The times., 1900-03-11
FISH CULTURE IN AMERICA
WondrOus Work Accomplished I'm
der Government Auspices.
Seine Hauling Scenes Along the Po-
tOmRc RiNcr-CuItiNntion and Pres
ervation OF the Finny Tribe-shad
MHturcd 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 a few specimens
in the aquarium. These represent the real
utilitarian 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 mem
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
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 Nc
Donald. former United States Commissioner
of Fish and Fisheries, and no other state
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 annihilation through its efforts.
The whitehsh OF the Great Lakes and the
salmon Of the Pacific Coast both Of which
varites are so abundant today. were a
short time ago becoming almost extinct
but the methods adopted for their preser-
walton were so successful that we may look
upon a continual perpetuatlon 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 overfishing
have been restocked and restored TO a con-
dition Of produCtivcness. often very much
greater than had ever before been known.
An Illustration of the methods Of the
dustry of the country Is furnished in the
vicinity of this city where the Potomac
shad comes in for its full share of atten-
tion. 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 a military camp did
not the occupations OF the men upon the
beach effectuaIly dispe the Illusion. The
scene presented by this camp Of the gen
tie craft upon a quiet spring morning,
when the seine is being hauled, is ex-
,eedingly interesting.
The Maryland hills covered with new
foliage OF a hundred shades of green. form
a background for the tents. fortified as !
hey are with the white pump house and |
hatchery. and the old boat house and |
seine haulers' quarters. An occasional !
market sloop. or a pungy floats slowly |
past on the early tide, or comes to an |
'hor near by to wait for the seine haul. !
The water, struck by the first beams Of ,
he rising sun, breaks into countless !
diamond sprays from the oars of the /
seine boat as it dashes away from its
apstan with the net playing out from the
tern. AS II reaches midstTeam its path
e marked with a dotted line OF corks which
xpand into a vast semi-circle as the boat
lrlngs in again and makes fast at an
,ther capstau some hundred yards below
he point from which it started.
Now commences the work Of hauling
n 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.
h.. ,f Ho 1at Z
n: then boot tops are hauled up and all
ands wade out and lay hold. Long lines
uarter lines they are called-have been
made fast to the seine far out in the river
nd are wound in while the men are haul
lg Gradually the space within the line
4 c0rks is narrowed as the net comes
D. until at last the agitated water and the
ccasional silvery CLEAN OF jumping fish
ellis Of the living load with which it is
.eighted. The men gather in closer and
be fish come TO view in a glittering mass
+ beauty. They are quickly transferred |
Y dip net from the seine into the lighter.
here they are sorted.
Separating the Catch,
As soon as the herring are separated
ON the shad, the latter are examined for
hose that are TO be taken into the nursing
ospital and # is here that the Fish Com
ission assumes the role of guardian.
me process OF securing Ihg ne eEsS oi tus
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