The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-02-27
FISH,.

year by the New York State Commission
ers and the Commissioners of other States
During the year fish culture had made
steady progress in every direction. A fish
way had been built, as an experiment, in
the Mohawk river. In many streams pre-
viously destitute of fish the Association
had planted different species, and the cul-
ture of fish had become success. A short
paper, entitled Poisoning and Obstructing
the Waters" was read by F. Mather, of
Honeoye Falls, N. Y. He said that all
over the country the waters of the streams
and lakes had been polluted by large dye
ing establishments, and INSTRUCTED by mills
and manufactures. He concluded by call
ing for speedy legislation on the subject.
NJ. c. Edmonds, of Vermont announced
that the Commissioners of that State had
successfully introduced large numbers of
salmon into the headwater of the Connecti-
cut river. They also purpose introducing
black bass into the pickerel ponds of Yer
mont during the coming Spring. A letter
from MIR. Norris, an active fishculturist of
Philadelphia, was read by B. F. Bowles, of
Springfield, Mass. The letter referred to
the possibility of the acclmatization of
the Michigan grayling in Eastern waters.
The habits of this fish are directly opposite
to those of the trout, the grayling spawn
ing in April, while the trout deposits its
eggs in November. In order to live the
grayling must be kept in very cold water,
its natural haunts being in the direct vicn-
ity of springs. After reading the COM
munication Of Mr.. Norris, Mr.. Bowles de-
scribed an excursion in Michigan in which
he participated, and which was devoted to
the capture of this fish, and stated that
the flesh of the grayling was white, sweet,
and tender, but that it lacked the flavor of
the trout. The fish abounds in all the
streams Of Northern Michigan. The Man
istee river is largely populated with gray
ling. The most valuable fact connected
with them is that in April, May, and June,
when the trout is supposed to be unfit for
use, the grayling is in prime condition.
They had been successfully propagated by
artificial means in Michigan, and might be
introduced into Eastern waters with equally
satisfactory results.
Seth Green said that all the worn ont
trout streams ought to be restocked with
trout, and that the idea of introducing an
inferior fish was wrong. He said that the
trout which was born in the Autumn would
by the time the grayling was born be large
enough to devour 1t. When the trout is
born it swims Immediately into shallow
water, close to the shore, in order to be
out of the reach of its older brethren.
Here the young fish remains in security
until it is able to escape from injury. For
two or three day. after the graylng is
Matched it remains in an almost pcrpen-
dicular position, its tail only short dis
lance from the river bed. AS soon as it
is capable of swimming it swims into the
shallow water in which the trout has already
taken refuge, and there falls victim to
the larger and more voracious fish. Mr.
Green thought the plan of bringing both
impracticable. In concluding his remarks
he called upon Mr.. Collins, of Rochester,
to relate his experiences in Matching the
grayling. Mr.. Collins said he had been
intrusted by Mr.. Green with large num-
Der Of grayling eggs. The eggs were per-
fectly impregnated and the eyes were vsi-
ble inside them. In a few weeks the eggs
were Matched without difficulty, and the
young fish had the appearance of being
very weak and puny. They were so small
that it was only by throwing a strong light
upon the water that they could lie distin-
guished. At first they were almost trans
parent, the two black spots denOting the
position of the eyes being the only indica-
ton of their presence. Mr., Collins fed the
young fish On mixture of finely ground
liver and cream. Great difficulty was ex-
perenced in pulverizing the liver SO fine
that the fish could take it. Trout were
reared with much greater ease, and were
far superior to tbs grayiing. In fact, Mr..
Coi;ins thought the grayling was only fit
to furnish poor subject for conversation.
F. Mather said the Knowledge that the
greatly to Its value. The streams should
be stocked with a fish which was both
peaceable in nature and capable of fur
nishing entertaining sport to the fishermen
engaged in its capture. AS for their value
as food, he had succeeded in getting along
very we'll with them while in Michigan.
He had found in rearing them that one
trout would consume about as much food
as six graylngs, an;a;. 4tnl ne IN COMPARE
tive,J ,.oor condition. Mr.. Mather thought
they were great addition to the family of
game fish.
Mr.. WilmQt, prominent fish breeder
f.o.n Canada, called the attention Of the
meeting again to the subject of poisoning
the water of streams in which were any
varieties Of edible fish. He spoke of Mr..
Green's statement that trout taken from
streams into which poured the refuse of
kerosene factories were SO powerfully i'm
pregnated with the taste Of the oil that
they were n.se!ese ~ table dishes, and sug-
ge2ted that i this we're a fact it might be
possible 10 improve the flavor Of fish by
turning into the streams a quantity of
some substance that would bring about
that effect. He thought that experiments
in this direction would be valuable. MIR.
Wiimot, in speaking OF the grayling,
thought it would he worth while to intro
duce them into trout streams for the benefit
of the trout 1t was to the interest of all
fish breeders 10 feed their fish on what
would make them most desI able as food
He thought the graylins belonged to the
same species as the mullet and suckeb aud
therefore was not is valuable as the trout.
Whi,e they might be pleasant to the taste
far short time, people wculd grow tired