Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-11-07
SECRETS OF The SEA.
Wonderful Creations from Almost I'm
faihomable Depths.
New Haven Union.

the American Fish Commission, left on
the United States steamer Speedwell,
and commenced at Ssybrook researches
in the water, which were prosecuted as
far as the Bay Of Fundy, and with great
success. Marvellous things, never before
seen by human eyes, were brought to
the surface. Strange fishes and other
objects weighted the dredges, and as
they were displayed upon the deck, de.
lighted the eyes of the scientists, and
led them to hope for even greater dis
covcries
These researches have been carried
ON under Government supervision by
Prof. Verrill since 1871. The object
is to learn everything possible concern
ing the fish and fisheries OF our coast.
The dredging is carried on during the
summer months, and what spare time
the Professor has during the remainder
OF the year il devoted to q study and
classification of the specimens. For his
convenience the specimens are brought
to the Peabody Museum, and comprise
every variety Of crabs, Holsters, shrimps.
star-fish, etc, IN fact everything that
lives in the water and that fishes feed
upon. Among them is star-fsh whose
arms have $4,000 branches, and there
are thlrty-nine other varieties Of this
fish, twenty Of which were previously
unknown. The Museum is given each
year a set of specimens, and among
these is n chimera, d long and ugly
looking fish with projecting nose and
teeth, II survivor Of a species of an early
geological period, new exceedingly rare,
and found Mt n depth Of 100 or more
fHthoms. Other institutions besides
Yale are provided with specimens, and
preparations are being made to shin
lots Of 100000 specimens to fifty differ
ent places. the best of each class and
variety is reserved for the Government
and sent TO Washington, the second
best remains IN the Peabody Museum.
and the third best is given to Harvard.
Only about half Of this years collec.
ton, WAS brought TO this city the
fishes being sent to Washington for ex-
animation. IL required ten barrels OF
nlchol Tor heir preservation, and TO-
GOO homeopathic Was were used, be-
side u greai number Of glass lars and
copper tanks.
Prof. Nerrill has seen in one haul as
many ~ 300 Holsters and barrel of
crabs. A bagging Of 5000 star.lish WINS
not uncommon, and bushels Of shrimps
would be dumped up the deck. OG
these latter the sailors were fond and
they never lacked for u supply. Some
times rs many NJ one hundred varieties
of fish would be obtained ut once
many Of them perhaps new specimens.
The fish commission has discovered in
this way more than fifty kinds Of fish
previously unknown, at least in Ameri-
can waters, and many OF which are
quite palatable
The habits and histories of the differ
ent fish md animals are obtained, to.
gether with the localities where each
species most abounds, what they feed
upon, when they breed, and under what
circumstances, and their migration.
The fishes are opened and the contents
of the stomach examined to see what
they cat. This is very important
branch Of the investigation, and the
most that is known in that line has
been obtained through the commits
sion's researches. Before that not even
the fishermen knew what was the food
supply OF the most common fish. That
point known, the reason of the absense
or presence i'll II locality of any par
ticular fish could readily be ascertained.
Where herring has been found in large
quantities one season, would not know
them the next, and the reason would
be the absence of their iayorite food.
Their diet IL shrimps. The latter feed
on almost Invisible crustacea, and these
again on microscopes creations. The
presence of the latter would bring the
crustacea, to be followed by the ,hrimps,
the behring's, and the whales and sharks,
in tho order named. So it is seen
what M important part even the most
minute things may play in the economy
of nature. The knowledge obtained in
this branch of the inquiry, will teach
the fishermen not to destroy the food
tupply of their prospective prey.
Another thing ascertanod i'll these
summer trips, il the temperature of tive
water mt the surface and ut the bottom.
Different kinds of fish prefer different
temperatures, and II falling Of the
waters temperature ut places ON the
coast Will frequently cause II migration
of fish and puzzle the fishermen. Dur
my the past season, the water on the
coast of Massachusetts and Maine has
been five degrees cooler than in the
preceding year, and the fishermen have
hunted in vain along there for men
haden and their catch this year has
been almost " failure. These fish were
not found until few weeks ago, and
then they were discovered il great
numbers about forty miles south Of
Long Island. This question of tenn.
perature enters largely into the culture
OF salmon. California salmon flourish
v,ry well III the Connecticut River, ana
eastern salmon also do passably well
there. That river seems to be the
dividing point, and il is a question
whether California salmon would 10
well north of there or the other variety
live we'll further south.
Tho professor says that sometimes
dog-lish cause much trouble III dredg.
ing. They are very yoracious, and
often the net would come to the surface
rent in every possihle wav and nearly