Ellsworth American., 1883-12-20

otnerwlse, ana the remaining ninety-two per
cent. will be hatched and used in restock-
ing the rivers Of the country. Some may
inquire why, if each fish produces SO many
eggs, it would not be as well to allow them
to be hatched in a natural way? If the
Fish Commissioners should depend upon
the natural process the life of man would be
hardly long enough to experience any bene
fit from the legal protection afforded the fish,
as on account Of their natural enemies and
the lack Of protection afforded the eggs
while Matching only about eight per cent. of
the total number would survive.
The Matching house at Orland is situated
at the head of Alamoosook Lake, and the
location is all that could be desired. Back
Of the building crystal stream flows over
a granite bed that has been washed Of every
particle of decaying matter, and just before
reaching the building its waters are aug
mented BY living spring, which raises the
temperature eight or ten degrees. by
skillful arrangement of conductors, water of
the higher or lower temperature may be
used in the Matching troughs and very ev
en- temperature maintained which will not
fall more than ten degrees between now and
the latter part of January Both the strip
ping house and the Matching house are un-
der the direction of Mr. c. g. Atkins, AS
sistant United States Commissioner and
Mr.. Harry Buck, one Of the best civil en-
gineers in the State, and whose services are
in frequent demand for the construction of
fshways in this and neighboring States.
Mr.. J. 7. Hartman and son are also en-
gagged in the care and development of ova
at both establishments. From this time till
January the work at the Matching house will
be monotonous, consisting of the care Of the
eggs and removal Of the bad ones. AT that
tine the eggs will be prepared for trans
portation. by being packed in boxes filled
with gray moss, which will be moistened
and preserved in an even temperature by
the insulation Of the box. In this way the
eggs may be transported almost any dis
tance, and the process of Matching delayed
till they arrive at their destination. This is
the most curious part Of the whole opera
tion, as the development Of the egg can be
observed with the naked eye in ten days af-
ter it has been placed in the Matching house,
and under favorable circumstances the egg
will hatch in about sixty DAYS; but if de-
sired, four or even FIVE months may be CON
sumed in the operation without injury to the
embryo. After Matching, the Young fish are
kept lilI tue IOOu SACK Is COUsuUtu, Wntn
they are taken 10 the headwaters Of river
which Il il desired to restock, and there
they are turned into tine stream To care for
themselves. In about two years the Young
fish 20 down to the salt water, where they
remain for couple Of years, when they
turn 70 their original home with an unerrng
instinct. During their absence a great
change comes over the ish-their size in
creases with wonderful rapidity. and when
they return TO fresh water it is usually for
spawning purposes, The natural feeding
grounds of the salmon are in the salt water,
and they are not supposed to feed any while
they remain in fresh water after returning
from their saline homes. One of the proofs
Of this lies in the examinations that have
been made of the stomachs of the salmon
that have been used for spawning purposes
These fish after having their eggs removed
are returned to the stream, and do not I'M
prove their opportunity To return to salt wa
ter next MAY, and il any Of them are caught
and their stomachs examined no food is
found therein. Why they will rise to fly,
and only 10 flies Of certain color, during
their stay il fresh water, is as inexpllcable
why certain colors will attract certain an
imals