Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1895-05-09
The FISH SUPPLY
The Work OF Artificial Propaga-
ton a. Carried on by the
Fish Commission
Special to the Pass.


Hlfiihl ~ lIf ] HISS
WAsmNGroN, May Z.
One Of the surprising achievements
which the ingenuity Of man has at
tempted in recent years is to maintain
the supply Of food feb in the various
lakes and rivers Of the country. Pro-
lection Of the fish by judIcious laws
was formerly thought to be sufficient
10 secure this end, and while these
laws are very good Of themselves and
no doubt il enforced would do much
towards preserving the fish, yet it has
been found difficult, in the frs, place,
TO enforce them, and in the second
place, even where "a reasonable obser-
vance Of these legislative enactments
have been secured, still each year
witnessed falling of in the catch.
No doubt the increased demand
keeping pace with the growth OF the
population, a. well as the poisoning
of streams by the impurities from
manufactures and great cities has had
a great deal TO do with the rather al
arming falling of in the supply Of
TODD fish
Some twenty years ago the Nation
al Fish Commission began ITS work Of
raising Ash from the eggs and distrib-
uting them throughout the rivers and
lakes Of the country. la thirty-four
of the States frsh commissions are
carrying on the same WORK, although
perhaps not on as extensive a scele as
the National Commission. Yet the
sum total Of the efforts Of all these
agencies is claimed to be an actual
expansion in the supply Of the food
fishes.
In spite of the fact that more food
feb are consumed by the inhabitants
of this country than was the case 20
year ago, yet it still remains true not
only is the supply in the market more
abundant but prices are actually low
er. Millions of baby fish are each
year set free in the various waters
throughout the country. a large
per centage are destroyed before they
reach maturity, aud in many ceses,
owing to local conditions, the entire
number OF fish placed in certain lakes
aud ivers lose their lives. Every eff
fort to stock pond or river is not
successful. 1t is stated, however that
these are exceptional cases.
At this season of the year the GER
ter of perhaps the most active work
carried on by the National Fish Com.
mission is at Fort Washington, lew
miles below this city. At this point
there is located one of the principal
stations of the commission, and the
purpose is to collect the eggs of Il e
Potomac shad, which is regarded as
the finest species of this fish in the
country. Under the supervision OF
Of the employees OF the commission
great nets are stretched across the IL
yer, into which the fish find their way
in their journey towards the spawning
grounds, which are in the fresh water
of the upper river.
The eggs are taken from the te..
males, who give up their lives in the
process. From the males the milt is
occurred, and the process of Matching
the young from the eggs is carried on
IN tanks owned by the fish commits
sion. As soon as the young shad All
sufficiently developed they are put il
cans, and the latter arr loaded on car
and in this way the fish are transport
ed to various points, throughout tn
country. 1t is of course necessary il
finding homes for the young frsl
that the proper climatic condition
should be considered, otherwise tn
entire supply is likely to meet an III
. timely END.
, The various species of food fish ar
5 furnished by the Commission, and ar
placed in localities where the cond
e tons seem to promise healthy exis
q ence 1t of course takes time for tn
T fish to mature before they are read
/. to be served up as an article Of foo
g There are many perils which surrouu
n the early years OF their existence, b.
it is evident that enough Of these a