Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-02-14
FISH CULTURE.

From the st. LOUIS Globe-Democrat.
The propositIou now before con-
gross to appropriate $40, 900 to- enable
Prof. Baird aud others Interested in
the artificial propagation of fish to
make an exhibit OF American food
fishes at the International Fishery
Exhibition, to be held at Berlin, in
April, will at least have the good eff
ttfGt Of turning public attention in
importance of the s16jec1t. 81 PisstKfaaaafgz
ture. We do not know that we would
gain anything directly by sending
superiority of u methods would
at home as well as abroad, we might
in the end reap a reward i'll the
growth Of public interest in this
question and the increased willing
uess of our legislative bodies to
make the necessary appropriations
for the artificial propagation of food
fishes. Wonderful progress has been
made in restocking waters partially
or wholly depleted of fish in many OF
the northern states. Artificial pro-
pagatiOn has been practised Success
fully for many years in the produc-
ton of salmon and Goldfish in the New
England states, and every spring
millions of the young Of these species
are turned out of the hatcheries into
the bays that indent the eastern coaet
of Maine, Rhode Island. Maesachu.
sets and Connecticut. Nor have the
streams of that region been neglect.
ed. Rivers and creeks that for gen
eratiOns had been without fish have
been re-stocked, aud thus new aud,
with proper care, inexhaustible sup
plies of excellent food have been ad.
ded to the resources of these states.
The states bordering on the great
lakes have for years pursued q mosl
liberal policy in the matter Of fish
culture. Thirty years ago Lake Mich.
Igan was crowded with the tar-iamed
w%hitetish, bat the eager demands Of
commerce and the untiring industry
roads upon the species that it wat
Threatened with utter extinction.
About five years ago, at the urgent
solicitation Of u few naturalists whu
saw the danger and its remedy, the
Wisconsin Legislature provided fol
me establishment of q tish hatchery
milwaukee,. Under competent man.
cement the institution has proved
great success, and every year frou,
10 10000 10 10000, 900 of young
whitetish are turned into Lake Mich.
gan by the hatchers. Careful obser.
vations show that the young fsl
thrive wonderfully, and it will mol
be long until the supply of CONNER
cial whitefish will be greater than
ever i'll Lake Michigan. The same
hatchery also turns out millions Of
lake trout every year. This is a much
hardier fish than the whltefish, and
it's growth is very rapid, but it is
not SO highly priced az its more deli
cate neighbor. Within the last two
years the propagation of land.locke ed
California salmon has been attended
with gratifying uccess at the Mil.
waukee hatchery, and it is thought
that this valuable fish may become
acclimatized in the waters of the
Mississippi Valley.
In Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa
as well as Wisconsin, much attention
has been paid to the propagation u
brook trout, and the cold-watel
streams of these states are gradual,
being stocked anew with that delici
Gus fish. 1t has been found by ex
pertinent that the whitefsh and tn,
lake trout of the great lakes will
thrive and increase in the inland lake.
of the northern states which have
depth of more than fifty feet. Thes,
species could hardly be expected tt
endure the greater warmth of oul
Missouri summers, but there ar,
others which can be propagated will
equally gratifying results, that would
If placed In our running streams an(
small lakes, add greatly to the uaturs
wealth of the state by vastly ~increas
ing our supply of cheap and whole
some food. No state can be too lib
eral in dealing with this question
There is no other form of anima
food that costs so little as fish, all,
very few that are nutritious and de
sirable. We have many streams j
this state that might be stocked wit
food fishes adapted to our climate {
small expense. We are glad t. not
that our fish commissioners are aliv
to the importance of this subjec
They have recently stocked Q fe,
streams with young fish procure
from Wisconsin, and we have n
. doubt they would accomplish niue
more if they we're not hsmpered
the want Of fur =. We trust tn,
; the next Legislature will make up f,
the shortcomings Of the last in th
matter.