The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-06
The Fisheries of virginia.

The high prices of shad and herring, con-
sequent upon the vastly increased demand
and failing supply, is directing the atten-
ton of the property owners of Eastern
Virginia to the vast importance of protect
ing and fostering this source of wealth.
All parties interested in the fisheries, inclu-
ding not only the shore owners, but also
OILERS and renters Of fishing shores, should
meet at an early day to consider the whole
subject and recommend to the next legis-
lature definite plan of action. Prof.
Baird, the United States fish commissioner,
on behalf Of the general government, has
begun the work of restocking the rivers
with fish. Seth Green, with his assistants,
will soon be here to introduce millions Of
young shad into the waters of the upper
Potomac. These fish will in due time re-
turn, having grown to eatable size in the
rich pastures of the briny deep. An OPP
portunity will thus be afforded to learn
the mode of Matching and after-treatment
of the fish spawn, and it is to be hoped
that as many as possible Of our fishermen
will improve it. .a
Every young fish Matched in our
creeks, which survives and goes out to sea,
seeks to return to the spot where it first be-
gan its life at each spawning season.
When it has grown to maturity it goes
back to deposit its own spawn in turn.
Thus the permanence of the supply is pro-
yided for at every fishing shore along the
principal streams. Taking advantage of this
natural law, it is possible for man to aid
materially in the propagation and multiple
cation of the valuable fishes which inhabit
the rivers or ascend them annually to de-
post their spawn. a...
In natural spawning vast quantities of
the spawn are destroyed before Matching.
Another large portion are eaten up by vo-
racious fishes just after emerging from the
egg. AT times the supply OF food at the
Matching grounds is insufficient while the
young fish are too feeble to move far to
seek it. These conditions may be SO mod
flied by human aid as to save vastly in-
creased proportion of the young fish, and
secure their safe passage to the ocean,
where they find secure feeding grounds, es-
pecially adapted by temperature, depth
and other conditions. to foster their health
ful growth. ...s... ~
The certainty of their return iustifes the
necessary outlay, and enables the fisherman
to rely with certainty upon the reward Of
his labor. He plants the roe of the fish in
the water as he plants corn in the ground.
lie tends and cares for it till the young are
well grown, and commits them to the waters
with mistaken confidence in a sure return.
The chief difference between this and the
labors of the agriculturalist is, that
whereas one farmer may raise good crop
OF corn or wheat without the aid of his
neighbor. the crop of fish requires CO.
operation among all those engaged in fish
ing. Wherever net is put in the water
to take out fish, then as much ripe fish
spawn as possible should be annually
planted. This would not only restore the
old supply, but tend to increase it so as to
keep up with the steadily growing demand.
The whole nation is interested in maintain
ing this source Of cheap and nutritious
food. .5...
The incidental value of the fish offal
for manure is also no small part of the in
come of the fishing shores. This product
may be increased with the marketable fish
and by the same means. The fertility of
the worn lands of Eastern Virginia may be
restored by this means. The mari, muck
and fish offal, which the tide-water region
furnishes enables the farmer to command
unlimited means of improving his soils.
Thus nature has provided for repairing
the waste which the land suffers by the
washing of its organic products into the sea,
while she furnishes an abundance of the
choicest and most nutritious food fresh
from the ocean depths. Only reasonable
care and forethought is required to make
the supply as reliable as that derived from
the land. In Europe fish culture has be-
come an established industry, attended
with sure returns. With general co-opera-
ton, this pursuit may be far more widely
profitable here. We trust that the present
opportunity will be improved to witness
the experiments of Seth Green, and that
it will be made the starting point of well
directed and persistent effort to fill our
streams to their utmost feeding CAPACITY
with valuable fish.