Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-01-21
REPORT OF THE W. VA. FISH
COMMISSIONERS.

furnishes a pamphlet of twenty eight pages
full of information upon the plan, progress
and present development Of fish culture in
the State. Under the act of the Legislature
of February, 1877, provision was made for
beginning this enterprise on behalf of the
State, and the three Commissioners above
named were appointed by the Governor to
carry forward the work Commissioner
White, a: his own risk, purchased large
freestone spring in Hampshire county, which
seemed to be cavorably situated aud possess
ing peculiar advantages for the Matching
process. and thus, without delay, tho work
was begun a Matching house was erected
and furnished with all proper appliances. One
hundred and twenty thousand trout eggs
were procured aud hatched with signal sue
cess. Afterward the Commissioner of Fish
cries of Maryland furnished ten thousand
California salmon eggs, which we're Matched,
and the fry kept and fed III the ha;ch-house
for some time, md then distributed, with a
total loss of less than thirty from the time
the eggs were placed in the troughs. Upon
the advantages to be derived from this un-
der,aking the Commissioners mske the fol-
lowing very suggestive comments:
IF the oDly object of fish culture was to
afford sport to tho angler, occasional
meal to lazy man. or pleasant recreation to
those who might need and enjoy it. it might
be doubted whether it deserved the fostering
care Of the State bat the increase of popu.
iation and the greater scarcity and cost of
flesh food per capita now than formerly, pres
seuts problem which may well arrest the
attention OF intelligent individuals and gov
crnments Even IN our own State, sparsely
settled as it is, this scarcity is beginning to be
felt, aud population increases, it will press
more heavily on the people Wise legisla-
ton looking to the future, will make such
provision in its power to render available
al its resources for the cheap and plentiful
supply Of heaity food to all people who are,
or may coue iuto the State; and every nat
ural food that is SELF sustaining, and does
not interfere with the cultivation and utii.
z alton Of the soil. deserves the attention and
protection of the State. 1t has been esti-
mated that acre of water can be made to
produce twice as much food as an acre of
land.
Our streams have the same canacity to
had. and if they can be kept filled with fSh
as once they were there will be many thous-
ands of dollars worth of the healthiest and
most palatsble Of food added to the resources
of every county within our bOrders-a fond
that will increase itself without cost, and
without interfering with any other means of
prnduc:ivPDess. Especially will thia he so if
the IHadroDl0Ws fishes, such as salmon and
Bhad, can be successfully introduced
Upon the subject OF the adaptabiIIity of
our streams to shad and salmon, the report
says:
No purer, clearer streams can be found
So far as shsi are concerned. the fact that
they found in waters far TO the south and
far to the north of US, is, it seems. conclusive
that the temperature of our waters will suit
them. All the information we can obtain
from others. and from our own observations
and experiments sati>fies US that our streams
are. in temperature also, admirably adapted
to the California salmon. and We are inclined
to believe that other varieties of samoniade,
will do we'll in them"
Tho Fish Commissioners propose thnt sein-
ing in the creeks and smaller streams il this
State be prohibited for period of four years
INFLUENCE OF NEWSPAPERS "A school
teacher who had been long time engaged
10 his profession, and witnessed the influence
of newspapers upon the minds of fomily Of
children, writes Us follows:
I have found it TO be a universal fact,
without exception, that those scholars of
both sexes and of all ages, who have access
TO newspapers at home, when CONF pared with
those who have not are as follows:
l Better readers, excellent in pronuncia-
ton, and consequently read more and un-
Ger5tandingly.
2 They are better spoilers, and define
words with aud accuracy.
5 They obtain practical knowledge of ge.
osraphy in almost half the time it requires
of others, as the papers have made them &C
quainted with the location Of the important
places, of nations, their government and do
ings on the globe
i They better crammarians for having
become SO familiar with every variety of
style in the newspapers, from the common
place advertisements to the finished and
classical orations Of the statesmen they
more readily comprehend the meaning of
the text, and constantly analyze its cOns,ruc-
ton with accuracy.
They write q better composition, using
better language. containing more thought
more clearly and correctly expressed.
Those yonug men who have for years
been readers of newspapers are always taking
the lead in debating societies, exhibiting
more extensive knowledge upon greater va.
riety of subjects, and expressing their views
with greater fuency, clearness and correct
ness.
Gen. Grant being snubbed by the Cork
onisns has " taken the bull by the horns"
that is, the traditional Irish bull, as will be