New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-12
FISH AND FISHERIES.

cal men, have met with marked Many new facts
have brought light concerning the food habits and
! migrations of marine fishes which have been OF
| much benefit to the fishermen. New food fishes and
| means OF capture have been found, and
the fishermen Of Massachusetts, especially those of the
town Of Gloucester regard the United states Commits
sion as their friend The practical shcultuTsts at
tached Commission have successfully Matched the
cod, sea-bass spanish mackerel, moonish ana other
species. They have found where the valuable spanish
mackerel spawn in great numbers and have carried on
| successfully the work of shad Matching.
| one of the principal objects held in view when the
| present State Commissioners appointed was the
| provision Of suitable Matching station on
Long Island. The establishment of tms
| was designed for experimenting with and
observation Of native fishes. These experiments
were to be carried in connection with hatchery for
trout and fresh Eater fishes. Such station as
that designed required competent head, man skilled
in the scientific and phctcal knowledge OF chhyooy
The appointment of danager depended upon the STATE
Fish Commissioners, md here it that the present
commissioners st lOggerheads. 1t is now alleged
that the Long slad station is merely hatchery for
such have found their way there, and that
the intended object of tho station has been defeated
Dwelers o Long Island and members OF fishing clubs
familiar with the work and the history of fish culture
had h ped said that the hatchery would be placed
I'm hands Of who was in fun accord with the
United States Fish Commission and was not only fish
culturst, but n with scientific knowledge OF the
popular the Commission in this part of the state among
dsheen anglers scientists and the general public and
that the station would he fitted with all the modern APP
planes fish culture and would be source OF inter
est TO scholars of all kinds 1t is asserted that in these
respects the Commission Las been thus far
without avail. A TRIBUNE reporter called on
one or two members of the NewYork state Commission
recently in order TO elucdae, possible, the facts of
the
Commissioner Blackford was found his Office in Full
ton Market in regard TO his appointment IA one Of
the commissioners he said 81 appointed commits
sioner in ls79 The state Commission established
I'm 1863 and then had hatchery at Caledonia. We have
succeeded thus FAR in Matching arihciay salmon trout
trout California and in propaSating shad in the
Hudson River. The trouble with the hatchery at Gaze
donna grows ont of the location Of the place,
beng in the western part of the State and
its inaccessibity that account. Persons vi hing
TO stock ponds in the the part Of the state found
great difficulty doing and have therefore been de-
prived of the advantages OF the appropriate r fshcu
ture in the state Of New-forb"
.In 1879" continued Mr.. Blackboard " a number Of
gentlemen interested in fish culture Long Island
ceeded in having a law passed which directed the Com
mission to make examna'ion Of the streams and
ters Long Island TO select suitable place for hatch
ing station. Commissioner Roosevelt and Seth Green
went all over the island and reported that no
advantageous place could be found. Through some
friends 1 succeeded in securing place at Cold
spring which was in every way suitable and
the owner of which offered it to the Commission for
period Of ten years gratis reported my success TO the
other commissioners and the result was that station
was provided there"
But what it," inquired the reporter, that put
the commissioners at loggcrheads :"
II was this said Mr. blackboard: urged upon the
other commissioners the appointing OF MI Fred Matber
for the position on me giound tnaI scleHuc ana OK
perienoed man. a close ana accurate observer was
ever should be selected shond be in harmony with the
United Fish Commissioner, for through him
md 6shc e
And who was the candidate urged by tho other Com
seth Green" replied Mr.. Blackford
"What objections were there 10 him Z"
In the first place II IL no secret that there ls want o.
sympathy between and Professor Baird and
further, Seth Green is not scientific man, nor has he
dshes-at least knowledge My object, in fact
was to make Newh OK SIae ram d o IT ni3t Ill S
The reporter then called on Commissioner Roosevelt |
who may be said to represent the majority OF Commits
soncrs on this question
"The present State Commissioners said the reporter
were appointed with the understanding that the prnc
pal object, the first place, 10 establish Matching
station on Long Island were they notP
"No," said Mr.. Roosevelt "Tbat was the object when |
the number of the commissioners was Increased from
three to four SGw ro hs npon cur
the last meeting OF the commission TO allow Seth Green
the present superintendent who has always been |
superintendent Of station at Call dona TO take charge
Of this station at Cold Spring, Long Island The |
Board thought wiser that MIR Green, who has the repu
tation Of being the most able fish culturisJ in the world
should lay and make plans for the Matching sta
uon and should supeIiniend its FIRST operations go
d" Was any other candidate for the posi- ion urged ~
Yes, were urged TO 90 outside and select anO her
gentleman who had cl inns transcending those Of Mr.
Green. who has had anything like hi experience. II
is supposed hat the gentleman urged had acquired tile
more scientific knOWIejgr N consequence OF LIS having
been employed for short time by the United States
Fish Commission"
Does the commission prefer practical rather than
scientific knowledge Of fish cultureP
"Our purpose has always been 10 make the opera
tiOns Of the wYork Commission thoroughly practical
We have left TO others scientific explanations and vcs
LEGATIONS and the use OF long Names while We have |
simply Matched all manner Of fish that came within
reach And we have succeeded In Matching |
Spun sh macker-l and possibly the sinelt. The
found in waters and Spanish nackercls
Has much fault been found with the Commissionl"
"sOme newspapers M, 9 said we were not up to the
tines that We were wedd to theories aud prac ices OF
tire past. We would be obliged any who could
tell us Of any EN- whereby fish DC Matched
(or half as Well ihan by our system
" Mr.. Green Will be h re III few days, the |
weather such that he can begin operations aud he will
bring with him of the have had in our en-
ploy for years-tboTough experts in fish cuture-who
viii fix up the hatchery and get everything in readiness
as sooB as possible. We expect TO experiment with
hatch in the neighborhood Of cold spring; |
aud expect TO the aledona station centre
from which distribute 10 all points of Long island the
Eastern brook trout and the talforIia trout
"Nill Mr. be in charge Of the station all the
time Z"
lie will not remain in immediate personal charge Of
the hatchery his services Will be often needed Gale
donna. lie will leave IN charge OF the Cold spring station
of most experienced men, VINO II nc las need OF
any advice, can apply 10 ,ir. Green ior u
iIs Mr. Green in perfect accord with the United States
"WeiI. if he is not don't believe Professor
Baird will suffer any small difference between
him aid Mr. Green 10 interfere re 10 prevent ms
personally ana think al. Commissioners are on
friendly frla with Professor Bard At the same
has done too grand a work De tender TO anybody
to any Commiss We have hached about 100000
hatchery, well every egg counted and there are
no deliveries by guess work. The fish are aotua ly