Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-10-09
FISH AND NOTES.


The fisheries of Canada are the most
extensive in the world, covering a sea-
coast of $500 miles.
The total expectation of oysters from
this country during the year ending
June. 1908, was Of the value of &66s, 1872.
anincrease of $l25, 644 over the previous
year.
According to The Oysterman 125 fat
menhaden will yield gallon of oil. A
lot of oil TO come out of the water, and
yet one never sees any afioat. Where
do they get the grease?
Shell, fish came into existence lone
before man seems to have been here to
eat them. OF the Is, 600 known species
of bivalves no less than two thirds of
these are fossils, existing during the
Cambrian age. How many millions
years ago that was is pure guess work.
The Belgian Royal Medical Society.
after careful study of the subject,
came to the conclusion that If typhoid
fever was caused by oyster-eating, It
was mostprobably caused by unsanitary
methods of handling them out of the
water. If oysters were washed in water
containing typhoid germs contamination
would be likely to occur. but not likely
from water in which the oysters grew.
Fish are transported from Florida to
the northern markets in tank steamers
with well in the centre of the vessel,
so constructed that the sea water can
circulate freely in the space occupied by
the live fish. "A curious incident in
connection with this transportation of
fish is recorded. In one of the trips of
the steamers it was noticed that the
water in the Gulf stream was filled with
dead fish--countless numbers wereafioat.
When the vessel carrying the live fish
passed through this belt of water, all
the fish in the tanks died. The theory
was advanced that probably sub
marine volcano had sent up poisonous
gases that killed the fish.
There is great agitation going on
among the people down the bay relative
TO the restriction of pound and purse
net fishing. Quite a controversy has
been Precipitated by Norfolk and
Portsmouth people, and the Governor
has been dragged into the matter. The
Governor and the Commission of Fish
cries have been called upon by the or
ganization to enforce the law as to
sizes of meshes and the wantou destruc.
ton of food fishes. The Norfolk Land
mark says that at the next meeting of
the Legislature strong effort will be
made to pass bill protecting the fish.
The Commission of Fisheries is in ses.
sion this week at Hampton.
Spots from New Jersey are being
sold in Norfolk nowadays. The Jersey
caught fish were large and of fine
flavor, though the effects OF icing were
apparent to some extent, and sold at
about the average price when the fish
are plentiful hereaboutsz-50 cents a
dozen. In view of the fact that Vir-
GINA spots have been bringing from 81
to 81. SO a dozen all season, owing to
their scarcity, the imported fish We're
eagerly bought by housekeepers, and il
is safe to say that ninety per cent. of
the purchasers had no idea but that the
fish were caught in home waters. John
Buchanan, of the firm of Buchanan &
Son, fish catchers and dealers, said yes
terday that the New Jersey coast is
fairly alive with spots, otherwise known
as .'Lafayettes." this season. The
scarcity of food fish in the waters of
Chesapeake Bay this season, especially
spots, Mr.. Buchanan attributes to un-
favorable weather conditions. These
conditions. Mr.. Buchanan said, have
caused a scarcity of food for the fish.
and they have gone elsewhere in search
Of sustenance. Otherwise, the supply
of fish for today's market is about ND
to the average. There are salmon trout.
mullets, taylors and other good food
fish on the stalls at reasonable
prices. Landmark.
OYSTER FARMING.
| Oyster cultivation is not an American
idea. History tells of the early Romans
having caught oysters on branches quite
successfully. and raised oysters from
time to time. This and other methods
of cultivation have been attempted in
various European countries.
Oyster farming in America dates
back to the year 1851, when certain
East river New York; oystermen, OBJ
serving that young oysters fastened in
great numbers to the shells of others
oysters, started the practice of Smelling
their beds and the ground contiguous to
them just before spawning time.
1t would be hard to find better defini-
ton of oyster cultivation than subma-
rine agriculture-for as the farmer, so
must the oysterman prepare, seed, and
cultivate his land. AS with the farmer,
also, eternal vigilance is the one price
of success, for weeds will grow, waste
matter will accumulate. enemies will lie
in wait. From 1.-The Romance of the
Oyster. ;. in September National Maya
zine. :"
CARRYING LIVE FISH TO MARKET.
The German government, which is
paternal in all things, will not allow
fish to be offered for sale in their mar
kets unless the fish are alive. A dead
fish is condemned. This has, of course.
limited the supply of fish, except salt
6on GREATLY huf Of lak