The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-06-05
FISH CULTURE IN VERMONT.

The average VermOnter generally has
an eye to the main chance He is never
loath to venture into ways though unex-
plored, that give promise of money.
Vermont las gained a wide reputation
for its sheppard horses. It has some of
the finest herds Of cattle in the country
1t takes the cake" for maple sugar, and
plenty of maple sugar 'On-eake. 1t now
proposes to turn 10 ANEW industry, that
of raising fish. We see no reason why it
may not succeed in this. branch of agri-
culture as well as in other branches.
Are not the banks of Vermont as good
to pasture salt cod as the Banks of New
f0undland? II we understand correctly
the people of Vermont do not intend toll
90 into this fish business by halves
They propose to establish a. hatchery
and introduce bloOded stock, and when
the scheme has reached a proper stage
of development the suggestion made by a
distinguished son of Vermontat recent
public dinner, will doubtless be adopted
that of securing a cross between fish
and hen that the fecundity of the latter
may be indefinitely increased. We have
excellent facilities in this State for the
cultivation of fish. They thrive best in
moist climates. The past few seasons
have been full of promise in this direc-
ton, They need shade and solitude.
Where can. this be found in greater
abundance than upon our mountains and
along our hill tops and among the de-
serted farms that are so rapidly growing
up to forest. Fish require fresh air. No
part of the country can furnish more
fresh air to the square mile in the same
length of time than can be found on the
summits of our rock-ribbed watersheds.
Fish require exercise. They are sportive
animals. A healthy whale or tarpon or
even a fair-sizcd trout will keep the
average fisherman dancing by the hour.
With the anticipated influx of summer
Boarders this can easily be secured. In
the near future we expect to see these
/ latter chasing the fish across our pas
lures and through the meadows and up
the trees, thus affOTdinE all the exercise
essential to vigorous growth. 1t seems
to us in looking over the field that there
can be nothing wanting to make fish cul-
| ture success in Vermont 1t is true
we have not much water, not many of
our streams are so large but that an aver
age trout could wade across them. But
it is proposed to bring fish eggs here and
hatch them out under new conditions.
| The presumption is that they will be
adapted to their environments in the
course of two or three generations at
least. The question for our new fish
commissioners to take into consideration
relates primarily to the kind of fish best
adapted to our soil. The smaller breeds
are to be recommended on some ac-
counts. They are less liable to swallow
cats and dogs and other small game that
lurk about the farm houses, and to bite
the children while these latter are on
their way to school. There is this dis
advantage however, in introducing this
kind of stock. Our pasture fences are
built of brush. wire, rails, ETC., intended
to "head OFF, horses, sheep, cattle, etc.
The smaller fish could easily slide under,
or lift themselves over, or glide through
between the rails. If the attempt is
made to pasture fish on our hillsides, of
the varieties referred to above, it will be
necessary to substitute new kind of
fence for those now prevailing. On some
accounts the larger breeds of fish are to
be recommended. There is an advantage
in cultivating the whale and the shark.
| Whenever you catch one you have fish
enough to last until you have time to
catch another; and besides, their bones
are not continually sticking in your
throat. 1t would not be necessary to
change the present system of fencing
very much, forif whale turned out to
pasture undertook to be frisky and over
pass the bounds set for him, it would re-
qure long study TO determine
whether lie was on eithe side of the
fence. But it should be taken into con
sideration that the larger kinds of fish
have voracious appetitcs. Nothing or
ganic or inorganic comes amiss. We
might find that we had introduced new
enemy with whom we mnst keep up
constant warfare. Besides, it Is we'll
known fact that the demand for the use
of organs will result in the development
of the needed organs. None of the larger
kinds of fish can get about over OuI
rough and stony soil in their present
condition, in an advantageous way. We
must expect in few years to see these
animals stalking through our fields like
the enormous insects of the paleoZoic
ages. Then, indeed, would it be hard
for stranger to determine whether Yer
mont was progressing backward or retro
grading forward, Our advice to the
commissioners would be to introduce
both the larger and the smaller kinds as
both possess qualities that commend
them TO our consideration. Besides, the
larger fish eat up the smaller, and this
would serve for our protection by divert
ing their attention. We commend this
scheme, but trust it will not demoralize
the people by increasing the amount of
Sunday fishing. We never caught fish
on Sunday or any other day. The pros
pect looks brighter for us when VIC think
Of bringing them in with salt dish and
a halter.-Herdh &c NewS. r