The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-07-08
BIG FISHING EXPEDITION
Party Of Experts to Explore
Alaskan Waters.
FISH OF ARoTIos TO BE STUDIED.

and Save Species of Northern Food
Fishes-NumBer OF Scientists Are
Cruising In Northern Waters on
Steamer AIbatross.
Somewhere ID the frozen ATTITUDES of
the Pacific the fish commission steam
er Albatross is making its way north
with the big party Of scientists on
board who are to spend the summer
exploring the waters of Alaska and the
arctic and studying the fnny inhabit-
ants Of the bays, rivers and lakes Of
the regions, with the view of increas-
ing the number Of fish there for the
benefit Of man, says a Washington spe-
cial dispatch to the Chicago Tribune
The expedition Will return TO the Unit
ed States in the latter part Of October
The Albatross, which had been thor
oughly overhauled at the Mare island
navy yard at San Francisco and fitted
with all modern appliances for under
sea exploration, in addition to the usual
provisions and outfit Of the arctic ex-
lploring vessels, arrived at Seattle, the
place Of meeting of the various parties
of experts, scientists, fishermen and
college professors, a few days ago.
Here 1t had to wait for members Of
the expedition to gather The major
ity were from the Leland Stanford uni
versity. The remainder came from all
over the United States. including Wash
ington, DR.. Barton w Byerman and
several assistants from the fish com
mission being among the latter. Com
missioner George Bowers, who arrang-
ed the final details Of the trip, was the
last to reach Seattle, waiting until oil
were on the scene, so that he could in
spect the whole expedition.
That there win be some interesting
reports is certain, as the vessel is to
cover a distance Of 10000 and more
miles in waters little known, especially
below the surface, and in which there
are hundreds OF species Of fish which
Ehave never been classified and of which
only few facts are known.
The exploration win be conducted IN
the feeding grounds Of the salmon. It
is the intention Of Commissioner Bow
ers to have the party study every
habit Of the suceulent red fish Of the
north, including his food, his various
homes after he leaves the spawning
rivers, the diseases that kin him of,
his enemies of the sea and land, and,
in fact, every move he makes from
birth to death, various specimens of
various ages, of course, being observed
for that purpose.
While this is going on a big land
party is to 90 to work constructing
stations where the eggs Of the north
ern fish are to be Matched as are those
Of the southern climes. Commissioner
Bowers expects to have these in readi-
ness for operation when the spawning
season begins next spring. According
to the plans Of the commissioner about
twenty of these stations are TO be built.
one on each Of the big bays and har-
bors and others on the rivers, includ
Ing the Yukon
So far it is known that the food fish
Of the far northern Pacific consists,
first, Of salmon, luke and a large sort
of shad, which seems crossed with
/ the voracious muskelIunge Of the Alas
kan fresh waters and which Is as gamy
las the great tarpon Of sunny Florida.
This individual grows to a large size,
Frequently weighing fifteen pounds
His flesh is fine eating, but one has to
20 to the northern waters after him,
because he won't 'nack" that is, he
loses all flavor and becomes 4mushy'
when parboiled and put in cans like
his neighbor. the red salmon.
/ In the family Of the northern flukes
are the founders, the halibut and SINH
lar creatures whose anatomy seems to
be all on one side, bur whose favor is
much improved because Of the prox-
Unity of the icebergs and the strenu
GUS life they lead in the struggle for
food There is also a Goldfish, sort
Of a second cousin to that Of the New
England banks, but also larger and
/ harder to catch; a mysterious red fish.
| whose brilliant scales and piratical and
cannibalistic habits have made him
as much of a terror in the far north
i as the snapper" Of the Florida banks,
and a fine kind Of sea trout, speckled
and FURNISHED, which grow to be three
/ times the size Of the weak fish, or
So called sea trout Of the Atlantic wa
tiers. In addition to these principal in
habitants Of the waters to be explored
there are myriads Of smaller finny
specimens which look like herring.
mackerel and perch, and which are
good TO eat; outlaws like the dognsh
and small sharks in the Atlantic and
crabs and Holsters and oysters, all of
which are as yet little known.
The oysters are said to be finer than
many obtained in the United States,
being always in cold water while the
crabs grow to such size that one Of
them Is enough to make meal for
two people, yet the flavor is fine
| AS to the lobster, it is one Of the
special duties Of the expedition TO try
and locate new fishing grounds. The
culture Of the lobster is one Of the
problems which the commission has not
yet solved successfully, and Its tribe
! Is growing smaller dpspita the laws