Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-23


collected at various points around the coast as
soon as they appear and brought early to the
hatchery. He thinks, too, that by collect
Ing the finest fish around the shore he Will
be able to improve the breed by crossing the
Trinity Bay fish with superior varieties,
such as those from Cape st. Mary, which
are of large size. By selected stock the
breed of cod can be improved, as well as on
land the breeds of cattle are improved by
similar process of selection and crossing.
The audacity of science in these days takes
away ones breath.
Twenty-Five or thirty millions of young
cod added to the stock in Trinity Bay means
q great deal. Let this be continued for
few years and scarcity of the noble cod will
be transformed into abundance. That is not
all. The fishermen of Trinity Bay report
from various places that they have observed
immense shoals of very small Goldfish in the
waters, such as they never saw before during
the latter part of September and October.
They were not when observed more than an
inch or two inches in length. Mr.. Nielsen
has no doubt that these are the growth from
the fry planted from his hatchery late in
June and in July. In September and Octo-
Der they would have just reached the size of
those seen. This news is of the highest i'm
portance and affords abundant encourage
ment.
NELSON'S L LOBSTER NESTS.
Mr.. Nielsen's success in lobster-hatching
has been more striking than in the former
department and, indeed, has exceeded the
most sanguine expectations. At Dido he
obtained &c, ,927 200 lobster ova from various
factories within reach. OF these Is, ,070, 800
were Matched and planted, against 4, O39, 900
planted last year. The percentage of loss in
the apparatus this year was %, against 4913
last year-showing a marked improvement
in the method of maDipulation-the result
OF experience. These 20, ,927 200 young lob
| sters were set free in the waters of the bay,
where they would have the same chance of
| survival as those brought to life in the
natural way.
This, however, is only part of the tale.
For the first time, this year, Mr.. Nielsen
has employed floating incubators for the
propagation of HOLSTERS. These are small
wooden boxes, so constructed that when an
chored in suitable localities they are con-
| stantly in motion, and allow flow of pure
sea water, aerated by the motion of the in
cuDators, to reach the eggs. These incu-
bators are Mr.. Nlelsen's own invention, and
| show much ingenuity. -Four hundred and
| thirty-two of them were made. Men were
| carefully instructed as to their use. They
were then distributed at IA different stations
around SIX OF our largest bays, from Fortune
Bay to Green Bay, in the North.
RESCUED FROM THE FACTORIES.
They were placed IN carefully chosen
localities, where the water was pure and suf-
| fcient shelter could be found. These places
| were in the neighborhoodo of lobster factories.
| The men in charge of the iucubators visited
the factories daily and carefully removed
the ova fastened to the fbrils of the mother
Holsters, and placed them in the incubators,
where in due time they were Matched, and
when strong enough to strike out for them
selves they were liberated in the waters.
The method is simple and inexpensive
| Twenty-four men were sufficient to work 432
incubators. Their wages were 81 day,
with travelling expenses paid. The cost of
the incubators is 81 each. Any man having
| ordinary intelligence can be taught the
method of working them in a short time.
Now let US see the result of this season. 8
| operations. Returns have been received
! from the IA stations and carefully tabulated.
The returns show that 800, 934, 500 of Holsters
were Matched and planted in the waters.
Adding to these the number Matched at
Dido, by Mr.. Nielsen, we have 406, ,OO5, 800
young Holsters Matched and planted in one
season.
GREAT SAVING OF LIFE.
Let it be noted, too, that these ova were all
| doomed to destruction, and had they not
been turned to account In the incubators
would have been consigned to the boilers
along with the Holsters. That they were saved
and brought to life is clear gain. Should
20 or % per cent survive and reach mutur.
ity-or even half that number-what an ad-
dition to the stock OF Holsters in the waters
in which they were placedl
1t seems to me that in this cheap and
simple process we have the means of arrest
ing the decline in lobster fisheries which for
years past has been experienced in every
country where they are taken, and also OF
restoring lobster-grounds which have been
entirely depleted. Protective legislation
and enactments to secure close seasons
have all failed to arrest the rapid decline in
lobster fisheries. Here is something more
effectual than restrictive measures. Instead
OF consigning these precious germs of life
to the boilers, let each factory be furnished
with set of incubators by which the ova
can be brought to life. The owners and
managers of the various lobster factories
here who witnessed the process with their
own ewes are delighted with the discovery,
and we anticipate that the day is at hand
when they will all, for their own advantage,
procure and work these incubators at their
own expense.
| ONE LOBSTER YIELDS Is, $40.
From the tabulated returns some interest
ing facts are CLEANED. The total number Of
Holsters stripped of their ova at the whole
of the stations was 20, 599. The total num-
ber of Holsters Matched and planted from
the eggs thus obtained was 800, ,934, 500; SO
that the average yield of each lobster was
1870. The total number of ova collected
from the 20, 599 Holsters was 4S2, 554, 26O; SO
that the loss per cent in Matching was
only 10.
The annual value of our lobster fishery is
over 5000, 900. By due care and an extern
sion of artificial propagation we may hope
to increase its value ten-fold. In our prox.
unity to European markets we possess an
important advantage. This year the price
of Holsters has increased 25 per cent, owing
to the scarcity OF the favorite crustacean
The lobster is five years in reaching matur.
ity; SO that the effect of artificial propaga.
ton will not be felt very sensibly for some
time. Our fisheries commission will prob.
| fha n.