Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-05-28
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
How Fish Culture fas Increased, and the
Best Method for Encouraging lt-Gener.
, al Industrial Miscellany.


PbAN VI hHio NOhhAA1 hNNNSoAbls
In no part of the world were fish bet
ter distributed. When the country
was discovered there was excellent
fishing, not only all along the coast of
the Atlantic, but in the numerous
lakes, rivers, and small streams. In
many places the first settlers would
have perished during seasons when
the crops failed had it not been for
the liberal supply of fish. Shad were
so plenty in the rivers OF some Of the |
eastern states that they were salted |
for use during the times when they |
could not be eaten in their
fresh state. Dried cod, smoked her
rings, and salt mackerel were among
the chief articles of food in town and |
country. They also took the place of
most of the condiments now in use.
Old dun Goldfish was known as
lake cod cheese" in all parts of the
coast. Smoked alewives, or Eastp6rt
herrings, were employed in place of
small coins in making change in coun-
try stores. Lobstcrs, clans, and
oysters were so plenty that they were
hauled about and sold at a nominal
price. Smells, cels, hake, blueiish,
and haddock Afforded a variety to those
who lived largely on "the harvest of
the seas" The prosperity of New
England at the commencement of its
history was largely due TO the fish
that supplied the people with their
principal articles of food.
The rivers emptying into the ocean
and all their tributaries, as well as
the lakes that fed them, were plenti-
fully supplied with fish, Salmon were
soplentiful in many streams that the
people were able to catch and cure
them IN large quantities. All the
mountain streams and spring brooks
were stocked with trout. The lakes
abounded with pike, pickerel, bass,
and perch. The great lakes in the
west were full of trout and whlteiish,
and supplied the earlier settlers OF the
prairics with cheap and excellent food,
For many years no necessity was seen
for the artificial propagation of fish or
even for protecting them from dcstruc-
tion. They were caught in nets,
seines, and other apparatus that were
the most easy to manage. Dams were
erected across streams that prevented
the passage Of fish. In many places
the water of streams was polluted by
tannerics, diStillcricS, ana breweries
so that the best varieties could not
live in them. The supply Of fish sud
denly fell oil in almost all parts of the
country at about the Samo time. Shad
became so costly that none but the
wealthy could eat them. Salmon be-
came so scarce that they were beyond
, the reach OF most persons. Even
mackercl was expensive food, while
brook trout readily commanded 81
, cents per pound in city markets. Ever
clans and Holsters took their place,
: among the costly luXurcs OF the table
$ Although lish-brceding was attempt
I ed by q few persons Of wealth ant
c leisure many years ago it has only be
come a matter OF general interest sine,
. the formation of the National Fish
o culture association, which held its las
r annual meeting at Washington duriny
c the first week in the present month
This association has added millions O
n dollars to the wealth of the country
4 and we have but Just began to dcriv
r the full benefit of its labors. Ii ha
II worked in connection with the na
tiOnal and various state fish commits
= slons. 1t was stated at the meeting q
o Washington that the expense of hatcl
o ing whitc-iish had been reduced frol
$500 to $50 per million during the pas
n ten years. The association has SUI
T. gestcd most of the means that hay
r been adopted by state commissioner
for the establishment of tishways an
~ the management of hatcherics.
1t recommended many of the bills thu
DC were passed by state legislatures f
the protection of fish in inland waite
ce courses. 1t first suggested the lntr
as duction of the various varieties Of Il
IN German carp, which was undertake
by the national government. Only
SIS few years agothirty-live Of these ii.
OF were brought TO this country al
I'm placed in the government ponds
Washington. Some Of their progel
Is are now in every state and territOr
lei They have been sent to over q, ,0
III places, and ii is estimated that the
are now 2O0,0O0,0OO carp in the cou
oil try. Most of them are still sma
rc' which accounts for the fact that tn
are not in hcmarket.
lu' The United States commissions
Vs. have distributed about 600, 900, 600 ii
J.. since 1872, and are prepared to sci
S'n H out $50, 100000 this year. Many
'"' them have been placed in watC
-. where fish were never known to cx
% %,5o before. The experiment was in
''' large number of instances succcssfI
- German carp are found to do well
~, o the alkaline lakes and streams in A
eN Zona and New Mexico, where no ii
md had previously existed. They al
oy thrive in the artificial stock-ponds
:" Texas, Colorado, and other plaC
,o. where fresh fish are difficult to obta
bis m The carp is singlularly adapted to I
waters of the south, in which fish Il
Iico do well in n cold climate do not thri
nm Local associations are ne dcd to ,
courage fish culture by means of briI
M. ing n knowledge of the methods pr
sued by experts before the public. +
people will attempt to start hatche
TO construct a fish pond or even
lor stock one if they have no knowled
ion the business except that derived fir,
: Of books and papers. 1t is with wa
at farming as with land farming. p
ar pie desire to see how new opcrati
hat is performed before they will engi
ry. in it themselves. The establishm,
re- of n new hatchery or artificial I
pond IN a county will cause ma
to people to visit and and see how it
the managed. The directors of coul
pc agricultural societies could render
ded culture profitable by establishing
med breeding establishment on their II
ring grounds. 1t would be great attr
ton at the annual fairs, and h
lvcr swell the receipts. 1t could be rend
pea ed remunerativo in other ways, Bre
men ing fish could be obtained free of G
the from the national or state commissiC
VINO their eggs hatched, and the small
sold to persons who desire to st
ponds. The offer of premiums
various kinds of fish raised in priv
Dse waters would cause many people