New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-31
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
rUH FISH COMMISSION.

THE FISH COMMISSION
a TALK WITH PROFESSOR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
YOUNG CAEP-TIIE DISAPPEARANCE or THEELE
MISREPRESENTATION FOR THE EXPOSITION.
fnr TELEGRAPH To TH& TRGBUNrl
VAsu,NGfoN. Oc. 30-Profossor Spencer +.
Baird secretary of the smithsonian Institution ana
Chef OF tho United States Fish Commission. has ro-
turned TO W:shr ton. In the course OF convoisa-
ton with TRIBUNE correspondent today fro-
fcs.or Baird said that this season has been one OF
the most encouraging and fruitful in the history OF
the Commission. Preparations ato now making
for the annual distribution Of Young carp to the
hnHaGols of persons throughout the country VINO
have applied for them. improvements IN the cars
used in transporting the young carp have been
made since last year. which will better protect tho
fish during the journey ana increase tho comfort OF
those who have them IN charge. Two cars are now
waiting to be loaded and start their tour OF dis
trbution. Tie weather has boon warm this
autumn that the winter IN this carp ponds has not
cooled sufficiently to allow the draining OF them
with safety to tho young fish. Professor Baird
thinks that within ten days or two weeks this can
be done. Although the distribution of carp in this
country began so recently, about 10000 ponds in
different localities have already hecn stocked; and
so far as the numerous reports received Indicate,
the success has been highly gratifying.
Professor Baird was asked how the disappear
ance Ui the tilelish from the waters IN which they
werc 20 plentiful last year cOuld be accounted for.
flo replied "Thcse fish belong TO the western
edge of tho Gulf Stream ana lnGabit the water ly-
ing about sevonty-Gve to one hundred and twenty
fathoms below the surface. Last year they were
seen in such abundance that our men co uld have
taken twenty thousand pounds If necessary. Sud
denly in the spring they began TO come to the sur
face ali &c, give cOnvusivo struggle and then lay
their backs dead They are now extinct for ten
Thousand square miles. They can have beeL killed
By three known agencies heat. cold or gaseous
exhaatOns The first is Improbable, and no gases
can well have been liberated without earth
quake which would have been accompanied by
tidal wave on shore. There were during last
winter a large number of icebergs liberated from
the Arctic regions The cold water from these wOnld
naturally descend aud probably formed q sub cur
rent at tho swimming level of tine tile-fsh. Those
to the south of the section We visited have. no
doubt, escaped and will be discovered 10 due time"
while cruising south Of No-Mans Land and
3Iartha's Vineyard this year. Professor Bard's
steamer passed through ten mics of menhadcn or
moss-bunkers II fish which was SUP posed to have
disapI cared. Professor Baird also alluded to the
fact that IN The Gulf Of Mexico. hundreds OF tons
OF fish are sometimes killed by the "northers."
He therefore thinks there is TO nope that the
tleish may reappuar IN lis old haunts.
When asked to the of Matching cod
this year, Professor Bard repl ed that IL is still too
early TO repOlt on that subject. month later he
will be able to give some information. PTepura-
tons arc rapidly gong forward for the International
Fish and Fisheries Exposition at London hext
spring. Professor Baird informed the correspond
ent that the contribution of the United States to
the exhibition will comprise about live hundred
toms. The new steamer which IS binding Tor the
Fish Commission will steam up The Thames some
time during the summer and be entered also as d
part OF the American exhibit. Professor Baird OK
poets that the new steamer Will be ready to start
on her fist cruise about the first of January next,
prior to which she Will be Thought to Washington.