The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-19
Shad i'm the wabash.


Yesterday III. K. Quinn, of Washington, ID.
c., arrived in the city in charge OF 10000
young shad, which he deposited in the Wa
bash at this place. Mr.. Quinn is an officer
OF the bureau of provisions and clothing in
the navy department at Washington. Dur
ing this spring, and in fact for several years
past, he has, during the proper season been
detailed Tor service on the fisheries comm's-
sion.
His visit here marks an epoch In the his
tory OF the Wabash. As result OF it we
may expect in a few years to catch from
finest of fish, which shall be an apple-
cable addition to the food products
of the valley. For this thing, at this time
the people of Terre Haute, and in fact, of the
whole valley, for it benefits all equally owe
thanks to our townsman, r. w. Thompson.
secretary of the navy. On Tuesday of last
week President Hayes and bis cabinet
officers, among them Secretary Thompson,
visited Havre De Grace, little town in
Maryland, at the mouth of Chesape IKE bay,
where the commission is now engaged in
Matching shad by artificial means. 1t was
doubtless upon this visit, that the secretary's
attention was directed to the subject and
the result of it is that, as stated above, 60 900
young shad were tumbled into the Wabash
yesterday like so much bread cast upon the
waters, sure TO come back after many days.
Mr.. Quinn and another attache of the
commission left Hayre De Grace at o'clock
in the afternoon of Saturday last each in
charge of 10000 shad They Travelled To-
gether over the Baltimore aud Ohio road as
far as they could ard then diverged, Mr.
Quinn coming here aud his companion going
to Fremont, Ohio, the home of President
Hayes, where he deposited his fish in the
Sandusky river. The fish were brought in
twelve gallon cans, 10000 fish to
can. 1t is necessary to change the
water in the cans every two hours.
aud great pains must be taken
that it Shall be pure, soft, and as nearly as
possible between the temperatures of fifty
and seventy degrees FaIenheit Mr.. Quinn
arrived here on the afternoon train over the
Van6alia road, and at once proceeded TO the
river to rio himself of his precious but d eli
cate charges by dumping them unceremonl-
ously into the river just south the wagon
bridge az the foot of Main steel. When he
arrived here they were in excellent con-
dition, few, If any, having died on the way.
He returned to Washington this morning
and starts in a few days with a party In
charge of over 200 900 fish which are 10 be
taken to the Pacific coast Young shsd haze
never been known to live IN cans Ovec nine
days, and as the journey, according to SEIZED
ule time, takes seven days, tae issue Of the
experiment is awaite ed with interest
The young shad deposi ed in the Wabash
will stay in this vicinity until fall and then,
following the current, will make their way
to the Ohio. thence to the Mississippi and so
on to the Gulf and salt water. They will
stay in salt water until they are three years
OF age and then start up the streams for
PAGES to spawn. 1t is suppos ed Thar, follow
ing some instinct OF locality. they come up
the river in which they were originqlly
placed. a shad when maturity weighs
from two to four pounds and the meat is
delicious. As stated ii would be three years
before we can expect any return from these
fish cast upon the waters.
The process of Matching is curious one.
Old fish are secured in seineS. A female
being caught, it is possible by running the
hand over the belly 10 tell whether the roe
are ripe" by the feeling, it being soft if the
eggs are ready for deposit. In this event by
squeezing the fish tbs eggs are expelled and
deposited in trays, through which running
water flows. BY similar process a liquid
resembling milk is squeszsd from the males
and falling on the eggs fertilizes them.
Within "A hours the eggs hatch,
the little sbad being about the size of the
finest cambria needle, though scarcely so
long, aud with eyes bright as diamonds and
out OF proportion to their other dimensions.
They are lively from the first, and must be
taken Immediately to the place where it is
intended to place them. Those brought
here had scarcely opened their eyes and
given the first wiggle of their diminutive
tails before they were started on their long
journey across the continent.