
house has nearly quadrupled its power Of productive
ness and greatest efforts made in order TO
il 10 its fullest capacity The advantages Of four years
study and experience enabled the Commissioners to
carry out their operations very thoroughly They had
in this time educated to understand the business
so that there was no lack OF Efficient skilled labor,
and they enabled to send 10 the proper
stations persons who would inelllgenty obtain and
handle eggs that they could be sent to the hatch
inghsuse in proper condition and large quantities In
October men were sent to Georgian Bay to Presque
Isle and the fishery opposite kingston for the purpose
OF getting very full supply of salmon-trou eggs. 1t
found that the salmOnrOut was generally preferred
by the residents living upon our inland lakes for the
orally taken by the hook and line, so that the other
fisheries OF the lakes are not injured by the neces
sity of drawing senes. IL was considered advis-
able therefore. 20 extend the culture of samontrOu
much possible aud 10 diminish the culture OF white
the nook. SalmOn-trOut adapted to all the larger
and finer lakes Of our State. They grow rapidly and
hold their well with other sh. Their eggs
Matched in the those Of the family
generally, and require cool fresh water but If artificial