194 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



Most of the figures relate to 1891, so that we are able to consider the grand total 

 for this year. On the other hand, all the principal countries being included in the 

 table, Ave may estimate this total as representing the figures of fish-culture in the entire 

 world. 490 fish -hatcheries are registered in the record, 41G of them in Europe and 

 80 in North America. The fish-hatcheries of North America, included in the table, 

 belong without exception to the respective governments. Most of the European tish- 

 hatcheries are private establishments, and only 82 out of 410 are controlled by their 

 respective governments, viz, 14 in Switzerland, 1 in Germany, 5 in France, 2 in Italy, 

 58 in Norway, 1 in Great Britain, and 1 in Russia. 



The totals of the fish hatched in North America (1,010,027,192) as compared with 

 Europe (277,973,010) show that only about 14 per cent are produced in Europe; among 

 European countries, only Norway, thanks to the active part taken by its government, 

 can be considered as a serious competitor of the countries of the New World. The 

 average production of one fish-hatchery is 008,000 in Europe and 13,400,000 in North 

 America. . Such a striking difference in favor of the New World is mainly due to the 

 difference in the character of the hatcheries on both continents. As before mentioned, 

 the European fish-hatcheries, being private establishments, do not pursue the task of 

 restocking public streams, but only the streams belonging to the proprietors, and very 

 often produce fry for sale to other proprietors of fish ponds, etc. Another circum- 

 stance to be mentioned in connection with the small size of European establish- 

 ments is that no hatcheries — or very few — exist here for hatching ClupeidcBj Pcrcidcc, 

 and salt-water fish; the hatching of these kinds of fish, to be successful, ought to be 

 conducted on a large scale. The last and most important question is the financial one. 

 While the Government of the United States, of different States, and of the Dominion 

 of Canada, grant very considerable amounts of money for fish-culture and take direct 

 interest in this work, in Europe, with the exception of Norway, Germany, and Switzer- 

 land, the respective governments do not pay much attention to it. 



The Government of the United States has a very important bureau, known as the 

 U. S. Fish Commission, with annual appropriations of $298,000, viz: $150,000 for 

 propagation of fish, $50,000 for distribution, $53,000 for maintaining vessels, $5,000 for 

 compensation of Commissioner, and $20,000 for scientific investigations and statistical 

 work. Besides this regular budget, the U. S. Fish Commission receives for extraordin- 

 ary expenses, as, for instance, the construction of new hatcheries, new vessels, fish cars, 

 etc., a considerable amount of money. 



The governments of separate States also engage in this useful work, making 

 large appropriations for building hatcheries and distributing fish. I must particu- 

 larly mention the State of New York with a yearly appropriation of $34,000, the 

 State of Michigan with an appropriation of $22,500, and the State of Pennsylvania 

 with a grant of $15,000. The total amount of money granted for fish-cultural work 

 by all the States is equal to $109,040 (1891).* The present appropriations are likely 

 to be increased, because in very many reports I have examined the fish commissioners 

 were asking for a larger amount of money. 



The Government of the Dominion of Canada has been for a long time actively 

 engaged in the propagation of fish. The expenditure for this work iu 1891 was 

 $374,202, which includes $39,490 for fish-breeding and $83,050 for fish -propagation. 



* General expenses of same States Cor fish-protection aud carp-culture are not included in this total. 



