New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-27
THE FISH COMMISSION.

TELEGRAPH TO Ehk ih'nNN"i
WASHINGTON Nov 26.-That branch OF the Work
If the uo;tsd States Fish Commission in which
neo,le in pe,cral take the greatest interest mainly
,,ecsuse IL Yields the most immediate aud practical
rpsults. is that which comprises the propagation
and distribution among the lakes ponds and rivers
of the country Of valuable TODD fishes.
A TRIBUNg correspondent obtained this week
from Professor Spencer f. Baird. the distinguished
head of the Fish Commission. some interesting
facts in relation 10 that division of the work ABOVE
mentioned. For his services as Commissioner, eN-
tending over period of ten years, Professor balld
has not received one dollar from the pubic
Treasury; and the Office where he works seven OF
eight hours day. aud which contains the voiuI''-
nous archives of the Commission is a portion
of his own residence. for when the
Govern mont paws TO rent Professor Baird exhlh-
tied series of maps of the several States and Terri
tories on a large scale. On each map were number
of triangular characters winch show the places where
,be German carp has been sent 60 stock the ponds Of
individuals The same maps show the number OF
fish sent TO each place and also the places rom
which applications have been received. but not yet
filled. The maps of every State aud OF several oil
the Territories dotcd mere or less thckly with
these characters and show that the interest in the
cultivation of and the demand f0rtis very valuable
fish is general aud widespread.
''No doubt" said Professor Baird there will be
many more applications made for carp next year.
but we stall be able TO supply this season all whose
applications have already been received. la two
or three years the fish first distributed will begin to
breed and VAL thus furnish many hundred new
centres from which an inexhsustlbie supply OF
younp fish can be obtained TO stock the ponds OF
every State"
From The product Of $50 German carp, imported
three years ago, about 5000 ponds will have bee
81. N O
sufficient number for breeding purposes. On Mon
day last young fish sent te I'll all applications
from Delaware, Tennessee and South Carolina.
The States remaining TO be supplied are Alabama,
Louisiana. Mississippi and Texas, and a carload
vii. soon he sent to each.
Professor Baird says that at three years OF age the
German carp viii average four or five pounds IN
weight and axe in their prime.
PRoPAGATING sHAp.
Tue fish that has been most extensively and widely
distributed 10y tho Commission is the shad. Since
the artificial propagation of this fish was begun
65OOO 900 to Il, 100000 of the young have been
distributed and the number to be sent out the COM
ing season will be three times rs great rs ever In
ANY one year heretofore. The steamer Fish Hawk
will spend the coming winter on the coast of Geor-
gia, occupied in the Matching OF young shad, and
Professor Baird expects that next season the ship
ties will be made by tie carload, car IS now
being built for this special service and Will be pro-
yided with every requisite for the safe transp0ra-
tion of the miniature fish. Other cars of the same
sor: will b. built as necessity may demand
Professor Bard says that the rivers of the Pacific
coast have been so well stocked with shad through
the efforts OF the Commission that the work there
may almost BE- regarded as finished. California has
enacted stringent laws for the protection of her
fisheries and Professor Bard thinks that with the
protection thus afforded the sbad will be able to
hold their in the waters of that State. In the
States east of the Rocky Mountains the shad have
been placed in nearly every river in which they can
be expected to thrive. They now regularly
caught in the Ohio River at Louisville and other
places; and are quite abundant in many streams
where they were unknown until after the operations
OF the Commission had been begun. Several rivers
in which the shad had been nearly extermiDated
have been restocked, and the yearly catch Is con-
stanty increasing. In the course of the present
year an agent of the Commission has visited every
stream stocked With sbad from the Alabama River
to New-England. i'll the spawning season. to study
the habits OF those fish, and TO ascertain, If possible,
the reasons why they are abundant or less
plentiful III different Years.
Much effort has been devoted to the Matching and
distribution Of the eggs of salmon In 1874 the first
experiment To ascertain whether the salmon OF the
Pacific coast would thrive in Eastern waters was
made and in 1876 the success of the experiments
was fully demonstrated. A salmon Matching station
has been established on the McCloud River III Cali
fornia and several miliC OF eggs have already
been distributed in the Eastern States. When the
Commission began the propagation and distribution
the Atlantic salmon. that fish not taken in
any quantities south OF the Connecticut River II is
now found ia considerable abundance in the Hud-
son. the Delaware, and the Susquehanna Rivers,
and the success in stocking these streams Is un-
doubted. There are hopes of extending its range
still further south.
The Matching station of the Atlantic salmon is at
Bucksport Maine. The distribution OF the eggs OF |
this fish during the present season will amount
to about g 000, 600 The Matching establishment OF
the land-loc&ed salmon is Grand Lake stream,
Name. Numerous small lakes throughout the North
States have been stocked with this valuabefs
aud the distribution is beng continued yearly Oh a
growing scale.
MATCHING SALMON AND COD.
The process Of incubation of salmon eggs is not
completed at the Matching stations OF the Commits |
mission, but when it has reached certain stage of
advancement the eggs are packed and sent 10 the |
places where the young fish are needed. The whole
process of Matching the eggs of this fab occupies |
three or four months while that of the eggs of sbad
covers only five or six days.
The experiments made in the artificial Matching |
of Goldfish at Gloucester. several wears ago. were
complete success. Owing to certain unfavOrable
local conditions at Gloucester the work not |
continued at that place. A station has now been
established Tor the purpose at Woods Hall, on
Cape Ann. where preparations have been made for
extensive operations during the coming winter.
Many improvements have been made in the appara-
tus tor Matching the Goldfish, aud great results
confidently expected
Professor Baird says that American fishermen