The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
FISH CULTURE IN AMERICA
Wondrous Work Accomplished I'm
der Government Auspices.
Seine Hauling Scenes Along the Po-
tomac Rivcr-CuItiyntion and Pres
Mnturcd in Glass Bottles and Then
Set Free to Enrich the Streams.

Not among the least attractive of the
thousand and-one attractive features in
Government structures located in the Cap
ital is the aquarium at the Fish Commits
sion building, where scores Of curious deni-
zens of the lakes, bays, and rivers disport
themselves and are apparently as happy in
their artificial homes as they are in their
native element The aquarium is certainly
worthy of the attention given it by scores
upon scores of callers. The casual visitor
is likely to devote more attention to the
cases with their full grown occupants Of
varied hues than to the unpretentious-
looking jars containing the eggs or en-
bryos Of which there are few specimens
in the aquarium. These represent the real
unitarian work of the commission. namely,
the cultivation and preservation of the
many kinds of fish that inhabit our waters,
and are worth inspection. The eggs are
covered with a transparent shell men,
brane, through which the eyes of the en-
bryo are plainly visible, and are kept in
constant molten by mechanical arrange
ment connected with the breeding jars.
The Fish Commission is entitled to the
gratitude of all lovers of those edible deli
Cacies furnished b.: sea. lake, or stream
throughout the country, for it is owing to
its efforts that many varieties of the most
valued fish are supplied TO the table.
Propagation of Fine Fish.
The product of the shad fishery is today
as much the subject of artificial control as
the corn crop said the Hon. Marshall Me-
Donald former United States Commissioner
;-L
ment could convey more clearly the scope
and utility of the work being carried on
by the Commission. But the shad is not
the only fish which has been saved from
practical annihiiation through its efforts.
The whiteiish of the Great Lakes and the
salmon of the Pacific Coast. both of which
varities are so abundant today. were
short time ago becoming almost extinct
but the methods adopted for their preser
walton were so successful that we may look
upon continual peTpetuation of these de-
lectable fish. Through the efforts of the
bureau, also hundreds of streams through
out the country which had been rendered
practically barren by reckless everlasting
have been restocked and restored TO con-
dition of productiveness, often very much
greater than had ever before been known.
An illustration of the methods of the
Commission in caring for the fishing in
dustry of the country Is furnished in the
vicinity of this city where the Potomac
shad comes in for its full share of atten-
ton. Sixteen miles down the Potomac
from the Capitol. nearly opposite Mount
Vernon, and almost under the walls of
old Fort Washington. is the Bryan's Point
Fish Commission station. A line of tents
on the grassy banks. with the American
flag floating overhead might perhaps con-
vey the impression of military camp did
not the occupations of the men upon the
beach effectually dispel the Illusion. The
scene presented by this camp Of the gen
tie craft upon quiet spring morning,
when the seine is being hauled, is eX-
ceedingly interesting.
The Maryland hills, covered with new
foliage of a hundred shades of green, form
a background for the tents. fortified as
they are with the white pump house and
hatchery. and the old boat house and |
seine haulers' quarters. An occasional |
market sloop. or pungy floats slowly |
past on the early tide. or comes TO an |
Choir near by to wait for the seine haul. |
The water, struck by the first beams of !,
the rising sun. breaks into countless !
diamond sprays from the oars of the /
seine boat as it dashes away from is |
capstan with the net playing out from the !
stern. AS ii reaches midstream it, path |
is marked with a dotted line OF corks which |
expand into a vast semi-circle as the boat |
brings in again and makes fast at an |
other capstan some hundred yards below
the point from which it started.
Now commences the work of hauling |
in the net The crew tumble out into the |
water. thigh deep, and wading ashore,
make fast the hauling line to the capstan.
which is worked by a team OF horses.
Soon the shore end of the great net comes
in then boot tops are hauled up and all |
hands wade out and lay hold. Long lines
quarter lines they are called-have been
made fast to the seine far out in the river
and are wound in while the men are haul
ing. Gradually the space within the line
OF corks is narrowed as the net comes
in, until at last the agitated water and the
occasional siIvery CLEAN of a jumping fish
tells of the living load with which it is
weighted. The men gather in closer and
The fish come TO view in a glittering mass
Of beauty. They are quickly transferred
by dip net from the seine into the lighter,
where they are sorted.
Separating the Catch.
As soon as the herring are separated
rom the shad, the latter are examined for
hose that are TO be taken into the nursing
hospital, and it is here that the Fish Com
mission assumes the role of guardian.
The process of securing the eggs of the
ish Is not by any means difficult, though
great care is necessary in preserving their
vitality. In less than forty-eight hours
hey are ready to be conveyed to the Cen
raj Station at Washington. where the
latchiug process is completed.
Along the Potomac for many miles below
Washington every spot adapted to seine
fishing is swept at ebb-tde the banks be-
ng dotted with the camps Of the gill-net
fishermen, and hundreds OF trap acts lay
n wait for the unfortunate fish. Every
lay during the fishing season steam
launch leaves the station at Bryan,s Point
With seven small boats in tow, which are
iropped at intervals of two or three miles
Town the river. Each of these boats is
provided with the necessary paraphernalia
or handling the fish and securing the eggs,
or which the proprietor of the net is paid
" the Fish Commission 20 cents a thou
and.
Millions of Eggs Secured.
Sometimes the number of eggs taken in
me day will be as high as eight millions
10 easy matter to count, were the counting
done but a sufficiently accurate
is made by measuring the depth
# the eggs in the jars, it having been pre-
'iously calculated just how many occupy
given space After day and a half in
he jars at Bryans Point the eggs, which
fall of rain would have destroyed by rup
uring the delicate shell membrane have
become strong enough for packing on the