The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1876-01-07
Eisla Cu,fHrc.


.ni..iona TO incrcas the supply Of food
tot the people are worthy Of oil com.
menda,ion. Naturally, there exists a
lively public curiosity TO know the
process of fi.h culture and information
With regard to Il. history. its princi-
lies and is methods Is heartily web
coined. In response TO this general de
mand, Mr.. Robert d. Roosevelt, Fish
Commissioner Of the State Of New
York, has given public lecture ON
pisciculturc, in which he very fully
considers the subject in all its Suspects
The lecture is very long and we must
content with indicating only u few
its points. There are, he said. two d.
visions Of fsh.culture, namely Sal.
monidr, or salmom-tribe, aud teh
Alosid@, or shad.tribe. Under the
former head ARE included the salmon,
the trout, the salmon-trout (or lake
trout the whiie-fsh and the California
salmon. The Aloside are represented
in pisciculture only by the shall, u
vet.
The first point in 6sh-culture is to
obtain the spawning-6sh in proper con-
dition. In the Ss,lmonide, tie eggs,
when in perfectly ripe condition. lie
free in the abdomen aud. may be ex-
truded by gentle pressure. They are
caught as they fall IN basin aud are
vitalizcd BY cunning incontact with the
milt from the males. Formerly. the
practice obtained IT having this basin
of water. it being supposed that this
arrangement more nearly Reproduced
the natural conditions; but sui'se
quent discoveries led To u change Ut
this method. The eggs are feriilizcd
by theer spma'ozoa Of the m'lt enter
ing through the micropyls and taking
up board and lodging within. Ii was
ascertained, however, in practice, that
these spermitozoa are not fondof water
aud, although very active when hrsi
emitted, soon drowned. They retain
their vitality much longer when
aropped among the eggs IN a co@rar-
atively dry state, and this Is the
method universally pursued at present.
As soon as the operation is compile.
ted the eggs are placed in Matching
troughs. These are made of various
materials, but are simply long, narrow
boxes. say twelve feet long by eighteen
inches vide, and sublivided into
apartments to keep the egges from
crowdiny ON one another. Cod spring
water, which has been carefully filtered
by passing through several hannal
screens. comes in at the bead If these
troughs, passes over the eggs In one
compartment after annther aud escape.
ut the lower end. BY this means tie
greatest dangers tn the lite Of the
embryo are avsided. Sediment aud
conferve cannot pass the screens,
insects are kept out altogether. AMI
ducts and eels are disappointed of their
prey. The eggs require about two
montbs 10 hatch, with the water at
the temperature Of torty.6ve degrees.
They demand constant care and atten-
ton, for if one egg dies or becomes
diseased 1t con,amlnates its neightors.
The advance OF the process Is, however,
soon visible in the eggs, eth or to the
human eye or under the microscope.
At last the pisciculturist will have
evidence of his labols being successful.
Some morning on going to has troughs
he will notice broken eggs-shells in the
water, and on closer inspection will
observe wigglilx -nopde-cripts on the
bottom. neither like, f.h nor egg, but
compounded Of both When they
once begin to appear they come in
thousands. in millions, in myriads.
The young need more water at this
time. but require less care; yet It'll
they must be watched. The young
fish may soon be turned loose into tho
stream.
II he is a salmon after few months
preparation to strengthen hi sinews
and test his power he goes down to
the sea there TO dwell. and grow,
gaining wonderfully in size, drawing
his sustenance from the exhaustless
storehouse of the world and coming
back TO man in a few months a
embodiment of strength
and beauty, bringing to the lord of
the universe five or ten pounds of Us
delicious food as ever delighted gour-
mand's plate, or satisfied hungry
mans stomach. II he is only u truur,
|, younger brother Of the glorious
Iamily of Salmonide, he will Turk
about the bottom Of some pond, or
craze the pebbly mountain-brook, and
struggle up to II halfpound or more
before twelve mouths shall have rolled
'ver his head--Poputar Science