Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-10

in company with a corps of assistants. visited
personally many portions of the coast and made
inquiries OF the fishermen. Finding that the
question would require thorough and careful
investigation he determined to give II minute
and patient research, inquiring into the habits
food, location and lie OF the many tribes of
hnny inhabitants which are found in the waters
OF this continent. To carry out this design the
Secretary Of the Navy placed at the disposal Of
the fish commission small steamship fitted
with scientific apparatus proper for deep sea
work and used in the examination of the bottom
of the ocean to discover the forms Of life
there existing. the temperature of the various
currents, the character of the food upon which
the fish exist. the location of the different kinds
OF fish at different seasons and many other mat
tiers necessary to proper knowledge of the SUBJ
Ject. The ports OF the Atlantic coast were Wis
ited including Gloucester, the great fish market
or the world, and much Information was OBJ
tanned from the fishermen. At other times the
vessel would be out on the sea, searching its
restless waves and almost unfathomabie depths
for that knowledge which would eventually
have an important bearing on the great results
accomplished. After long and careful inves-
tigation. extending over a term of years, had
been made, it was decided that the
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION
of fish would be the most satisfactory sOluti on
of the problem for if successful 1T would allow
the fishermen to ply their calling at all times
and render unnecessary the placing of any limi-
tattons or heavy restrictions on their business.
This work has been pushed with such vigor
that over 150, 900 900 of fish, including shad and
the various members of the salmonidae. are
Tow distributed annually. 4 scarcity Of fish
suitable TO our inland waters was discovered
and ID order TO supply that want 1t was decided
10 import the German carp. IA it was thought
they would adapt themselves rapidly to the
change. The experiment successful i'm
every respect, as they increase with wonderful
fecundity and grow twice as rapidly as in their
TeutOnc home. and they are especially suited
to the southern waters of this country. Since
their first introduction in 1877 they have been
distributed Throughout the country from Maine
TO Texas in over 25.0O0 localities; have thryed
in all and have shown phenomenal increase in
many.
THE INTERNATIONAL FISHERY EXHIBITIONS.
The subject of fish culture has of late had
much attention paid to it by the various gov
ernments, and from ten to fifteen exhibitions
have been held in different parts of the world
The first Of special Importance was in Berlin in
1885, In which number of countries were in
terested. Congress requested Professor Baird
10 take charge OF the matter for this country
and he collected a considerable amount of Ameri-
can fishing apparatus and products and made
SO creditable an exhibit that the American ex-
hlOltors succeeded in capturinga majority of the
prizes. To him. personally, was awarded the
great prize OF the exhibition, it being presented
by the Emperor William to him as '.the great
est living fish culturist." The United States
took no part in the subsequent international
exhibitions until last year. when it was repre-
sented at London. This exhibition was the
largest ever held of single industry, the
attendance aggregating over 100000 people
Congress appropriated $50 900. and again re-
quested Professor Baird to take charge of the
American exhibits. He could not go In person.
and the major portion of the responsibility fell
on Professor GoOde. who did great deal toward
developing the collection at Berlin, and whose
services at London were now invaluable. About
thirty governments were represented at Lon
don. including the principal European, Asatic
and American countries. The collection of the
United States was especially full and complete,
and in the competition American ingenuity was
awarded One-f1fth OF the entire number of prizes
while in the higher grades of awards the inner
leans were successful in carrying off one-fourth
of the gold medals.