Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-27
TIE RESULTS OF FIsEz CULTURE
A Summary by Marshall Mcdonald.
Showing What Has Been Done in
American Waters.

One ofthe bulletins of the United States fish
commission. recently issued. contains the fol-
lowing memorandum by Marshall Mcdonald of
results OF fish culture already attained:
CARP.
The carp. wherever planted under favorable
conditions and receiving reasonable care and at
tentiOD, have grown, bred and multiplied rap
idly. Thirty thousand distinct bodies of water
in every section of the United States have been
occupied with this fish. These represent an ag-
gregate area of 100000 acres OF waste water
which have been converted to profitable almost
spontaneous. production. yielding, at a mod
crate estimate, 20,OOo,000 pounds of food per
annum. and adding 81 .0C0 600 annually to the
value OF the products of the country.
BLACK BASS.
The black bass has been accmated in all of
the rivers of the Atlantic slope, and while not
increasing the aggregate food product OF the
areas occupied by Them the introduction of this
game fish has indirectly contributed to the pros
perity of various sections by attracting sports
men and summer residents.
TROUT.
The mountain sections of New York, New
Hampshire, and Vermont have their game and
fish well preserved through the efforts of the
state fish commissioners; the trout streams
ing, and by protection. The summer visitors
who are drawn to this region by the fame of it's
hunting and fishing leave there annually Sl5-
t00.000. according to the statement of the New
Hampshire commissioner. The larger part of
this is TO be credited to the efforts in artificial
propagation Systematically carried on there.
CALIFORNIA SALMON.
The efforts to acclimate this species On the
Atlantic slope and in the Mississippi basin have
proved abortive. untavorable temperature con-
dtions. as | have elsewhere shown, having mill
tated against success. This, however is to be
regarded as an experiment in acClimatOn rather
than in fish culture. the artificial propagating
and planting of this species in the sacramento
river having carried the annual production Of
that river up to double the volume it had before
planting was inaugurated ard added to its ag-
9regate value $500 Geo per annum.
WHITEFISH.
The propagating and planting of this species
III the great lakes was undertaken in the face of
rapid decrease, which foreshadowed the e2-
haustion OF these fisheries i'll few years. This
decrease has been arrested. and the product is
again slowly on the increase.
SHAD.
The results OF the artificial propagation and
planting OF shad cannot, in the absence of accu-
rate statistics covering the whole coast. be deli
nitely stated. There is no question but the pro-
duction of the Chesapeake area as a whole is
steadily on the increase, though local causes
determine local failures OF the fisheries each
season; local statistics. being the only measure
of increase that we haye of course can furnish
Us no Data 10y which we can determine the gen
crai advance in production. This. however. is
shown by the decreased cost per pound OF the
s!ad from season to season in the face of q con-
tiHuaily inGreaSing demand brought about by
Increasing population and increased facilities
tor distribution. the price to-day in the markets
oi Baltimore and Washington being from SIP to
30 per hundred and from three to tour cents
Upr DDuDi