The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-26
SUNSET COX ON FISH.
An Acre Of Water Equal 20 an Acre
CT Land.

In the debate ON the bill to establish the
Office of the Commissioner of Fish and Fish
cries, Representative S. s. Cox, of New
York, made the following humorous remarks
in support OF the measure;
"This business of propagating our food
nshes is well appreciated by the people all
over our country. Since Prof. Baird began
this work there has been sent out by tank,
cans and otherwise throughout the land,
from Texas to Maine and from the Columbia
River to the ST., Johns. 1O0,00o,O0o of young
fish or spawn for the propagation OF this
food.
"1he report of Prof. Goode blouse Miscel-
laneous Document No. 800 to The present
Congress shows the cast during the last IFS
cal year Of the production, transportation
and distribution of these 100,O0OOOO from
their sixteen Matching and rearing stations.
The propagation expenses were $780, the
cost of fish ponds and distribution was
$40 00Q, and the same sum for vessels en-
gagged in the service There are existing
other appliances for the founding Of this
extensive and humane OBJECT, Whlch 1 VIII
not dwell upon.
''rhe time has almost come, prophesied by
Prof. Huxley, when an acre OF water VIII
almost produce as much food for the support
of human life as an acre OF land.
lie SCitutt VI n>t plUpt6uttOn - NhC VI
the lnaryels of our time. 1t is one of the
miracles of physical culture. We have under
stood, appreciated and encouraged 10y law
this wonderful multiplication of food fishes.
"If am permitted to refer modestly TO my
travels, will say that when | was coastlng
around Norway scientist informed me
pointing out over the Arctic Ocean, WHICH
we were nspecting-that there had been the
year before a shoal of Goldfish near the Lof-
oden Islands mile in superficial extent. con-
n .NAs hat hAG aAd-
fish had fed ON 420.000.000 herring. There is
no limit to the wonderful ininitude OF these
finny creatures of the deep.
prof Baird saw with generous vision THIS
result of natural law. Although believe
the invention or discovery of this remarkable
fecundity and mode of propagation in fish
was made at an earlier date than 1871, still he
utilized it. To be just in this connection, 1
may remark that before Prof Baird under
took this service DR.. GaricK, an Ohio man,
name, but his discovery was felicity itself to
millions. is il not curious fact that Ohio
always seems to be a little ahead Of other
States in certain affairs political or other
wardness in speaking of Ohio products, for
was born there myself. Laughter.
Z Nevertheless, Mr.. Speaker, there never
was an interest in this country so cared for
by the government as this OF hsh. Our first
efforts, at least in New England, began with
fish. When our ancestors-I refer to New
England, where was edueated-when our
ancestors went to KING James for charter
to 90 across the seas and col0nize Massachu-
setts, the King asked the PqTltans;
"'What is your object? What do You in
tend?' .ro ,.o..,,x a.,
catch fish, [Laughter.]
"Then the King rejoined: L give you the
charter Fore Cad 1t is the apostles own
cailingp Renewed laughter
"Why, sir, even in the early churches of
New England the early and pious Puritans
used to sing
Ye monsters Of the bubbling deep,
Your Makers name uprase;
Up from the sands ye c0dlings peep,
And wag Your tails always.
Laughter and applause
$50 that in early in New England the cure
and care of fish was concomitant with COM
merce; liberty and sanetitiy., In later times
New England has obtained congressional
enactments giving free salt for her fish, while
the miserable man IN Chicago cannot get free
salt for his pork [Laughter] Congress has
always had kindly word for the fishermen
For many decades it gave bounties at SO
much per cod. These fishermen have not
become less tenacious of their rights since
the bounty ceased. They number a million
or more Of men constantly engaged in their
hardy and hazardous occupation. Their
calling is associated at the present time with
some curious wrlsglingin diplomacy. Laugh
teri But wherever they are, and wherever
they adventure, they should be cared for by
the fostering arm of the government.
.fhe main object of this BILL sir, is not to
assist the fishermen so much as the cOnsum-
ers Of fish. 1t would send out the seed broad
cast, that food haryests may grow in all the
waters of this land / trust there will be
nothing done here to impair the usefulness of
this bureau. trust, as this bill takes no
money out of the Treasury, that no further
objection will be made to its passage; that
the President may be able to select a practi-
cal man of science and energy, whether he
be Democrat or not, to occupy and honor
the position. am not sure but that there
may be found some good scientific Democrat
in this country to administer this Office.
[Laughter.l All the sciences cannot be mo-
nopolized by the Republican party. There
may be Democrat discovered with the quail
titles of good scientific fisherman. The
President will find him. The President him-
self is somewhat of expert in that line.
Laughter At all events, let us by this en-
actment enable him to select the right man
for the position. So far as am individually
concerned am not oyer-eager whether he
selects Democrat or Republican to carry
out the humane and beneficent provisions
proposed by this bill reported by my hon.
ored friend from Arkansas Mr. Dunn, to
whom l tender my thanks for the privilege
of these desultory remarks" Applause