Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-21
EEL-FARMiNG ON BIG SCALE
Stocking a Fresh Water Pond Sue
Ccssfuily with salt Water Fish.


CcssiuiIy with salt Water Fish.
$40 you remember last summer letter
| wrote about eel farmng?" asks a wri-
ter IN the Cape Cod Item. 1t seems the
article attracted some attention because
Of the queer industry it described, and so
this season, at the request of the editor, |
visited this place again and am prepared
to report. Perhaps you may not remember
that | then stated that two gentlemen on
Cape Cod had purchased fresh water
pond of several acres ana stocked it with
salt water cells. This fish, unlike most
others. is as much at home in fresh water
as salt; in fact, you win always find them
in tall and winter in all fresh water
creeks that have a connection with the
ocean in any way. At that time and
since these gentlemen have put into the
ponds sixty barrels of cells. Now barrel
Will average to hold $500 fish, so we may
safely count that at the present time there
are 10 less than 100000 cells in the pond.
which have grown to double, yes, quad
ripple. their size since they were put in.
the flesh of an eel grown in fresh water,
contrary to the opinion Of those who have
only eaten them grown in their native
waters, is very pleasant and agreeable,
and why should it not be, when we con-
slider that all fresh water fish are pecu-
lIarly delicious eating? The prejudice
which you find on the sea coast is not
shared away from it, and dealers who
have purchased these fish have been eager
to nave fresh supplies, which speaks for
itself and for the feb.
There is a cOmical part to the story at
ter all. Last fall, when the demand for
cells began, the owners started for their
mine, prepared to bring forth the treas
ure, wnen 10 and behold! not an eel was
to be found. Some said that they had
gone to China; others that they had found
an outlet to the ocean, and 1t was good
bye cells.
Bakers folly became standard Joke.
'A prophet is not without honor save in
his own country" This proyerb, so old
and vet SO true, was true here. Common
sense taught the owners that the fish
were safely housed in the mud for the
winter, and while regretting years
profit lost; they did not give IN. | said
profit lost; | should have said put in the
bank-mud bank.
When spring came and the warm
weather thaWed tuem out they came
forth in thousands; huge balls OF living
eeis rolled out of the mud as big as a
bucket, twined in and out lIke-well, like
nothing else on eartn or under the earth.
and when they We're fed the water was
fairly alive with these squirmng, snake
like creatures. Some idea Of it NAV be
had by knowing that for a meal "a ton OF
foud-what is called on the Cane "horse
feet" was thrown into the pond. That
was at night; the next day not particle
of food was left; every she'll was cleaned
as nicely as you could do 1t with care and
patience. Now didn't those fish weigh a
ton more?
To feed this enormous aouarlum ten
men are employed with two Fighters"
gathering horse feet, bringing from 4, 900
10 5000 at "A load. A large pound or en-
closure already holds 10000, and thsnum-
Der viii be increased to 10000. In july
the owners Will begin to take them out
and send to market, and II they do not
meet with lively demand shall be much
surprised.
ltls rare sight to see this armyof fish
fed. When the food is thrown INTO the
pool you Will see them coming in all direc-
lions ana i'm SUCH numbers that the water
fairly bous with them. They seem TO be
aware that the time mas arrived for din
nel, and by some sort Of intellgC nee they
come from the turlhermost points OF the
pOhd. he men who prepare the food fire.
quenlly hnd tnemselNes standing several
feet deep In mass Of squirting fsh.
think may safely say that nothing like it
was ever known before, and the financial
result will determine whether or not
there VIII ever be known anything like it
again. l am not ready TO offer any opin-
ION on that point; | VIII leave it Tor time
u decide; but stu ] can't refrain from
saving, with Col. Sellers: There's mill
ion'sin it!' more or less.
viii leave you To take your choice
what refer to-dolars or cells.