The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-15
I Fish.Culture.

We publish an interesting letter from Dr..
ROBERTSON, IN reply to Mr. JOHNSTON Of
Botstourt. We are pleased to see that the
Doctor Is native OF Lynchburg. The fact
enhances our expectations Of the result of
his labors. In this letter the Doctor gives
Us, a piece or ,information-i. O, that. the
California salmon, placed in the mountain
lake, are confined there BIZ stopping up the
mouth Of the lake. lie states positively that
those salmon so placed in the lake are migra-
tory, and that they were there purposely
contiaed to make the experiment whether
they may not readily accommodate their ma.
lures TO- q permanent fresh-,oater life. The
Whig OF yesterday, encourages the idea that
this may be, in declaring that "there are
cases of fish having undergone change OF
habit by "a change Of habitat" . w. 80, 800
The statements Of the Doctor increase the
interest of the experiment Of the commission
In regard TO what we had to say about the
voyage we supposed the salmon would have
10 nake down New river, he errs If be
thinks we were very anxious about the fish
themselves. We know, that the salmon are
the most active and intrepid of fish, and
while we knew they would have grand ex-
ercise in getting down the :" Stony" We did
not doubt their ability to perform the trip.
That they could never get back we were
certain, and we remarked that the lake, ii
replenished at all, would have to be 80 re-
plenishcd by Matching the young there artin:
cially. But tie Doctor makes the specula-
tious supererog atory by informing us that the
salm on are confined in the lake. The expert
ment is decidedly interesting. I'D
Years ago we heard that fish hsd been
placed 10 the lake, and that they had disap.
peared. Why, we never learned, and very
naturally we expressed solicitude about the
experiment of stocking sheet of water so
beautiful and whose value would be greatly
enhanced by supply OF fish. We cannot
believe that there is anything In the lake to
make IL uuinhabitable for fish. Only q few
months are needed to settle the matter, and
we shall look forward With decided interest
for the result. ---.---.---- y
The young fry Of all migratory fish that
are Matched astificixy upon the head.waters
of our lsgc rivers will be able to get down
stream to the ocean, but the grown fish can
eever get far above tide in returning until
fhe tish-ladders or ways are provided for
them. The public welfare requires the con-
struction of these ways, and the Government
ought TO compel them to be built or provide
the means for their construction itself. They
ought to be buiItin the James, the Dan, and
S;aunton, and Rappahannock. 1870. 49,
The Wing alludes to the law now on the
statute.book requiring those means for the
aunual journey of the fish to their hstching-
grounds. Yet ii is not SO much that the
fish SHALL by these means reach plgce to
hatch, but that they shall carry themselves to
the large populations living on the upper
parts OF our rivers, and thus afford those
populations abundance of fine fish at their
very doors at seasons of the year when fish
Is an inestimable, blessing, designed by ma
ture for the comfort and health of man. .
We renew our expressions of an earnest
desire that the Iabors of the fish commissions
ers may be inyigorated by liberal aid FROM
the State. In the matter of Increasing the
means of gsubsistence and comfort of the
people, in no other way can the State accom-
plish so much with so little money.