National Republican., 1873-05-29
FISH CULTURE.
yisit to the Government PropasaiIus Ponds |
How the Diminished sspply Is to be Re- |
nlared.

Visit TO the Government Propagaiius Pond
How the Diminished sapply II to be X @
placed.
For some time past II has become evident /
parties who took an Interest In the matter tha
the supply Of various species OF nsh In the seye
raj rivers were diminishing rapidly, and in order
II possible, to prevent the almost total dlscontln
uance OF ilsh as a source Of food, and the hlQl
prices consequent upon Its scarcity, the stat,
OF New York a few years ago accepted the plal
for nsh culture as adopted by Professor Seth
Green, and by legislative enactment and llbera
appropriation provided for the creation Of com
mission OF fisheries, which body at once organ
ICED by the election Of Seth Green as superinten
dent, and secured the services OF suitable per
sons 10 aid In the artificial propagation Of IN,
waters Of New York.
The result OF their labors was soon made ss
entirely satisfactory that at the laie session Of
into consideration the decreasing supplyof nsi
was created, with Professor Baird as chairman
and an appropriation OF $4,000 made, TO be ex,
pended Dy the commission In restoring, II posi-.
bic, supply equal TO the demand.
on account OF the experience gained by the
gentlemen connected with the New York COM
mission, Professor Baird at once secured loan
OF some OF the best men from Professor Green,
and proceeded at once TO carry out the work Tor
which he had been commissioned, and In pursuit
OF MS duty sent them TO several points In the
Last saturday week Mcssrs, II. W. welcher
and Jonathan Mason, two OF the most expo-
rlenced OF the party, IN obedience TO the order Of
T s bs sSSE SP SPa tnsT n a. Jackson
once went TO work 10 establish 4 propagating
garden, at which they have been at work ever
since,
by invitation a reporter Of the REPuBLIcIs
visited the point yesterday afternoon, and was
met and welcomed BY the two gentlemen, anil
by Dr. Slack, Of New Jersey, one Of the originFl
superintendent for the Government, now being
on tour OF inspection through the South
Messrs. Weleher aud Mason are both middle
pearanoe, with smoothly shayen faces, reddened
by the sun; hair greyed by exposure TO the
weather. They are fair types OF the New Eng
land nshermep,an Intelligent olass,of which they
They both seem 10 be thoroughly Interested In
the work, and took especial pains In explaining
lhe mode OF operation and giving the result Ot
their labors In the several sections they have
visited. The following Is about the manner In
which they work; point IL selected near some
nsh landing, and an arrangement entered Into
this case being shady They are taken while
alive; those ripe with spawn selected by the
practical eyes OF the men, and by peculiar
squeeze the eggs forced into 4 tin vessel. The
squeezed into the vessel, where the two are
allowed TO remain about thirty minutes for the
purpose OI DeuOnlluH thoroughly lmpfegnated.
This over, they are placed " the water In small
wooden boxes with wire-gauze bottoms, and
allowed 10 remain until the nsh Is perfect,
which, In an even temperature-from 10 TO 80
degrees-Occuples about i've days One day
later they are turned In perfect state into the
river.
The boxes used are about two feet long, elgh-
teen inches wide and twenty-one deep. by the
fastening on either side Of q support ut All angle
OF f0Tty-nye they noat In such q posltion that
the water strikes one side, and rolling back fur
nlshes the necessary roll OF water for the pur-
pose OF keeping the spawn alive. When iirst
taken the eggs seem a mass OF pulp. After the
second day they are distinct and clearly defined
globues. On the third day two black spots,
which are the eyes Of the embryo shad, are yisl.
bile, and on the fourth perfect Dish is spawned.
IL does not much resemble the shad usually set
on the table. II Is minute particle, with head
about the size OF 4 pin and 4 tall about us thick
as a thread Of cotton about one fourth OF an inch
long, and AZ In thousands they wrlggle through
the water they resemble miniature tadpOles.
The gentlemen state that, through the kind
ness OF Messra. Knight and Gibson, the owners
OF the landing, they have been furnished with
all possible facilities and all the nsh needed for
which they desire to return thanks. During the
period which they have been at Jackson CITY
they have taken upwards Of ZOO, 900 eggs, and
have turned ont over bOO 900 perfect ish, ami tx.
Dect during the next week 70 add fully 10000
more.
The gentlemen state that tho dsh leave lNe |