APPENDIX. 269 



is springing up in this country, and people are as eager to 

 procure fish to rear, as ever they were to obtain fancy stock 

 in sheep, or horses, or poultry. This fever will have its 

 rise, culmination and decline without doubt like others 

 similar, but unless the signs of the present are very delu- 

 sive, its results will be of a vastly more important and sub- 

 stantial. 



Suppose for instance that the original conditions favor- 

 able to the existence of salmon and shad, were restored in 

 a river like the Hudson. Who can estimate the immense 

 value which that river would assume in three or four years ? 

 Millions of dollars would hardly buy the millions of fish 

 that could be taken from its waters. 



There is nothing to prevent these original conditions 

 being restored in many at least of our rivers. The food of 

 the salmon and shad is found in the sea. Here they get 

 their growth and vigor, and until the illimitable stores of 

 the sea begin to fail in their supply of food, there will exist 

 no necessary obstacles to the restoration of their former 

 fruitf'ulness to our great rivers. It is the same in our lakes 

 and ponds. Where a mere bagatelle of sunfish, and pouts,* 

 and small perch are now caught, thousands of dollars worth 

 of black bass might be reared. It is hoped that all who 

 have the time and opportunity will spare no pains to do 

 their part in replenishing the waters which lie within their 

 reach. The fish-raising fever may have a similar run to 

 many others, but it is one which every one should encour- 

 age, inasmuch as in its consequences, it will react in the 

 most beneficial manner upon all members of the community, 

 both rich and poor, but especially upon the poor. 



The great desideratum which is now sought, is, to bring 

 fish culture out of the province of mere fancy work, where 



* Catfish. 

 23* 



