Year: 1877

lcoNiit'CED FROM OUR LAST ISSuE.1


From what I have read of the
Sacramento salmon T have no hosi-
tation in saying that there are many
OF our rivers we'll adapted to it's
habits, especially the Edisto, which
was once one Of the finest streams
in tho State Tor all tho varieties
common to us. An experiment
before the war with the brook trout
(satmao .to1stinalis) convinced me that
there was moro Importance attached
to temperature of water than was
necessary.


Twelve of these most beautiful
fishes were procured from noun
tain stream in North Carolina,
brought home and placed in pond,
whcro they kept healthy and grew
finely during several of tho hottest
months, and I believe would have
bred successfully but for their loss
by tho breaking of tho dam by
which they wore confined, before
the fall season, at which time they
spawn; showing that tho theory
that these fish can only survive in
the coldcst, purcst water is incor-
rect. And so it may be with the
Sacramento salmon, whose dogree
Of latitude does not vary materially
from our own, and whose natural
habits as to heat and cold would be
modified by being placed in our
waters during the winter and at n
tender age.


In any event there is no reason
why tho experiment might not be
tried. Upon the contrary, every
inducement is held out for expert
monting with all of the favorite
species, not excepting even the
salmon salar itself The much that
has been learned in pisciculture leaves
very much yet to be discovered, and
no department Of science, no branch
of industry, offers q wider fold to
the naturalist, or larger margins
for gain to him who will successfully
ly prosecute tho business.


With q fish commissioner, sue ash
is had in mort Of tho States. whose
business it would be to keep in
communication with tho other com
missioners and with the United
States commissioner, much valuable
information would be disseminated
and many varieties of valuable eggs
and fishes imported and exported
for experiment. We have many
native varieties well adapted to the
purpose of both ponds and streams,
and by II system Of Interchange with
commissioners from other States,
sending eggs and fry from home
and receiving similar shipment
from abroad, there is no estimating
the good that might be accomplish
cd. Our State has rocently shown
q disposition to Danish barbarism
and to put itself in harmony with
other countries in the onward
march towards material improve.
ment and refining civilization. Let
us not neglect this important
matter, which offers so much good
for SO little outlay.


The next division Of my subject
fish ponds--is moro interesting to
us personally, being within reach of
all, and requiring no State aid. Any
person owning few acres Of land,
with stream of water, may embark
in the enterprise with moro or less
hopo of success.


The boldor the stream and tho
larger the extent Of pond surface,
tho greater the variety of fish which
can DO raised, and tho largor tho
profits. although many kinds grow
finely and breed well in smaller
ponds fed by streams that barely
supply evaporation. in treating of
ponds, l may rs well admit in ad-
vance the fact that in most instances
failure has been the result--I think,
for causes which can be accounted
for, and which, when properly con-
sidered, are not Of sufficient
to discourage the under
taking for tho future.


My first criticism is on the size
of ponds, very few of which are