The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-07
" daveloned sbev were distributed as

duu AA04S ~
tation to Danbury, the point selected
for their liberation, but when the time
arrived for them to be moved 1t was
found from their condition that too
much risk would be incurred in trans
porting them such a distance, 1t was
therefore necessary to give them TO
other streams.
This failure although unavoidable, Is
to be regretted the more because the
Dan with its numerous tributaries
reaching far up into the mountainous
region was regarded as an important
stream in our experiment to test the
adaptibility of our waters to the sue
cessful propagation of this valuable
food fish. The mountain habitat for
the small fry was the governing con-
sideration in the selection OF the rivers
above named. Approximations are felt
as to their ability to return to the wat
ers west of the Blue Ridge, (as they
will instinctively endeavor to do) hav
ing to travel a distance of not less than
1900 miles on their return from the
Gulf, vet when it is remembered hat
during the last season the timid shad
was found for the first time far up the
Ohio, we may reasonably expect from
the we'll known activity and enterprise
which ch~aracteriZes h habits of the
Salmon, that it will accomplish the
trip. AT all vents in u efforts to
stock these streams it is important to
know whether they can return, and
the experiment is we'll worth the cost.
For a detailed description of the
Hatchery and its operations, | respect
fully refer you to the official report of
Mr.. Page, herewith submitted. Fail
ing in repeated efforts to procure
Black Bass from the Virginia waters,
as also to get Brook Trout for
the ponds constructed at the Hatch
cry our operations closed with the
distribution Of the Salmon. We
have procured from Prof. Baird SO, 900
Land Locked Salmon eggs Through
the kindness Of Mai. T. B. Ferguson,
Commissioner of Maryland, who con-
sents to take them in charge at his
Hatchery, they have been forwarded
to him, thus saving a considerable
item Of expense. This is a very valu-
able game fish, and will be an impor-
tant accession to our varieties.
Upon the invitation of some gentle
men living on the Albemarle Sound,
and who have manifested a lively in
terest in this enterprise, it was agreed
that Maj. Ferguson of Maryland, Col.
Morsely of Virginia, and myself. should
make a visit to that sound, with
a view of surveying the fishing
grounds along its coasts and trib-
utaries and investigating the fact
ilities and advantages presented for
establishing a-large cooperative shap
hatchery during the coming spring.
Unfortunately Col. Moseley could not
join us.
Upon the invitation of Maj. Fer
guson to accompany him, / met him
at Norfolk on the end day of December
and on board of his elegant private
yacht we proceeded by way of the
Chesapeake and Albermarle Canal
to the Sound, and thence to Avoca,
the residence of that public spirited
and hOspitable gentleman, DR.. w. r.
Capehart, to whom and his courteous
friends we were greatly indebted for
their untiring kindness in affording us
every available facility for acquiring
information. The result of our inves-
legations as deduced from information
obtained from the most intelligent and
reliable sources, as well as from q per- |
sonal and thorough examination of
the Fisheries on the Sound, and on the
Roanoke and Chowan rivers, was the
conclusion that the only impediment
to success which could be reasonably
apprehended might be a deficiency of
ripe spawners, but we were assured by
intelligent gentlemen who for a num-
Der of years have taken and handled
shad in this vicinity, that the supply
would be ample. By recent inven-
tons which have greatly improved
the appliances for shad Matching, we
are now enabled to hatch successfully
on decks of vessels, on platforms or in
eddy water.
With these advantages, and having
access from a central point at the head
of the Sound to seines which are ope- |
rated in the vicinity, and which ag- |
gregate in length not less than $50, 600
yards, with an annual average catch OF
over a half a million of shad, and be-
ing assured of the liberal cooperation
of the owners of the seines, we think
the project of establishing a hatchery
at this point well worth the attention
OF the authorities. We have reason
to hope that the U. S. Fish Commits
sion will render us efficient and valua-
BILE aid, if it is convinced Of the feast |
blhty of II enterprise. 1t may not
be undressing to state, as showing |
the magnitude of this interest, that
many of the seines in these waters are
over 1000 yards in length and are ope-
rated by steam engines, Besides Shad
the average annual catch of Herring is
estimated to be 4S, 600, 600 and ESQ, 900 |
pounds of Rock. l have procured and
have on file in my Office for reference,
q detailed statement of all the seines,
their location and length, the catch of
each, together with the address of
their owners. 1t is estimated that
not less than $4,000 set nets, pod nets,
ETC., are operated in the Sound'during
the season. / caused all the laws en-
acted during the past ten years for the
protection of fish to be published, and
called h attention of the proper au-
thorities to the necessity of having
them enforced, but l regret to say that
distractions and traps of various kinds
IN many of u most important streams
are allowed to remain u~ndisturbed.
Without the cooperation of our e