Year: 1878

Shakl hAChENOfu n Aoh-


Hatchery:


RICHMOND, Va, July 10, 1878.


Editors Dispatch: I wish to have the
question propounded above brought clearly
before the Council OF this city and before its
neonle. I hone to show that it is an i'm
nortant question; that it is u question not
TO he passed lightly by, but one which
merits serious consideration.


I therefore reqEest that you Will corr-
teo,lsly allow it 10 be asked in your columns,
and, il it is not too much of request, that
Won will also lend the weight OF your own
nen to further all enterprise which Will as
suredly rebound to the best interests OF thls
community, as we'll as Of the State a. large:


The United States having become alarmed
mt the rapid depopulation OF the rivers OF
this country, has at last entered upon the
effort to increase the supply OF those spe-
cics OF fish which afford a livelihood to
many OF its citizens and food to many OF its
people. These efforts, though but recently
inaugurated, have met with remarkable
success. In some OF the northern rivers
the run OF shad has been largely increased,
and the recent appearance or the samon
has fulfilled the most sanguine expectations
OF successfully introducing this eXcellent
fish in our streams. We have here ut home
an illustration o! the utility OF these ell
forts. 1t is not generally known that we
owe the carp. which may now be had at our
market, to an introduction OF this fish into
the James nearly one hundred years ago.
Virginia, not to he behind the times. has
very gingerly embarked in the project OF
fish-culture, and our people are not yet con-
Yinced that this new effort really means to
accomplish great result in giving to the
masses a cheap and abundant article OF food
and in stimulating an important branch OF
industry. A paltry appropriation has been
made by our Legislature by way OF expert
ment, and though this appropriation has en-
abled our commissioners to conduct their
operations only upon the smallest scale, yet
much has already been accomplished. Ope-
rations have been set on foot which bld ialr
TO restore our shad-tisheries to the condi-
ton in which they were in their palmlest
days.


MANY of our streams have been thoroughly
stocked with the black bass. This fish Is
now being taken in the falls OF the James.
/ Your correspondent counted eight in one
pool in the river to-day, and in few years
it is safe to say any school-boy can GO down
to the river after the days duties and catch
q good square dinner for the morrow.


But you say, Why should Richmond have
q hatchery: I reply that one should be
established in her park for the following
reasons:


/. 1t is to the interest of Richmond to
further this effort She will reap the bene-
fits OF 1t. The falls of the river here afford
an excellent habitat for such fish as the sal
mon and bass, and il these species should
be plentiful no finer fishing could be found
anywhere than could here be bad. Anglers
would be attracted here, as they are now
attracted to the falls OF the Potomac, and
our hotels would reap harvest in the
fishing season. Far more important than
this the fisheries of the lower James would
rise again to their old Importance; Rich
mond would become Il fish market the rail-
roads would have additional freight, and
the merchants more customers. Yet, again,
the poorer Class of the city would have
abundance Of healthy food, which they
could obtain without cost and with little
labor.
>. 1t is to the interest OF fish-culture that
q hatchery should be located here in this
central place, where many visitors from all
parts of the State would have the opportu-
nifty OF seeing the process in actual opera
ton. Interest in it would be stimulated,
and the knowledge of the operations would
be extended. Private persons learning
here both with how little labor and ex-
pensc these operations may be conducted,
and also the methods OF tsh.culture, will
return to their homes and contribute to the
general result by operations OF their own.


3. 1t would prove an attractive feature in
her park. a neat and ornamental hatchery
located near the new reservoir would at
tract many visitors. Other cities are at vast
expense to establish botanical gardens and
menageries in connection with their parks.
and why should not Richmond make such
step in this direction as would be both en-
tertaining and useful?


Such u hatchery might be built at the
small cost OF $4,000, and it is not too much
to say that this sum thus expended would
bring hundred fold to the city in actual
values.


| am informed that Colonel Mcdonald,
the efficient commissioner for the State,
would undertake to operate such hatch
cry and to transfer to this city the opera
tions which are now conducted in LeXing-
ton.


For these reasons and others, it is to be
hoped that our city fathers Will appropriate
this small sum for this important purpose.


ApologiZing to you, sirS, for the length OF
this communication, have the honor to be
your obedient servant, PIsCAToR.