The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-30
some More about Fish.


phases that 1t Is sure to enliyen even the
bours OF the waning life, as 1t Is always
certain to stimulate the recovery Of the con.
valescent. This art, 50 tractable and enter.
tanning, is rising ia consideration, and the
processes and appliances for it are being
constantly improved, 1t has teen but
short time since the cultivation of ,hsh was
made means Of promoting comfort aad In
creasing the sources Of subsistence, and yet
it has been prosecuted with an energy and
success that places 1t now amongst the digni-
fed matters OF public and State concern.
Observing what is doing elsewhere, wecar>
not but regret that Virginia has done 80 lit
tie. She presents one Of the finest fields in
the country for the prosecution aud success
of the art. Her superb tidal streams anu
BAYS and her wonderful system of rivers and
creeks, that make her territory one OF the
best. watered in the world, give to her peo-
pie the noblest advantage for an abundant
supply OF fishes at all seasons. 1t is only
necessary that she should establish good
system OF fsh-culture to secure this great
blessing to her people.
Somewhat of diversion this from the
purpose Of this article, which was to notice
contribution of DR.. d. II. HoUsToE to the
t,onal Journal on the subject of prop
sgating fish in Virginia. The Doctor IS an.
exle-t angler, and a devotee to the whole
subject of fishing and fsh.culture. He calls
attention to fact which ought to be known
| in justice 10 the pioneer in the business Oh
propagation of fish by transferring the pest
species known in some waters to others 10
which they are strangers. This fact Is that
W. w. SnRlyER, of Wheeling, in 1885 or '5I,
transferred several varieties of lisa from tne
Ohio river and its tributaries to the waters OIL
the Potomac. The most important cltnese
kinds was the black bass, which has become
well knownin the Potomac, and is consider
ed the earnest and most excellent table.ish in
the waters of that river. Mr.. SHRlvER
placed the fish in large tin buckets holding
twenty to twenty-five gallons each, per-
fora,ed like ninnow-buckets, and those ves-
sells he placed in the tender, or tank, Of the
locomotive on the Baltimore and Ohio rail.
road. The replenisbing Of the tank gave to
the fish fresh water, and not one died on the
route from Wheeling to Cumberland, where
they were delivered to the waters of the
| Potomac. ... .....s ... .-..
These fisn, unknown before in the Poto.
mac, appeared as early afterwards as 1861
upon the tables in Cumberland, Md. 1t is
we'll known now that anglers have fine sport
in the Shenandoah and other tributaries Of
the Potomac in black.bass fishing. This is
what MIR. SERVER has done, and for which
he merits the thanks and grateful recollec-
ton of the anglers, and Of the inhabitants OF
the Potomac system OF rivers.
DR.. HusToN enumerates several streams IN
Virginia admirably suited 10 the black bass,
especially Jackson's river and the Cowpas-
ture. Three years since DR.. BALL, then fish
com missicner, placed few young bass in
the waters of Jackson's river, and also 10 the
Cowpasture. We haye not had any report
from them, and do net know whether they
have thrived. Better waters could not be
iIOuQu lUE tuelC tuLttt uuu OcllSuts j
Of. HoUsroN raises question with our f:h
commissioners as to whether the fish, draw
ing Of which they give ia their report, is the
real black bass of the western rivers. Un'
able to decide the matter between them we
: take occasion TO bear testimony to the genu.
ineneGs and beauty of tie fish which he says
he caught in the waters OF the Roanoke.
e., the lovely Roanoke that rises in Mont
gomery ard flows through Roanoke county,
and is cslleG Stanton when it strikes Camp
bell and Franklin (whst absurdity). This
: fish he took to be the bass-the southern
bass-and this he thinks the Virginia fish
commissioners have pictured as the black
bass. On this point, again, we shall say no.
thing; but we desire to say that tie
bass caught by the Doctor we are
well acquainted with. He is called
= King William in the Daa river
and be is royal fsh-as game and as 1.-the
rs any of the clubs. The Doctor deems him
the southern club. Whether correctly or
not, we consider him as belonging 10 that
family OF club which reyels in rapid waters
and is full Of activity. We have known him,
when disturbed in his retreat watching for
prey by canosman's pole, to leap high ia
air, often falling in the canoe. He differs in
many respects from the mill.pond club. He
is to them what the race.horse 10 to the
Normsn-horse. His flesh is firner and bet.
ter. He is not impaired by the strong, Gshy
odor that Is a decided drawback to your
mill.pond citizen.
Again: DR.. HeusroN speaks Of the /" red
eye" specimen Of which he took with the
hook in the Roanoke, which for its size was
the strongest and gamest fish he ever saw.
That fish is another old friend Of ours. We
have naded about the Dan whole days hunt.
Ing him. Wesay with the Doctor, be is the
gsmess and strongest fish for his size we ever
SAW, and, we believe, that swims. We have
waded after him until-as Is always the
csse-our neither inseguments were all wet
FROM venturing in water over.deep-d drop
ping our line Ia the swiftest waters and per-
| hitting it to return into the eddy below the
big rock where the wary animal played for bis
prey. Smart, cautious, and agile, it required
tempting bait and well.naHWuvred line
to take him but when taken he was q prize
indeed. Hewas the charmingest sghtsr and
most active resister we ever hooked. The
Doctor does net eyerrste him. We have never
| met with this Ssh in any waters but those
nf Sha Inn lf nAnrS,o he Ia In fb fpI h,fa rIo