Evening journal., 1909-04-27
Minister Knowles Renders
Valuable Aid to Govern
ment Fish Commission
ROUMANIA WILL SEND
STERLET FRY AL so

lnt iiNtIo anu DdNS OF the Hlluule Az I
lantic states contained great quantities
of sturgeon. but, because of inadequate
laws for their protection and the ruth
less manner Of fishing for them that
valuable fish has been practically ex-
terminated.
The fish commission has made dill
gent efforts to save the sturgeon. and
has had it's experts on the, Delaware,
whore the sturgeon was once most
abundant. and other waters where
they were formerly found. in an ef-
fort TO catch a male and female, in
order that the eggs might be taken
and hatched
Notwithstanding their earnest efforts
and the expenditure of not less than
81 900 a year for three years for that
purpose. they were unsuccessful.
Minister Knowles Aids.
The announcement of Commissioner
Bowers to the effect that it is prob
able American waters may again TEEN
with sturgeon. has been made pos
sible by the cooperation of Horace
G. Knowles. until recently the Ameri-
can minister to Roumania, Servia, and
Bulgaria, now accredited to Nicaragua.
The pleasant relations Minister
Knowles enjoyed with the Roumanian
government enabled him before leav-
ing Romania to arrange with the Of
ficials Of that country to send to the
United Sattes a large quantity of
Danube sturgeon fry; also several
large cans OF the fry of sterlet,
another very valuable Danube fish,
and which is considered the most
delicious Of all European fish.
Minister Knowles, who is in Wash
ington. told a representative of the The
Post that he is interested in the intro
duction Of these two important food
fish to American waters. because his
Investigations convince him that they
will thrive in this country. The sterlet.
he says. is very prolific and hardy, and
will. If properly protected until welt
started, take the place Of not only
shad. which is getting scarcer every
year. but the other fish that are grow
ing less plentiful.
Danube Fish Valuable.
These two Danube fish are particu
larly valuable, because they are not
a season fish like the shad but run
in the waters of their habitat through
out the year. The Danube sturgeon
grows to an enormous size and weight,
and 500 to 500 pound fish are freqeunt-
ly caught. An S00-pound fish will
give about 15O pounds of caviar. and
fresh caviar sells in New York and
the European cities for from s. to SO
a pound.
The caviar from the Danube sturg-
con is considered the finest In the
world. Both the sturgeon and sterlet
are most abundant in the Romanian
part of the Danube. and i'm easetrn
and southern Romania they are the
principal food Of the people.
Millions to Be Sent
Through the arrangements made by
Minister Knowles. there will be ship
ped from Roumania large number Of
2O-gallon cans containing millions OF
young sturgeon and sterlet. Without
any expense to this government these
cans Of young FISH will be delivered at
Bremen or Hamburg to representa-
tive Of the United states Fishing Com
mission. who will take charge OF them
and bring them on one of the fastest
express steamers TO New York. The
Young fish will then be sent to the
nearest hatchery and there cared Tor
until they have recovered from their
7.OoO-mile voyage. and are in condition
to be turned into the Hudson. Della
ware. Susquehanna, and Potomac
I rivers.
The fish commission is deeply inter-
ested in this experiment, and 1t is the
opinion Of Commissioner Bowers that
the chances are decidedly in favor OF
it's being successful
combats Meat Prices.
Minister Knowles says:
"There are few matters connected
with our country's food supply more
important than that Of our fish produc
tion. When Il is considered that pA
reason Of the increase Of our popula
tion the demand is increased, and tina
with the gradual and constant falling
off Of the catch Of all kinds of fsl
the suprlv is lessened. IL is one Of tn
serious problems that confront GU
country. A plentiful supply Of fish dur
ing .all seasons of the year Is one o
the greatest blessing our or an
country can have.
Meats cannot sell for high price
when fish is plentiful and cheap. IN
hest and surest protection the peopl
can have against the meat trust Is {
have a certain and abundant suppl
of fish. It is a great economical ques
tion and it is no wonder our govern
ment is giving such serious attention
TO II.
$50 many and vast are our waters
rivers. lakes, and bays--that ono
stocked with suitable fish and thei
properly protected by law against III
exterminating methods of the ruthles
and improvident fisherman. the Unite'
states should have the largest ant
best fish supply per capita of an,
country in the world. For the goo'
Of my country / am deeply intereste
I'm this matter. and will be very happ
II I can do anything to better presen
conditions"
Commissioner Bowers sent the fol
lowing letter 10 Minister Knowles:
II wish to take this opportunity {
express my appreciation Of your IN
telligent interest in the Introduction 2
the Roumania sterlet and sturgeon int
the waters of the Atlantic coast.
Your conference with the Roumania
authorities have left the matter I'm sue
shape that Il is now possible for thl
bureau to proceed in a. definite way
and il is my intention to take thi
subject up Immediately with til
Roumanian inspector general of FISH
cries, Professor Gregory Antipa.
1.-THE serious condition of our sturgeo
fisheries makes every effort TO re
: establish or improve them worthy {
hearty commendation. and the propos
fion 10 fntroduce dosifab blo oxofi