National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-02-14
Transplantilg Fish.

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At the close OF navigation by ice the
water is drawn from the canals in the
vicinity OF Rochester, New York, and
vast numbers of fish accumulate in the
great basins near that city. Formerly
these fish became tho spoil Of sueh
fishermen ~ chose 10 net them for the
market. A few fyears since the Canal
Commissioners, acting under the sdvice
Of Homtio Seymour, r. b. Roosevelt,
and others, gave the right of fishing in
these waters exclusively to the Commits
sioners of the State. Their superin-
tendent, Mr.. Seth Green, ut once ar
ranged to secure these fish by means OF
nets drawn beneath the ice. The fish
thus taken we're plAcsd in large wooden
cars or tanks, which ~ere kopt bcneath
The ice, md preserved she fish in perfect
condition. Circulars stating the varie-
ties of fish and the description OF water
to which they were suited were dis
tributed, and citizens Of the State were
invited to come to Rochester, bringing
barrels or milk-cans, to convey such
fish as might be desirable for the 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 lakes and streams Of New
York and the Middle States l. Wall
eyed pike .. Oswego bass; 3. White
fish 4. Yellow perch; 8. Rock bass I;
G. Black bass. The rock bass must not
be confounded with the fish of that
name taken in the Delaware and further
South.
Waters suitable to the black bass
should not be left unstocked any more
than land which is in perfect condition
for cropping, and it is matter Of doubt
which will yield the better return. Seth
Green, an authority on fish-culture, and
person of intimate knowledge OF the
habits of all descriptions Of fish, gives
numerous illustrations Of the wonderful
increase OF black bass and kindred fish.
He instances small lake in Westchester
county, in which twenty-four bass were
placed by him. The lake was not sfihed
during four years, at the end of which
time a ton weight of fine black bass
were taken with hook and line during
single season, and this drain did not
diminish the supply during the succeed
ing summer Each year gives an in
creased yield, aflording excellent sport
and nutritious article of food.
The fayorite mode of stocking lake
or stream is for number of persons
residing in the vicinity to make a con-
tribution with which to defray the ex-
penses of one of their number, who,
proceeding to Rochester with proper
vessels for transporting the fish, will
receive such seed-fish from Mr.. Seth
Green as in his judgment are best suited
to the location which it is proposed to
stock. Twenty dollars is, as general
thing, an ample fund to cover all ex-
pense of travel and transportation of
the fish.
The seed-fish may be obtained until
the month of March, or until the ice at
the distributing station becomes too
weak to bear the men engaged in secur-
ing the stock. In depositing the fish it
is advisable to place them, if in lake,
at distance from the outlet, or in the |
highest still water of stream.
The black bass deposits its spawn in
May, the bed being watched by the fe-
male and kept free from intruders.
From three to six days, depending on
the temperature of the water, are re-
quired to hatch the ova, after which the
female broods her young, and keeps at
a distance such fish as may desire to
lunch on her fry. At the end of twelve
these fry will each weigh a
quarter of pound at the close of the
second year upward of pound. The
third spring they cast their spawn, and
the lake or stream may be thrown open
for fishing with hook or line, but never
to the net, unless you desire to exter-
inmate the stock, which will otherwise
yield never-failing supply of desirable
food.
During the year 1872 Mr.. Green de-
livered no less than seventy thousand
fish for seed purposes. -.