New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-21
WORK OF THE FISH COMMISSION.

PROFESSOR BAIRD ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE CARP
THE POLE FOUNDER AND THE TILE FISH
THE SEA TO BE REsIOCKED WITH COP AND
HALIBUr
lBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON. Nov. 20.-Profcssor Baird says. in
regard to the work of the Fish Commission. that he
is now engaged in distributing German carp rs
widely possible throughout the Southern part Of
the United States Shipments have already been
made to Kentucky and Missouri. The Fish Com
mission, of which Professor Baird is the head has
now on hand about 5000 young carp for distrbu-
ton, a number quite inadequate to supply the
many demands which have been received from all
over the South.
In describing the improved or German carp, Pro-
fessor Baird says that this fish bears about the same
relation to the ordinary English carp that North
Carolina :" pine woods" pig does to one of the Berk-
shire breed. In Germany the carp is esteemed as
highly the tout aud sells for the same price In
the market. The first successful introduction of
these fish into the United States took place about
three years ago. The experiment of breeding and
raising them in the pond where they were then
placed has been perfectly successful, the fecundy
and rapid growth of the fish having been quite re-
markable. Specimens Matched this year have al
ready attained length of seven inches. The carp
lives on vegetable food. and thrves best in warm
water facts which make it peculiarly suitable fo:
the South, and its qualities food fish will give
it n high value in that section.
Professor Baird IS very sanguine that the Califor-
MIA salmon will thrive IN Southern rivers, where the
temperature of the water at the spawning season
does not usually Isa so high as in the Sacramento
River, where the salmon live and flourish.
The labOrs of the Fish Commission during the
last two years have added two valuable food fishes
to the list of salt water varieties usually found in
the markets OF the Atlantic cities. These are the
pole founder and the tile fish The former has been
found in great quantities and n wide range. II
is destined to become n important source of food
supply, both on account of its abundance and its
fine qualities rs an article of food. The tile fish re-
sembes the cod in particulars II is said to be
abundant and is likely to become extensively used
as an article OF food. Captain Kirby it's dlscoverer
prefers it TO the Goldfish.
Professor Baird says that during the past season
the " thimblo-eyed mackerel rcappearel in great
numbers at Provncetown ard other points Oh the
Atlantic coast after an absence of forty years This
is also 4 valuable food fish.
Experiments in Matching Goldfish have proved very
successful. The iish Commission hopes not only 10
restock the waters of the New-England coast. but
10 extend the locality within which thus valuable
fish ranges much farther south. Ii Is known that
long ago tho cod lourishcd in great numbers several
hundred miles south of where II is now found.
Preliminary studies have been made with view
to actual experiments in breeding hahbut, with
which fish II is also hoped To stock the waters OIL
the coast OF the United States. Indeed, Professor
Baird SAYS that he looks upon all the work OF stock
fires water fish only preliminary tO that Of stock
ing the with desirable salt water varieties.