New-York tribune., 1883-06-07
CULTURE OF FISHES.


THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION MEETING.
FOOD AND sPAwNING-THE sUNFIsH DENOUNCED
PAPERS ON LoBsIERs AND BLACK BASS.
The American Fish Cultural Association met yes
terday at the Cooper Institute. G. S. Page, presi-
dent of the association. occupied the chair. He
made short opening address, in which he reviewed
the history of the association for the last eleven
years. made running comments on the great future
before it, and closed with some personal reminis-
cence.
f. G. Blackford read paper on :" A Few Facts in
Relation to Food and the Spawning Season of Fish
the Atlantic Coast" He said III part:
For number of years past at the meetings OF this
sociation inquiries have mp TO the time
son OF the spawning OF striped bass sheepshead aud
buefsh. but no one was able 10 answer these questions
with any accuracy, and the amount OF knowledge on
this important subject was apparently very limited
During the summer OF 1882 the Senate subcommittee
Foreign Relations visited several fishing points on
tne coast for the purpose OF taking evidence from The
fishermen, dealers and others as 20 the food and habits
OF the menhaden and also TO the fact that this hsh
buefsh and other valuable food fishes OF our coast;
The results OF this inquiry conclusively proved
which to base any National legislation for the
protection OF the saltwater fisheries. At the suggestion
self the facilities afforded by Fulton
mence careful examination OF the viscera Of all the
services of Professor H j. Rice, well qualified for
this work. 10 make these Investigations, and have here
bis report on the subject, brought down TO this date.
1t is proposed 10 continue these Investigations for
at least two years and longer II 1t Is deemed important
Mr.. Blackford then read q report from Professor
Rice showing in detail the results of his numerous
investigations. "From these results said Mr.
Blackford, "we haven't attempted to reach any
general conclusions as the food of the fish exam
ined because the Investigations only cover period
of four months We need at least two years for
accurate results At the end of that time these fig
ures and details Will be found invaluable for discus
sion on tins subect.D
Frederick Mather read an interesting paper on
the "sunfsh" or the pumpkin seed' as It is ia
miIlarly called. He spoke Of this fish as a pest"
and beast and thought no punishment too BE-
we're for him. He said:
Iuu, $500 land-locked salmon into one of the large
ponds Jones estate at Cold Spring L. l., and what
you suppose those suDs did caught one OF them
The following day. opened HIM aud found within him
thiry-fye landocked salmon. That's per cent Of the
whole number put into q tht e. pond AZ that rate the
require 100 pumpkin seeds TO knock out the land locked
salmon. And II there were 100 OF them IN the pond
there were 100000 When they cart get salmon they
live on flies and worms. would suggest as means OF
terminating them that lump OF lime as large as .
believe that viii thin them out
Mr.. Mather sat down looking as If he would
strangle the next pumpkin seed" he caught
hold Of
then listened TO a paper by ). NJ; johnson, OF
LObsters." Ii was briefly as follows
The true sportsman angler when be carefully releases
the ingeriag trout and returns 1t to the stream, in
with application OF this same law TO Holsters great
good might be DONE BY returning 10 the grounds all
that Immature, and placing the limit so as 20 allow
time for reproduction, constant and sufficient supply
would be insured which result, think DC
TO be very generally understood but the great difficulty
in determining what good has been or may be accon-
pshcd arises from the fact tat the laws OF the different
States are not uniform. aud that, moreover they
often disregardcd altogether; that satisfactory
kn0wledse O he pfnenI oelFeu Is possible until THESE
would suggest that all traps or pots be so constructed
Dc IN
allow all small lobsters TO escape and thai funnel hoop
in diameter The disposal OF the spawnbearng lobster
IA an important question aud worthy Of careful consd
erafion NV opinion is that II the limit Is large enough
a sufficient quantity would be ncluded in the number
returned grounds provide for breeding necess
veSced veS am not opposed TO IT. but do not see any
good reasons for adopting IT,
The essay closed with regret that Holsters are
becoming every year scarcer and scarcer and the
hope that legislation will aoon end this difficulty
The association passed a resolution at the
cluson OF the reading OF the paper that State egis
laton be urged TO make provisions for the preserva
tioa of Holsters as suggested in Mr. Johnson's
paper
AT the opening of the afternoon session paper
entitled The Distribution of the Black Bass"
written by Dr. J. A. Henshal OF Cincinnati, was
read by the secretary. 1t was in substance as
follows:
The geographical distribution Of the black bass re-
markable for Its extentthe original habitat OF
from Canada to the Red River OF the North 70 Lou
isiana and East Mexico In other words, II might be
stated that the original geographical range OF this rep
reseptatye American fish embraced the whole OF North
America south OF the British possessions and east OF tue
Rocky Mountains, except the waters flowing into the
Atlantic New Engaid and the Middle States Tar
exceng any other hsh In its distribution. At the
present day the habitat OF the black bass has been
Tended by transportation and by OF artificial
canals, that II be said fnbabt every state OF
the Union Ii has also been successfully introduced into
England Scotland and Germany thus occupying wider
range than any other fish world The distribution
be Affected by geological formations,
character Of waters or climatic Influences
In to the objections against the introduction
of black into Eastern npon the theory that
the presence Of the voracious bass wonld initiate
against of shad salmon wish to Dat
TIE objections valid founded last, or the
black bass prefers Diet OF sh when lac get h,
varying 40 with minnOws, insecis. lalye, frogs and
young esls. The wGo "a ! ges that the black bass
depupilates the sfreams OF valuable food nsnes, or
asserts that hc Kills Tor the love OF IT," has
looked into the mouth OF bass witn hrs eyes open.
Another paper on Food Fish and Fish Food" by
A. N. Cheney, OF Gcns Falls. Was read by the secrc-
taTy.
The ASSOCIATION will meet again to-day at ii
a. m., when two papers will be read 5y Colonel
Mcdonald OF The United States Fish ConiiDl lssoii.
There VIII aisa DC discussion Of the suect ot