The daily gazette., 1879-06-11
Fish Culture It's Success Estab
Iislled.
From the American Agrit ulturi>t.


The Thirteenth Report of the Fish
commissioners OF the State of Connoc-
ticut, presented at the recent session of
the Legislature, established b"yond refs-
onable doubt the possibilities Of entire
success in restocking the rivers of the
State with shad, salmon, and other mi
gratory fish. 1t has been known since
1870, when the remarkable increase of
shad, az the result of the artificial hatch
ing at Hadley Falls, appeared in the
Connecticut Rivef, that the plans Of the
Commissioners for the reproduction of
this fish were entirely successful. There
has been large increase of the catch of
shad In the "pOunds." at the mouth of
the river, aud in the sweep nets and gill
nets at the h hing stations up the river.
Sbad have heen mate SO plenty
at some of these stations, that in
the hight of the season, fine fish have
been sold at ten cents 40 cents) each
This Increase has been SO steady, in re-
spon.e to the artificial ha' ching at Had
ley Falls, that there is no room for doubt
amc ng Intelligent observers. 1t is not
so generally knew that the most persis-
tent enemies of fish culture, and of the
legislation necessary to its success, have
been found among the fishermen, espec-
tally those at the mouth of the river.
Their pound-n.ts, extending ten miles
west of the mouth of the river, and run
ming mile or more into the sound
caught by far the larger portion Of the
sbad Matched In the river. This lions
share of the profits of the fishery was
altogf tn r too to be given up without a
struggle, and it is not until protitab the
views of the pound men can be made to
harmon re 18th the interests of the river
| fishermen in Massachusetts,, Vermont
and Now Hampshire, that the shad
Matching. suspended for the last three
years at Hadley Falls, can he restored
The poss bilities of entire success are de-
monstrated, If Connecticut will legislate
to protect the fish, and the people will
enforce the laws. Much more solicitudt
has been felt about the restoration O
salmon in the Connecticut than in the
case of ,had, although in the early day
the salmon was cheaper and the more
abundant fish.
Occasiona planting, IN small mum
| bers, of young salmon in the tribuf ariel
of the Connecticut had been made pre-
viously, but it was not until 1874 that Al
adequate supply was furnished. In tina
year, CONNECTICUT, Massachusetts, Yer
mont and New Hampshire, planted
nearly 200, 600 young salmon in the va
rious brooks that feed the river. Pre-
vIous to last year, only a few adult sal
mon, the result of the early plantng-
had been seen in the river. About tn
last of April, 1873, salmon began to b.
taken in pounds at the mouth of th
river, and later in sweep-nets and gill
nets, all the way up to Hadley Falls. A
maLy as 800 were taken in the course o
the season, the average weight beinI
about 12 pounds. Unfortunately, tn
law protecting salmon, aud punishin
their capture by heavy penalties, ha
been repealed by the Legislature, an
the first fruits of the labors of the Com
mlssioners were sacrificed to the gree
of the fishermen. They were sent mos
ly to the New York market, aud wer
reported to be of the best quality. b
far the largest part were males, and til
loss IL not so great as it would have bee
year later, when the females mac
their appearance to deposit their spaw
They appeared in considerable numbe
at the fl II. way at Hadley Falls, and, 8
though strict watch was kept, it is M
known that anv of them passed throug
The proposed increase of the volume
water IN the fish-way, 1t is expected, wi
make it available for the salmon anotht
season. As demonstration of the the'
ry of our fish culturists, that salmon wi
return to the streams in which they al
bred, and that barren rivers can be &c,
nomicaly re-srocked, the labors of th
Fish Commissioners are a complete SUI
cess. The needed legislation must TO
low in due time. The success here shoul
encourage simi ar efferts elsewhere, {
all orr rivers may be made to afford a
| abundance of the choicest fish.
CONNECTICUT.