Evening star., 1897-01-05
FRUITFUL FISH FARMING
The Work of the Past Year in Stocking
Coast and Stream.
The Lusty Salmon, the Acquisitive
Lobster, the Plump Shad and
the Variegated Trout.

Probably never in its history has the
United states fish commission accomplished
as much work in eight months as 1t did
during the period from April to Decem-
Der or the year just ended. The annual
report Of the commission made by Commits
sioner Brice directly to the President shows
that not only has the ordinary work been
steadily pursued on an enlarged SCALE but
that the field has been very much broad
ened. especially in the direction of propa-
eating fish not before the subject of ex-
tensive cultivation. all of which attempts
have been followed by marked success.
When Commissioner Brice assumed charge
of the office the work in progress was
mainly the propagation of shad on the Po-
tomac, Susquehanna and Delaware rivers
and OF Holsters on the New England coast.
Raalizing the necessity of increasing the
output of shad. the most important of
eastern food fish, operations in that direc-
ton We're enlarged at once, with the result
that the output was increased by 10000. coo
14S, ,0OO,0 600.
Lobster Farming.
If Congress approves a bill submitted
providing for few auxiliary stations the
commissioner says he will be enabled to
Immensely increase this output in the near
future. Extra efforts were also made to
enlarge the lobster output, with the result
that the number of fry collected amounted
TO H,W0,OOO, as against z 20O0, 900 last year,
and, with the experience gained, this out
put will be increased 100 per cent next sea-
son. In the line of new work, steps were
taken to propagate the mackerel, which
valuable fish is constantly failing, and "a
OOOOD eggs were collected. The work was
largely experimental. but it is believed that
next year valuable results will follow. The
salmon work on the Pacific coast has re-
ceived comparatively little attention during
the past few years. but this season Com
missioner Brice made new departure and
located auxiliary stations some of the
streams tributary to the Columbia river, to
operate in connection with the permanent
station at Clackmas, Oregon. with the
tonishing result of reducing the cost per
thousand of salmon eggs from $1.S1 to IL
cents.
Output of Salmon Eggs.
Enough eggs were taken to run the
hatcheries to their full capacity, and to
send 5,0OO,OO0 to the east for distribution.
The total take of salmon eggs-37 600, ,OOO-
amounted to three times as many as were
ever collected before in one season. En-
couraged by the success of this experiment,
the commission proposes next year to sup
plement all of the central hatcheries in the
country by small collecting stations,
to be run only during the spawning season
at small expense.
Undismayed by the mysterious disappear
ance Of the splendid lot of western salmon
fry placed In eastern rivers several years
ago. the commission is about to make an
other attempt to colonize the Pacific sal
mon in the east. To accomplish this 5000, 900
eggs will be transferred from the California
stations to stations in New York, Ver-
mont and Maine, where they will be
hatched and the fry liberated in the Penob-
scot, kennebec, Merrimac, Hudson, Della
ware and Susquehanna rivers.
The output Of Atlantic or landlocked sal
mon has been largely increased, and the
lake fisheries have been fostered, the COL
lection of lake trout eggs being increased
by two or three million. The white fish
work was set back by the destruction of
the fishing gear in the height of the season,
but 1t is hoped that the collection of eggs
will amount to l4O,OOOOO0.
Work on the Cod.
The cod work just commencing at Woods
Holl will undoubtedly surpass all previous
seasons; over 5000 brood fish have been
collected in the pen at the Holi, and they
should yield at least $50, 100000 eggs in
addition to 75,OOO,OOO to be collected by the
Grampus at Kittery Point The trout out
put will also exceed last years record. al
though the season has not vet advanced
far enough to give figures.
10 give the Pacific coast people the op-
rortunity to feast on the best fruits of At
lantic waters the commission made n start
this season toward Introducing there the
eastern lobster. oyster and diamond back
terrapin. The oysters arrived in excellent
condition and were planted in Yauuina
bay Ore, and Hum bnit bay, CAL, without
loss. The Holsters were very ditficult to
transport. but ninety egg-bearing females
were safely deposited in Monterey bay. an
equivalent to 100000 fry. The ierraon
were deposited in suitable waters in San
Francisco bay.
The Noble Steelhead Trout.
In return the commission felt that the
Atlantic coast and the lake dwelIers would
like to have the great steelhead trout, one
of the finest game and food fishes of the
Pacific coast, where 1t attains a weight of
thirty pounds on a maximum, and an aver
age of ten pounds. So plants aggregating
fry to the number of 10000 were deposited
In the waters of Superior and Huron, and
$4,000 in Penobscot river Maine Eggs were
also supplied to the New York state com
mission, which Matched them and planted
the fry in the Hudson. Summing up~the
work Of the commission the report shows
that IN the case of the twelve more i'm
portant food fish the increase in planting
has ranged from 10 per cent to 866 per
cent. In conclusion, the report tells of the
work done in improving the plants of the
stations and building new ones. The Ten
nessee station, authorized by Congress last
session, is to be located in Unicoi county,
near Erwin, Tenn, and steps are being
taken to investigate the advisability Of
establishing a station near Spearfish in the
Black Hills, Dakota, and at some point In
New Hampshire.