The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1902-05-01
FISHERIES OF AMERICA
How a Great Industry Has Been Protected
and Extended.

What the agricultural department is
doing for the farmers OF the country
the fish commission of the national
government, aided by the commissions
Of the several states, is doing for the
fishermen and for all the great inter-
ests which depend upon the products
Of the waters. AS the agricultural de-
partment Is introducing new varieties
Of vegetables and Is constantly teach
ing farmers how they may increase
their crops, SO the fish commission in
PRODUCES new varieties of fish, and by
careful and scientific study determines
n what ways the great fisheries of the
United States may be protected and ex-
;ended. Its work is hardly appreciated
by the public, and yet its reports are
'ull OF information which Is always in
.eresting and sometimes sensational.
The last report of the commission is
Just at hand. Here are some items ex-
:racted from it:
Half-developed oysters and bivalves
which are in poor flesh, as stock
man would say. are now kept in regu-
ar pens and fattened for the market,
Is II they were pigs or other live stock.
More than 10000 pounds of so-called
caviar, which was sold last year in
Chicago and New York, was really ia
Ken from Mississippi river catfish in
stead of from sturgeon.
Since 1890 the number of ships in
he American whaling fleet has de-
creased from ninety-seven to forty.
There Is a steady falling off in the
production of both sperm oil and
whalebone.
There are 10000 men engaged in fish
ing on the great lakes. and the total
capital invested Is $6,600,000. The
number Of vessels engaged is 2O8, and
Of small boats $500.
In 1885 the total catch of sailed
mackerel in the United States was
$50, 900 barrels. In 1886 it was only S0,-
BOO barrels, and it has never since
reached a yearly total Of 100000 bar
rels.
Evolution of a pearl button from
Mississippi river clam shell.
During the last year the United
| States fish commission distributed to
various waters more than 1000, 100000
ash and eggs.
The cars of the fish commission trav-
eled los 900 miles during the year in
! distribution of fish and eggs.
| In Florida and other suitable waters
beds of sponges are now set out, and
marketable sponges are grown from
/ small cuttings, just as vegetables are
,aised in the same way.
Each year it becomes increasingly
iifficult to secure lobster eggs along
| The New England coast. At the same
line the number of Holsters taken each
rear does not greatly decrease.
The diseases of fishes are now being
i carefully and scientifically studied by
scientist under the direction of the
commission. Already he has found
cures for several fish epidemics which
prevail in Matching stations. Perhaps
! before long it will be possible to call
the fish doctor VIXEN disease breaks oat
among the 1nny tribe anywhere.
Proof that the efforts Of the com
mission in planting fish in strange
waters have been successful are plen-
ty. Rainbow trout, for instance, are
now caught in Texas, Virginia, and
many other states, where until the
commission planted the eggs, they
were entirely unknown. In the same
way salmon are now quite plentiful in
| the upper waters of the Delaware river
The biological survey of the grea
| lakes, which has been in progress sew
eral years, is being pushed forward &!
| rapidly as possible. Half dozen sci
entists are spending much Of their time
in careful study Of the various forms o
animal life in which the waters OF the
! great lakes abound,
Stations for the artificial hatchinl
and rearing of clans and Holsters il
large numbers have been established
at several points along the Atlantic
coast The experiments have gone sc
| far as to make it clear that the bust