The National tribune., 1886-06-10
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
ti0Ral Capital



WAS established, a few years ago, there were
not many people who believed it would ever
be anything more than an ornamental append
slgc 20 The Government Its work lS however,
beginning 10 show results fully justIiying the
claims that were made for its usefulness. In
the distribution and propagation OF FISH IN the
various waters Of the country, ID was 10 be eX-
lreeted that wears must Clapsc before practical
results could be real zed. The Commissioners
have lal,ored long aud patiently, in the face of
much rilicule from those who lacked faith in
the scheme TO improve the quality aud en-
large the supply of fish ID our inland waters.
They have never for a moment lost faith IN
their ultimate success
One 81 the most important branches Of the
subject TO which the Commissioners addressed
themselves, was the arrest Of the rapid decline
in the stock Of whitcish in the great lakes.
No product of our waters is more valuable for
table use than this species OF hsA. For 30 or 40
years past they have been taken In such large
quantities as 10 threaten cN hanstion of the sup
ply, II not actual determination. or late years
the catch in many localities has declined more
than so per cent. One Of the trst efforts of the
Commission was 10 aid the work of restoration
byartiicial proFagatng aad planting Within
two or three years many millions were depos-
tied Id Lakes Superior. Huron, Michigan, and
Erie The result is already apparent and the
product is clearly on the increase. IL is the
intention to continue the work without cessa-
tion. The ilsh arc produced from the spawn
at the different hatcheries. They arc trans
ported In large tanks and placed in the water
nj The desired points. The Commission has a
number ol cars fitted up for this especial pur-
pose and 10 difficulty is Found in making the
transfer For some time TO come large quanti-
ties of ysnng whitefish viii Sims be planted
annually in tile lakes. aud il Is confidently be-
lieyed that within 10 years The supply VIII he
fully restored.
The greatest actual results thus Ear attained
have baen with the carp. This is due to The
very rapid growth OF this species and the fact
that it tAtiNes in all waters oil the country.
The carp is not native to America, hut was inn
ported from Germany. Often a weight Of four
OF five pounds is attained ia single year from
the eggs; and i'm few years from 20 10 80
pounds D. reached. Wherever planted. under
favorable conditions, aud receiving reasonable
care and attention, they have grown, bred, and
multiplied with great rapidity. Many hun
dreds OF streams and ether bodies of water i'm
all paris Of the country have been planted
with thcse fish. It is estimated that the mar
lzetablc yield will soon he 2a.093G00 pounds
annually aud add 81 900, 600 yearly 10 the pro.
ducts Of the country. lew years ago the
carp wns almost unknown here. Now IL is
common in all the markets Of the country.
The American stomach takes kindly 10 IL.
The shad Is a palaiable and popular FISH. III
y
pOster0ns bones, sharp ms needles. all through
dts ilesh that have apparently no other purpose
than 70 eXasperate the eater particularly IL be
is short OF time, and make him appreciate the
tOoths0me m0Fsels. Much attention has been
given NV the Commission 30 the propagation
and distribution Of shad in all the coast streams
More than 5,009O00 young shad have beer
planted during the past two months. The pro
duct has very materially increased. especially
IN the Chesapeake waters This is shown by
the DECREASE la price In the faee OF n constant )
growing demand. Shad are very plenty in the
Washington aud Baltimore markets. They
may be bought by the hundred number moi
weight NJ from $I2 90 SZ5, and a. retail from
eight 10 IT, cents per pound.
Efforts have been made 10 acclmate tht
California salmon in the waters Of the Missis
sippi Valley and the Atlantic slope, bot tbi'
experiment has not been very successful
Temperature and other conditions are moi
favorable On the Pacific coast. however, greai
success haas been attained. ln the Sacramento
River ior example, the annual yield has beer
doubled within the past five years and $500 0Ot
per annnm added to its valHe
The brook trout and black iIass are the favor
ties OF spOriSmen. Fer many years they have
been rapidly decreasing In al the waters mos
convenient OF access 60 the many Thousand
who lnd summer recreation iH angling. Lat
terly good ishing, that satisfies the longing o
AfbDnA MtiE AfNI pAnNhtDiAAl nfF1IhnF AmH NnHtN D
found without going 20 remote points, aud ever
these are being eneroaehed upon year by year
The Comm issionerz have lab0ned diligently q
arrest the decline of trout and bass and 10 re
pienish the Ealing supply in the streams of thl
mOnntain sections OF tho country. In this the,
have bten greatly aided by the Legislatures q
various States, which have passed Etrinren
laws for the protection OF these fish and ais
by numerous clubs and associations of gentle
men interested in the subject Both these lis
among The slow growers. and time viii b
required 90 accomplish the desired end. TIL
results thus far have been highly satisfactory
anOrding good reason for the belief that in
few years many streams from which they ha
almost disappeared will be abundantly rt
st0rked. Then, by continued effort, the suppl
Can be maintained.
TIE 18TH MASS.
On Friday last the 18th Mass. Regiment.
Association which has been visiting Gettysbur
for the pGrpose OF Erecting monuments,
stated elsewhere In this paper, reached Vast
ingtDn. The company numbers in AT ah0u
IJN but 0i these only 90 are actual members I
the regiment the others being their friend
and relatives The party ia IN charge Of a con
Inittee, ~ which Capt ID. n. Earl il Chairman
This gentleman was AdiutAnt Of the regimen
At Gettysburg. first for Col. Ward, who va
killed la the second days tight. and aftcrwart
f0r Coz. JClin. who commanded the regimen
or the second day. Among the party Ia Mr. Ge
w. Mafa. who is a bright young Bewspapt
man, on the staff OF the Worcester Mass NJ
and who accompanied the party as the spccia
correspondent 81 that paper lle Is the son
Loi. Ward 10 whose memory the mOnumer
was erected Mt Gettysburg Col. Ward, as
wei known, lost leg 40 Balls Bluff and al
pcare1 apAin ~ the head Of his regiment at Ge
tysbnrg before the stump was healed. Stranl
10 say hc lost his other leg at Gettysburg eau
ing bis death the same day. Among a
Fcuileincn accompanying the party were Fl
Attorney iinneral BeVens. Of NAssachusetl
vino commanded the regiment al Balls Blu
he however. left the excursiOnsts after a
liycr3ng the address AZ Gettysburg being con
pelleo 20 return ~ his business In Massachl
Bcttk 6rn. John W. k imball who commando
the regiment at AntietaIn, together with n
wife anA danghtsr; Col Ch4se FIlbrick. WI
cOBmapded the regiment at Frederickshur
nnc Col. George q. JOslin, who auded a
regiment Ok Gettysburg after The gallant Wa
iell. On saturday evening at s.30 the par
left for I.ecsbnrg. aud Sunday was spent
Balls B.HM ON Monday the ezcnrAionists =
turned ~ Washington, aud some Of tIem pr
eredea haille on the following day, but ak II
tleieit were good f0F a week many went
RICHMOND freacFicksburg, and othcr points
Interest Ia the vicinity Of Washington.
ar NAGTs c0NFEDERATE BONDS PAID.
sensation Of s0inc magnitude WaE Great
at the nsCeiinR 0f thp House Committee ON W
Claims one day last week. JsaPe Fullerton.
heW York, who Was leading counsel Cor The
dOfc illton M tic famous Bceeher case !
pclrna before tic committee and asked fhslt