Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-29
SHAD AND SALMON.

Their Propagation sn the Missis-
stppi and its IributRries-A Legter
from the Assistant United states
Fish Commissioner.
Chattanooga Times.l
General John T. Wilder wrote Prof.
Spencer F. Baird. principal Fish Com
missioner OF the United States, for his
views on various matters touching the
production of fish in American waters.
The Generals letter was referred by
Prof. Baird to Mr.. James W. Miner.
Assistant Commissioner, whoae reply the
General has kindly furnished us for pub
LEGATION, Here is the letter, which will
be found Of great interest:
Prot. s. F. Baird-Dear Sir: With
regard to Mr.. j. T. Wilder's reference to
the capacity of the Mississippi as a food
producing river, | would say that the
best evidence as to what the Mississippi
and its tributaries may be made to do, is
to observe what has been obtained from
smaller rivers in the way of food.
The Potomac, for instance, with its
extent of about ITO miles from salt
water to the falls, we learn from Martin
Gazetteer, Of Virginia, published in
1885, has from a seasons fishing, pro-
vided 22,500, 900 shad and $50, 900, 1908
herring, in all about 630, 900, 900 pounds
Of food.
The Columbia, with 600 or 700 miles
Of river to the nearest falls on its tribu-
tary, the Snake river, in Idaho Territory,
is an immense producer of fishes OF the
salmoa family. In 1875, from statistics
obtained and published at Astoria, Ore.
gon, 275, 900 cases leach four dozen me.
pound egns) 49, 0O, COO pounds, aud of
bulky packages, kits, half barrels, bar
rels, and %tierces, about | 900, 900 pounds;
in all, Ia, ZOO, 900 pounds we're put up
and shipped away from Columbia river
eastward and to Australia. II there
could be added to this the amount con.
sumed by the Indians, who make it
their almost sole food during the summer
season, and for winter provision, the
amount used by residents and the cen
siderable population at the cauneries,
the production will be further increased.
If besides there could be estimated the
shoals of inferior species which ascend
the river ut different seasons of the year
and are made 40 account of because Of
the abundant supply of salmo guinnat,
a vast food resource is seen to be offered
by this fertile stream.
In contrast with these the Mississippi
with its tributaries affords a practically
Iillimitsble basin for the production Of
fishes, if species adaptable to its waters
are p%ropagated in it.
The main river, added to the lengths
Of its principal tributaries only, has a
combined length Of over 10000 miles.
There are no falls to obstruct the passage
Of fish until they are hundreds Of miles
inland in the tributaries and sub.tributa-
, ries.
The question of species adaptable to
its waters does not seem a difficult one.
The California salmon ascends the Sac.
ramento river in great numbers where
the sediment from mining operations
makes the water as turbid as the Missis.
, sippi river ever becomes. Detachments
of the migrating shoals ascend the San
!, Jonquin river through water Of nearly
J as high temperature as has been observ
ed in any stream in the country. This
species have the power aud through in
; stinet to ascend far inland, and WoulC
find its way to the spring sources Of the
i. tributaries without difficulty.
] The waters of the Gulf have beer
] found by observations of the United
r States Coast Survey, TO have as low tenn
peratures at the bottom as there is to b.
found off the coast of Massachusetts
There seems to be no understood eondi
ton in the physics Of the two streams
Sacramento and the Mississippi, which
/, does not indicate the latter to be quite
= as favorable for the salmon as the for
mer.
, The shad also is a species which vii
probably adapt itself in the Mississippi
= Ten or twelve years from the beginning
! Of this enterprise will indicate what re
: : suits are to be expected from the work
. Four or FIVE years should begin to affor.
: evidence OF at least some Of those whicl
: have been put into the water. The ey
: penditure is comparatively small and th
. probabilities for great results show th
). work should be sustained and continued
: PROF. S. F. BAIRD,
y U. S. Commissioner Fish and Fisheries
:, / am yours respectfully,
. JAMES W. MILNER,
q nO-rt. T.--ss-