J. PISCICULTURE AND THE FISHERIES. 443 



monidcB has yet been tried in the United States, but, from 

 the great superiority of the brook trout of Eastern North 

 America over the European, it is probable that an improved 

 breed could readily be secured. 



CULTIVATION OF FISH IX DITCHES AND PONDS. 



Much attention is now being paid in Germany to the cul- 

 tivation offish in ponds and ditches, and it has been found, 

 contrary to the generally received opinion in reference to such 

 localities, that they are more favorable for the purpose than 

 other large bodies of water, apparently fresh and pure in their 

 character. This is doubtless owing to the great abundance 

 of animal life, as well as to the more decided concentration of 

 vegetable substances in the form of living plants of different 

 kinds, including the algae. This produces a constant evolu- 

 tion of oxygen needed for the resj^iration of the fish, and al- 

 lows a larger mass of life to be crowded together in a given 

 space. The reproduction of the species is also unusually 

 rapid, and the young grow very quickly. Deutsche JFlseherei- 

 Verei?7, 181S. 



UNITED STATES SALMON-BREEDING ESTABLISHMENT AT BUCKS- 

 POET, ME. 



We have already referred to the experiment of Mr. Charles 

 G. Atkins, in reference to the propagation of salmon, and to 

 the success which has attended these efibrts. It will be re- 

 membered that this gentleman commenced purchasing living 

 salmon at the time they first entered the Penobscot River, 

 in June, 1872, and continued to do so until the close of their 

 run, and, pl^icing them in a pond of some sixty acres, near 

 Bucksport, detained them there until the true spawning sea- 

 son began. In this way he succeeded in obtaining over 600 

 mature fish, ranging from ten to twenty-five pounds in weight. 



On their first introduction into the pond it was impossible 

 to distinguish between the sexes, the males and females both 

 being of a silvery color, and provided with short jaws. A 

 very interesting change, however, took place in the males to- 

 ward the end of October, the jaws lengthening, the upper be- 

 ing curved down, and the under one becoming provided with 

 a vertical conical process, fitting into a hollow of the uj^per 

 jaw. At the same time the skin assumed great brilliancy 



