McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-10-11
THE FATHER OF FIsH-CULTURE.
Seth Green's Ideas About the Finny Tribe
and Some Of His Varied
Experiences.

this schemeP''
81 have been working at it ever since
was large enough to bend pin.''
The above remark was addressed to
Mr.. Seth Green, the veteran fish cultur-
lst, who is known to the entire world,
and his reply indicates the extent of his
labors.
"When was quite young" he con-
tinued, 81 would lie on the limbs of
trees that reached out over the water
entire afternoons watching the move
ments of the fish and studying their
habits. In this way discovered many
characteristics which were before un-
known. l saw, as every observer must
see, the destructive elements that are
warning against fish, and l realized that
unless something were done, the life in
the streams of this country would be-
come extinct. To counterfeit this dis
astrous end became my life work, and 1
am happy to say have seen its accom-
plishment.
severe you successful on the start?"
s'No, indeed. Up to that time all
artificial attempts to hatch and raise
fish from the spawn had failed, and I
was compelled to experiment in an
entirely new manner. The work was a
careful and tedious one, but 1 finally
succeeded, and to-day I am able to
hatch and raise fully seventy-tive per
cent. of all spawn"
Enormous! Why, that is larger
percentage than either the vegetable or
animal Kingdoms produce in natural
condition"
81 know it, but we exercise the great
est care in the start, and guard the litti
fellows until they become able to care
for themselves
The foregoing conversation occur
red at Caledonia where the representa-
tive of this paper was paying a visit to
the state fish hatcheries. 1t has been his
privilege to report very many interest
ing sights within the past twenty-five
years, but the view presented here ex-
ceeds in interest anything ever before
attempted.
"How many fish are there in those
ponds, Mr.. Green?"
Gas we have never attempted to count
them 1t will be impossible to say. They
extend way up into the millions though.
We shipped over three millions out of the
ponds this year and there seemed to be as
many afterward as before. We have
nearly every variety OF the trout family
and many hybrids."
"You speak of hybrids, Mr.. Green.
What do you mean by that?'
81 have experimental for years in
crossing the breed OF the various fish
and am still working upon it. We cross
the female salmon trout with the male
brook trout, and thus produce hybrid.
Then we cross the hybrid with the brook
trout, which gives us three-quarter brook
trout and one-quarter salmon trout.
This makes one of che finest fishes in
the world. He has all the habits of the
brook trout, lives in both ST. cams and
lakes, develops vermillion spots on his
sides, rises readily to fly, is far more
vigorous and fully one-third larger than
ordinary brook trout of the same age.
The possibilities of development in the
fish world are great and we are rapidly
ascertaining what they are.''
As the man of news watched the
countenance of Mr.. Green while he was
giving the above account, he could not
but feel that he was in the presence of
one of the few Investigators who, from
a rich and lifelong experience, bring
great benefit to the world. Let the
reader imagine strong and stalwart
frame, surmounted by a head strongly
resembling that of Socrates, and COW
cred with white silky beard and lux
uriant gray hair. Seth Green, the
father Of fish culture, is a picture of
health, and the reporter could not help
remarking so.
eff you had. seen me the last winter
and spring, young man, you might
have thoug ht differently said the vet
eran.
allow is that? One woult think, to
to look at you, that sickness was some
thing of which you knew nothing"
.sAnd so it was until last winter. l
went down into Florida in the fall to
see what kind of fish they had in that
state and study their habits, and was
attacked with malaria in its severest
form, and when came home L real
lied for the first time in my life, that l
was sick. My symptoms were terrible.
I had dull, aching pains in my head,
limbs and around my back. My appe-
tite was wholly gone, and [ felt lack
of energy such as 1 had often heard de-
scribed but had never experienced.
ANY one who has ever had severe at
tack of malaria can appreciate my con-
dition. l went to bed and remained
there all the spring, and if there ever
was a sick man was the one."
ssIt seems hardly possible. How did
49,, oo,,oo fo roonupr ca cOmnIptpIVp pr
sMy brother, who had been afflicted
by severe kidney trouble and threat
ened with Bright's disease, was COM
pletely cured by a remedy in which |
had great confidence. Therefore tried