Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-09-27
MATCHING SALMON.
PROCESS FOLLOWED AT ONE OF
UNCLE SANS HATCRERfEs.
Millions OF Fish Annually Added e
the supply OF Rivers and Iinkes
The Young Fry at Home
Transporting Eggs.

Swimming in q small stream, distance
from the sea about thirty miles, aud
from the river where they were caught
three miles, near Bangor, Me, arc about
two hundred robust salmon, male and fe.
male, tho property of the United States
and of the State Of Maine, oil of which
are soon to have the assistance OF man
in producing millions OF their kind.
They SWAN in from the sea this spring
with thousands OF others, weighing on
their arrival about twenty-five pounds
each, aud had they avoided the fish
weirs of the fishermen, would have de.
posted spawn and milt along the spawn
ing beds prepared by nature, where fully
o-thirds of it would have been de-
voured by eels, suckers, clubs, pickere
and other fish. But they were caught
alive, tenderly transferred to submerged
cars, which were afterward towed in.
land, and now, in their narrow quarters,
are being carefully tended. They are in
what is known as Craig Brook, the only
sea salmon hatchery place in the world.
At this place, in years past, Uncle
Sam has expended many thousands OF
dollars in experiments, aud here, too,
millions upon millions of fish have been
articially brought into beiug and have
been distributed ia the waters OF Maine
aud sent abroad to Euglsud, Germany
and Australia
The fish, thirds Of which are fc.
males, are purchased late in June aai
early in July, aud until October are al
lowed the freedom of the river for a dis
tance OF quarter Of mile. The bcJ
of the river is Of mud and not at all t.
the liking of the salmon, which vii
make no attempt to spawn thereon, bat
at the upper end there is another and
much smaller inclosure, having bottom
of gravel Into this come. the femalc
when ripe" or ready to deliver u por
ton of her eggs, aud following her i
seen the male salmon. About this tint
. one of Uncle Sans dip nets is place
under her, and she is lifted, il.p, ,plA,
aud fighting mad, to the bank. Then
thousands Of eggs are forced ih}s-q broad
and shallow tin pan underneath aud tbs
and the fish is again placed in the water
The male fish is similarly treated.
Enough eggs only are taken to cover
the bottom OF the pau. They are OF
gelatine like substance, soft aud ~habby
In each there is minute opening, and
the milt, spreading over them as OF
| spreads over water, enters each aperature
Soon the eggs take on yellow hue, as
sumo the firm shape OF the pea, and grow
/ brittle.
! The salmon egg at first is not unlike
! glass aud will rot bear transportation
! Frames about eighteen inches square, il
!
| brought out, and On these the eggs ar,
/ placed These frames are termed trays
| and are not unlike household wire screens
Perhaps they are piled one dozen hieh
taken into the Matching house, and sab
merged into water This Matching hy=I,.
! is at the foot Of dam, and water flovin.
down into it fills large wooden trough
% a depth Of several feet Thus the egg
are u gently moving water, the |tempera
.ure Of which grows lower as the winte.
all the eggs have been taken from ,ac =
male and ell the milt from the male,
when they are allowed 10 return 70 tn.
SEA When bought, every fish IS weighe-
and given ledger account, aud be.o--
t.e or she Is allo we'd 10 depart, q cvei,
is given and the account closed.
About the first o. the new rear the-e
appear, upoa s-ch eygs what IS know
as eve pots. A, this stage the eggs ioos
like blacs eyed peas and car BE- frozea
shaken, or transported with safety. Ii
March or april, according 70 the warmth
.: the spring tie submerged egg begin,
to assume the shape of the pollywog
all Lead and tall-and about half al Inch
= length Tnls change Is orough,
ahou. py th- temperature q the sprln9
ya,er aloa-. The f.n seems - be Lor-
of part Of the egg. the remainder seen
=, anchor HIN ani on this 1e feeds for
while. the anchor growing less each de-.
.ad the hsA larger /. IS wonderful
; provision Of nature that with the egg
.i7ea forth food for the period the youn:
= ,4.il4ol i helpless
Il MAJ OF early June the a'tac hnen
las BEEN eaten, aud the poll, wog -hk'
fellow looks something like fish. No'