Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-04-12

STOCKING THE suHFLoWER WITH sHAn
AND SALMON THE GOVERNMENT
WILL FURNIsH THE FI.H OR spawn
A GRAND OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT
WORK.
WASHINGTON, April 3, 1873
926 n. street, N. W.
Col. Burr II. Polk, Secretary Of Marooner
Club, VicksbuTg:
Esteemed Sir-Your favor of March
25th, was no sooner in hand than l
addressed myself to the business of In
vesligating the prscticabllity Of stock
ing the Subfower river with shad aud
salmon. Professor S. F. Baird, at the
Smithsonian Institute, is the Commits.
sioner OF this specially. You were
aware Of this. lie 10 delighted to learn
that your Cub is desirous Of lending
their influence TO carry out the plan.
II is very difficult 10 convey the
young shad to the places OF deposit.
AS soon as the eggs are hAtched they
are hurried oE to their destination, and
must reach 1t within seven or eight
days. They must receive fresh water
every hslf hour, and ice must be kept
around the cans TO keep them coOl'
Hetcs tney cannot be transferred at oil
by lind carriage. R,i and boat are the
ouI! modes OF transportation Conse-
quenIll Pro. Baird sAys small steam
or should be placed IN readiness on The
arriya Of the 0ung fishes to depart at
QUO! for the heAdwaters OF the Sue.
flower. In this way he feel. assured
success would attend the work But,
this last expense, the boat, would have
TO bs borne by tue Club the cilizers,
or the Stale.
Doubtless the Club could elect few
honorary mt m1eys along the course Of
the said river, who wOuli gladly ser 4
So or $40 each 10 assist so great and
valuable an undertaking. Then Pros
fessOr Baird says II they are successfai\
in the catch OF shad, aud securing the
spawn you shall have your share. And
further, It will be done perhaps 10 this
very month, If not, il will be done in
May. Iou are just in time, So much
for shad.
Now for salmon. They are more
difficult Of propagation. You will
require cool spring Of fJwing water,
and Matching house at q cost OF say
$500, thirty by fifteen feet, and an
expert 10 manage tho Matching. This
must be done about the Let of October.
The expert will be required about
one month at say $50, and his railroad
expenses. Professor Baird thinks that
$500 or 81 600 will cover all expenses
and furnish enough young salmon for
stocking all the rivers IN the State. No
doubt q little activity on the part Of
the Club can enlist gentlemen 10 other
parts OF the State 10 contribute towards
this sum for meeting curren; expenses.
In four years the wealth Of the State,
IN the article OF food, will be amazing
ly increased. Aud | have no doubt
the next Legislature will, II asked, re.
imburse every dollar thus expended BY
the citizens. You will now feel
at liberty 10 correspond direct
ly with Professor Baird, who
is anxious 10 enter o. once Into AZ
rangements for the completion Of the
work Of sending you The shad. He
will inform you II he Ia successful In
securing the spawn, and then II you can
secure some light-drsit steamer TO run
a. once up 10 the highest attainable
point on the river, the whole matter
may possibly be accomplished before
May.day. What work Ia three or
four years the Sun1Ower river full Of
ten-pound shad Somebody will say
three cheers for the Marooner Club,
Yol refer TO Gen. Chalmers, He e.
foremost In every noble effort TO
do honor 10, and service for
his District. He is sleepless, attcu.N
tive, clear-headed, aud commands uni.
versal respect as a superior lebAteF,
and gentleman of large, valuable at.l
Iainments. lie has leat his full aid 10
this enterprise.
II anything further is deemed i'm.
portant 10 communicate or to learn, ad-
dress me as above, and will give my
best attention TO the behests of the
Club. Very respectfully,
Z. X. MARSHALL.