Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28

years changes in the distribution OF
living things that 1t might
PLANTING require vast aeons for ma
ture to bring about 10 a
1sn. commonplace in the work
of the United States bureaus of hsh-
cries: and while this juggling of the
worlds fauna is in progress the prac-
tical Is the dominant motive. The shift
ings and changes are not made al
scientific curiosities. but mean. or
eventually will mean in every case, an
increase in food sources, the creation
or extension Of industries and the
placing OF money in the purses of sun
dry citizens.
Only as the result Of vast upheavals
of nature. such as the sinking of con-
tinents beneath tho sea and the altera-
ton of the worlds great ocean cur
rents, has marine life In the past been
subjected to very radical changes OF
habitat BY substituting modern rail-
road transportation and special nsh,
relatively infrequent efforts Of nature
however, the bureau Of fisheries is In
effect cleaving the 5000 miles Of con-
tinent. and Is making over in several
important particulars the water life OF
our two oceans. 1t is as though
colossal Uncle Sam. standing astride
his continental domain. with booted
foot in either ocean, were dipping the
fish that he chose from one body OF
water and dumping them in the other,
Although a number Of different kinds
Of fishes have been successfully estao-
lished from one ocean into the other
in most cases from the Atlantic into
the Pacifc-the project which is per-
the bureau specialists Just now is the
planting" OF. humpback salmon from
the far northwest in tho coast waters
of Maine. The waters of the rivers OF
the north Pacific states and Alaska
TEEN with salmon Of half dozen or
species, the Atlantic salmon. has ex-
listed in the east This species, though
perhaps unsurpa ssed for quality. is
relatively unprolific. and its numbers
last generation by the development of
the spawning rivers for industrial pur-
poses with the building of dams. Since
it's habits require 1t to proceed Tar up
into fresh water to lay its eggs. the
increased placing Of practically Inn
passable barriers in the streams has
interfered with natural reproduction.
The continued existence of the fish in
appreciate numbers has been largely
dependent on the collection OF eggs and
reau of fisheries.
Realizing the salmon situation to be
critical on the Atlantic coast. and see
ing the great demand for the fresh
fish in the east. the bureau ofhcials
decided a few years ago to try to
transplant to Maine waters humpback
salmon from the Pacific. This is one
of the few species of salmon not swim
ming far inland to spawn. and the ex-
istence of dams in the upper reaches of
int Pa 70
with its reproduction. What would be
the effect Of the different environment
was unknown. but millions OF small
fish were given the long railroad jour
ney across the continent in the care Of
special attendants and we're released In
the hope that they would thrive.
The results have been most promis-
ing, for recently at the conclusion OF
the necessary phase Of the life cycle
large numbers Of the immigrant sal
mon. grown to maturity, returned to
the streams in which they had been
released and deposited their eggs. The
environment had apparently been high
" beneficial to the newcomers. and the
federal fish specialists feel that the
establishment and multiplication of the
newly introduced fishes is assured. and
that the successful plant has solved
the problem of salmon In the east for
perhaps hundreds Of years--until popu-
lation has become 30 dense and stream
fishes making but brief stay near the
mouths of rivers can no longer exist
in such waters.
One of the acclimatization projects
Of the bureau which met with great
success was the establishment some
wears ago of Atlantic shad on the Pa
cifc coast where fish of this species
were unknown. Due to the favorable
temperatures. the available streams
and the absence of overfishing, shad re-
pJN ~, talI "
more plentiful on the west coast now
than in the Atlantic The bureau OF
fisheries has found that in some in
stances considerable shipments Of the
Pacific shad have been sold in eastern
markets.
One of the most interesting expert
ments being carried on by the govern
ment Ash specialists in the esta blish-
n1ent Of denizens of the sea far from
their natural regions ~ abode relates
to the lobster. which, strangely enough.
does not occur on our Pacific coast.
The bureau set out a dozen or more
years ago to try to I'LL this gap in the
sea life of the west coast, but has en-
countered numerous obstacles. 1t was
found that eggs could not be transport
ed and that the young Holsters were
too delicate to stand the transconti-
mental Journey from northeastern coast
points. Adult Holsters have. however.
been taken over in late years and have
DtcH IidUteu III INC uSct bouHl re-
gion. Obviously. only a relatively few
Of the awkward. unwieldy creatures
can be transported across the continent.
Last year 1904 of the hig crustaceans
were taken at great pains on the long
journey and were liberated at two
points in Washington. This procedure
has been followed for several years.
but az yet the number Of creatures for
stocking such large areas Of ocean bot
tom are, of course. negligible. The hu-
reau officials believe. however. that
within a few years the results Of their
10 bors will be apparent, and that In a
generation the new industry of lobster
fishing will have been created on tine
west coast.
That some of the Arest preserves
owned by Uncle Sam, produce cascara
bark. from which the well
Cascara known and cordially de-
Culture. WA. ia Tact u,tnown
to most of the citizen owners of the