Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-03-15
FISHERIES OF AMERICA
How O. Greet Industry Hos Been Protected
ExtendeS.

What the agricultural department Il
doing for the farmers of the country
the nsh commission of the national
government. aided by the commissions
OF the several states, is doing for the
nshermen 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
In what ways the great fisheries of the
United States may be protected and ex-
tended. Its work is hardly appreciated
by the public, and yet it's reports are
fuil OF information which is always in
teresting and sometimes sensational
The last report of the commission is
just at hand. Here are some items ex-
tracted from it:
Half-developed oysters and bivalves
which are in poor flesh. as a stock
man would say, are now kept in regu-
lar pens and fattened for the market
rs II they were p gs 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
the American whaling feet 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 $500, 900. The
number of vessels engaged is 208, and
of small boats $500.
In 1885 the total catch of sailed
mackere1 in the United States was
$50 oo0 ba: re1s. In 1886 it was only so.-
600 barrels, and it has never since
reached yearly total of 100000 bar
rels
Evolution of a pearl button from a
Mississippi river clam she'll
During the last year the United
States fish commission distributed to
fish and eggs.
eled 105. 900 miles during the year in
of fish and eggs.
In Florida and other suitable waters
sponges are grown from
small cuttings, just as vegetables are
raised in the same way.
Each year it becomes increasingly
iif1cult to secure lobster eggs along
The New England coast. At the same
time the number of Holsters taken each
year does not greatly decrease.
The diseases of fishes are now being
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 when disease breaks out
among the f1nny tribe anywhere.
Proof that the efforts of the com
mission in planting fish in strange
waters have been successful are plen-
Ly. 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 |
he upper waters of the Delaware river. |
The biological survey of the great |
axes, which has been in progress sew |
>ral years. is being pushed forward as |
-apidlv as possible. Half a dozen sci |
.ntists are spending much of their time |
n careful study Of the various forms OF |
lnimal life in which the waters IT the
treat lakes abound.
Stations for the artificial Matching
nd rearing of CLAIMS and Holsters in
arge numbers have been established
t several points along the Atlantic
cast The experiments have gone so
ar as to make it clear that the bust