National Republican., 1884-05-14
THE FISH OULTURISTS,
Of the First Sessions Of the
Thirteenth Annual Meeting.
Papers Read CONCERNING Most OF the
Inhabitants OF the Water.

Iho hrBt days session of the thirteenth
annual meeting Of the American Fish Culture
association convened yesterday morning in
the lecture room Of tho National museum.
Tho following officers aud members wore
present: President James Benkard, New
York; Vico President George Shepard Page,
Stanley, N. j.; Treasurer Eugene G.
Blackfotd, commissioner of fisheries, New
York; Recording Secretary Frederick
Mathor, Cold Spring Harbor, New York;
Charles B. Evarts, Windsor, W.; W. o. At
water Middleton, Conn; Francis Endicott,
New York; II. j.. Rice, New York; Col. Mar
shall Mcdonald, Washington; Charles q.
Atkins, Buckport, Mo-; James Dority, COM
missioner of fisheries, Toledo, Ohio; George
Daniel, commissioner of fisheries, Sandusky,
Ohio; Livingston Stone, Charlestown, n. H.,
G. A. Kingsbury, NJ. d., Philadelphia; ]. G.
Parker, NJ, d.; Grand Rapids, Mich. Frank N.
Clark, Worthwhile, Mich; II. Q. Yarrow, NJ.
d., Washington.
Tho following papers were read ut yester.
days sessions: Fresh and salt water hatch
ing at Cold Spring Harbor," by Fred Mathor !;
Methods Of destroying fish fungus" by ii.
J. Rice; "The artificial propagation Of salmon
in the Columbia rivor basin" by Livingston
Stone; Land.lockcd salmon" by Charles e.
Atkins "Blaol bass in Maine" by George
Shepard Page; is legislation necessary for
the protection of tho ocean fisherman ?" by
Il. G. Blackiord, and Tho Florida sponge
fishery" by Joseph Wilcox.
After Mr. Atkins had finished reading his
paper upon Land Locked Salmon" he was
asked several questions by Prof. G.. Brown
Goode, as to whether there was any obstruc-
tion to tho laud-locked salmon going out to
sea2 MIR. Atkins said that there was some
obstruction coming back, but none going out.
He mentioned the instinct of tho land-locked
salmon TO migrate to sea from mouths Of
rivers. The male salmon livos in fresh water
until his functions are perfectly developed,
and tho spawn of tho female may develop
eggs without going into salt water. Ho had
known of liberalization occurring between
sea- going and land-locked salmon in the
Grand lake streams,
The paper upon black bass IN Maine, by
George Shepard Page, was listened to with
much interest. He referred to what Fish
Commissioner Stanley had said of the great
benefit that the propagation of black bass had
been to Maine, that there arc now in every
| stream 100 or moro of them, and that there
Is great demand for them.
The paper by Mr.. Blackford, rs to whether
! legislation is necessary for the protection of
ocean fisheries, developed the fact that there
are $4,000 men engaged in the fisheries upon
the ocean coast, and $1,000, 900 worth Of capt.
tai Is invested. Besides this, in the fish oil
and fertili2ing factories, 1000 men are eni
ploYed and capital of$3, 100000. Mr. Black
ford referred to tho bad effect the
polluted waters Of New York bay had upon
the striped bass, Holsters, and shrimps of the
Jersey flats, giving them a kerosene taste,
and upon the oysters aud clans of Rockaway
beach from tho refuse matter from Barren
island. Senator Lapham, he said was chair.
man of the senate committee upon the pro.
lection Of fish and fishermen. Mr., Blackford
thought that legislation was necessary both
in New York and New Jersey and in congress
| for the protection of the flshermen's interests
The association at 3:45 p. III. adjourned an.
til 10 o'clock this morning. Aftor adjourn
ment the members proceeded to the govern
ment carp ponds in the rear of tho Washing
ton monument, whore thoy were shown some
big carp weighing ten and twelve pounds by
the superintendent, Mr.. Rudolph Hessee.
Last evoning large audience of ladies' and
gentlemen assembled in tho lecture room Of
tho museum to hear an address of Hon
| Theodore Lyman, member OF congress from
Massachusetts,. Seated upon the rostrum
were Senator Lapham, of New York (wht
presidedJ; Senators Dawes and Groome, Con
gresham Cox, of New York; DIR. A. Q. Gray
of Cambridge, Mass; Prof. Hilgard, an(
members Of the association.
Senator Lapham chairman Of the fishery
committee, introduced Mr.. Lyman, who de
livered an elaborate, learned, and very inter
esting address upon the mighty deep ant
what science had achieved in the discovery
of fish and fish culture. Mr.. Lyman is presi
dent of tho United States Fish commission.
At the conclusion of the address of Mr.. Ly-
man, upon motion of Mr.. Cox, vote of thank
was rendered him Mr.. Cox made fow ro.
marks as TO what he knew about fish, after
| which the audience dispersed.
| This evening, Mt the fisheries section of thu
| National museum, there will be displayed
portion of the collection shown by tho United
! Gt,Nng tha \ GahA vht
and several Of tho other museum gallorie
will be open Tickets Of admission can bC
procured without charge from Spencer f
Baird, secretary Of tho Smithsonian institu
tion.
At the close Of the third and last days Sos.
sion, ON Thursday afternoon, the members o
the association will visit several of the large
fishing stations of the Potomac on one of thu
fish commission steamers.
Fish culture has spread from Maiue to Cal
ifornia and from Minnesota to Texas, until
nearly every state and territory has its fsl
commission, and most of them have an appro
prlatiOn to work with. These funds have
been put in tho hands Of commissioners, VIII,
give their time and energies to the work
most of them without compensation.
The American Fish. Cultural association
has at present about 160 active members, whit
mostly reside in northern states and cities
Among the honorary members of tho associ
alton arc Herr Won Behr president Deuts
chen Fischero Verein; Herr Vondem Borne
Borneuchen, Germany; IL. Il. II. Friedrich
| Wilhelm, crown prince Of Germany; DI