The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-01-14
in good securities. Fire insurace, ex-
ceptipg that conducted within Iin,-4

in good securities. Fire insurace. ex.
. ceptipg that conducted within a lin.
tied sphere upon the purely mutual
plan requires capital, aud this capital
should be actual aud not in the llu-
sorry form Of stock notes. Taking
into consideration the enormous SIMS
paid annually by the citizens Of this
State in the shape of premiums TO in
surance companies, they have right
to demand the largest measure OF pro-
lection against recklessness and fraud.
FISH COMMISSION.
The operations Of the Fish Com
: missiouers have excited alively inter-
est among our people, on account Of
the novelty of the enterprise and the
benefits to arise from the successful
prosecution Of their labors.
Fish culture, it is now conceded,
has passed beyond the realms of ex-
pertinent, and It's success ia the f;l-
ture is only to be measured by the
wants of our people and the capacity
OF the streams, rivers and lakes Of the
country.
! Pennsylvania is singularly blessed
in the superior advantages she pos
sesses for the culture of fish Abound
ing in waters admirably adapted to
their needs, in the insect and other
food they supply, there is no reason
able obstacle to stocking our rivers
and streams with innumerable and
delicious fish of various and even rare
kinds
The work assigned to the commits
sion has been diligently pursued and
promises substantial results. Avail
ing themselves of the use of Mr.. Seth
Green's patent, the commissioners
succeeded in hatching, at Newport,
| Perry county, where the water Is pc
culiarly fitted for the purpose about
100000 shad, which were turned
into the Juniata river at that point
Two thousand six hundred black bass
were also distributed in the Susquc-
hanna, Lehigh and Juniata rivers
during the months Of July and Au
gust last, and through the kindness
Of Professor Spencer f. Baird, Unit
ed States Fish Commissioner, $4,000
California salmon have been planted
in the Susquebanna and its tribata-
ries. The bass are not migratory
fish and are very prolific. Two OF
three hundred were placed in the
Susquehanna, near Harrisburg. in
1870, and the rapidily with which
they multiply is manifest in the great
numbers of this beautiful and choice
fish that are now found in the river in /
that vicinity.
The law of 1878 authorizing the
Fish Commission, directed that four
fsh-ways should be constructed at diff T.
teFent dams on the Susquehauna and
Juniaja rivers, 50 as TO enabled shad,
on their spring incursions from the
sea, To make the ascent of these
streams. The question whether shld
will ascend an artificial way Is still, .
however a mOoled one, and cncoun-
tcring this doubt, the commission. iu
the exercise Of what viii be deemed .
sound discretion, concluded To erect .
but one fish way, and that at the .
Columbia dam. This way "a I20 feet
long by 60 feet wide, is very gradual .
in the incline, and made It, nearly
cJnformabIe as possible to natural .
WAYS over which shad DO undauDted- /
" pasa, and will afford a practical
test of this experiment If in the .
spring it is found shad DO pass up
this iish-way, the others required by /
law will be constructed without de
lay,
The hatching-house erected by the
Commissioners, near Marietta, and
supplied with water from an mex
haustible spring, is said by those fi-
miliar with the subject to be com
pIcte in its arrangements a@d fur
nished with all the necessary applian-
ces for the propagation Of fish. The
capacity OF the house is equal to the
proper care of 10000 young fish, and
is susceptible of enlargement. if re-
quired. The Fish Commissioners Of
New Jersey recently had confer
cnce with those of Pennsyivaula.
with a view to obtain from their re-
spective States such concurrent leg
islation as will bcstpromote the shad
and other fisheries in the Delaware
river, ard to SO barmonize the laws of
the two States as to prevent & con.
dict of authority. Any suggestions
resulting from this conference, and
submitted for your action, viii.
trust, he respectfully considered
BUREAU OF STATISTICS.
The report Of the Commissioner OF
Labor aud Statistics for the current
year, embracing many Instructive de-
tails, will be read with interest. The
organization Of this bureau within
very limited period has, Of course.
precluded it from making any extern
sive Investigations. bnt enough has
been done to demonstrate the ueccs-
sity for such a department aud the
service it can render the people by
enlarging continuously the knowI-
edge OF our resources. trade. internal
and the various pro-
cesses of education and cnlghten-
ment in our midst
This bureau was created with the
special object Of investigating the re-
lations of labor and capital, to dis
cover the cause of the frequent con-
tests between employers and employ
ed; TO determine what share labor
has in the progress and prosperity of
the State; to examine with view 70
It's proper adjustment the question IF
wages, and TO compare and collect
facts that will afford a better under ,
standing of the duty Of the State to a,
the laboring classes, having in ' lew ;
Interpretation, amelioratiUn and hap }
piness.
No more worthy object invites re- -,
search or should command public sup +
port, when We consider how numer- +
nus are these classes in tIGs Common ,
wealth, how various are the fields for e,
their labor, and how much they AVE /
contributed to develop and build up .
our present grand industries. :
In this connection, the proprieiy Of
State census, to be taken in 1875.