The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-24
IN. o. Co Operative Neve. n

IS. o. Co Operative NevsH
Fish culture is now reduced to easy
method, and fish are as readily propagated
az pigs but there is DO crossing of breeds,
each species is distinct, every one after its
kind. There are many kinds, aud it 10 as
easy to select and propagate valuable kinds
as those that are coarse aud inferior eating.
The Government lie wisely attending to
the streams, and shad, salmon and bass,
which breed in inland streams that have
ocean outlets, are all rapidly being restocked
with fab of these valuable varieties. The
Southern experiments have succeeded ad-
mirably, and if the States will only enact
stringent laws against SEEMING and poison
ing fsh, our Western and Southern waters
will soon swarm with many new and supe-
Tior varieties of fish, hitherto unknown
in those waters. All the native 6sh have
been destroyed in American rivers and
creeks by seining, netting and poisoning.
The poisoning is very destructive; this is
done with India berries, coculas 1HdicuD,
and the green hulls of the black walnut
pounded while dye housed, gas works of
towns, and even tanysrds, which eject
their exhaust into streams, have the same
effect.
We look upon fish culture as most
important step in the progress of the coun-
try. 1t has hardly begun yet-we have
barely got beyond the borders of expert.
ment, and stand in the verge Of the broad
Aeld Of certainty and success.
Fish diet is thought to be the most
healthy Of all food. At least one-third of
all animal food, that is, meat, is declared
to be more or less touched with disease !;
and very much the same proportion of poul-
try is affected with some disorder, while fab
are always healthy and cannot be eaten if
upsound.
Those parts of the world where civilized
man resides, where the inhabitants live
chiefly upon fish, are noted fer health and
longevity, and the people have great brain
power, strong nerves and great endurance,
and are extremely prolific.
A fsh pond should now become as COM
mon as hog pen. 1t is astonishing how
easily they may be made aud maintained
and they are said to produce three and
four times as much to the acre as cult.
waited ground. We saw one before the
war in most unpromising spot for fish
pond. It was ten or twelve miles from
The gentleman who made it had selected
an old ield, which had been turned out
for pasture, and throwing up levee or
dam across a drain or depression, con-
Quoted into it q feeble spring, which &C.
casionally went dry. The area covered
by the water was about four acres shall
low at its upper end, but deepening to
seven and half or eight feet ct its deep
est; this, filled with winter rains, never
went dry, aud waste dam carried off the
surplus water over the top, 80 that no fish
could escape.
Into this pond were placed, from dis
tant streams, green trout, bass, white
perch, sun perch or Dream. sackallies,
(sac-au-laits) sturgeon and buffalo, with
variety Of minnows, mussels and water
snails. Into the pond we're thrown all
the Bcrsps from the table, and all animal
offal, such as chopped up intestines OF
poultry, beeves, sheep, hogs and goats,
and occasionally cornmeal mush or raw
gTits. In two years the pond was alive
with fish and the whole neighborhood
drew upon it. At times, when it would
have been impossible to catch dsh in any
stream, the very choicest fsh cOuld be
had by the hundred. We have seen the
sein pnt into this pond in cold, rainy
weather, and drawing it into shallow
water the finest male fish were selected
and the balance allowed to go back to
their retreats, unframed.
The owner of that pond would not have
taken Ave thousand dollars for it, though
it did not cost him hundred, as the work
was done at odd times. He said it was
smoke house and poultry yard combined
and without any cost to him beyond a lit
tie systematic attention.
There are thousands who could make
hsh pond near their homes, and often two
or three neighbOrs could combine anC
make one. Fish are so very prolific, wher
protected and fed a little that a small ares
put into a pond will keep many persona
supplied with feb.
We would be glad to see fish culture
added to the subsistence department o
the Southern farmer and planter. Thu
pond with it's borders planted with the
osier or basket willow, will be dOubly
and trebly useful, as we'll as beautifyi INF
ornament to any home.