BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 385 



Vol. Ill, JVo. £5. Washington, B. C. Oct. 29, 1883. 



the controversy we are enabled to communicate the following letter 

 addressed to Professor Malmgren, by R. Eckardt, of Liibbinchen : 



My best thanks for your pamphlet. I fully subscribe to everything 

 you say relative to the establishment of Government hatcheries, but I 

 take the liberty to call your attention to another kind of Government 

 action, which for ten years — so far, unfortunately, in vain — I have striven 

 after: the institution of scientific stations in connection with private 

 piscicultural establishments. There is in Europe at the present time 

 but a single institution of this kind — the one at Naples, conducted by 

 Professor Dohrn (only, however, for maritime purposes) — which renders 

 great service to science, but probably would be only of small financial 

 benefit to us. If in the various countries of Europe, differing from each 

 other with regard to climate, we had such scientific stations for the in- 

 land waters, their scientific investigations would have a great practical 

 result. One of the first and principal conditions of success is the prac- 

 tical management of affairs, which should be able to furnish the neces- 

 sary material for scientific observations, and which, hand in hand with 

 science, knows how to practically utilize, for new results and discover- 

 ies, all the achievements of science. A vast field like fish-culture can- 

 not be properly and advantageously worked by either science or prac- 

 tice by itself, but needs their combined efforts. 



Artificial hatching is particularly important for fish which spawn in 

 summer, and will, if managed practically and rationally, be productive 

 of good results in our, as to climate, favorably located waters, and our 

 pond-culture will derive great benefit therefrom, principally with regard 

 to carp, tench, bream, pike, etc. I can here record results which will 

 compete with those obtained in other countries, but which simply lack 

 the benefits of scientific investigation, which would make progress easier. 

 Fish-culture is a vast field, which needs the scientific observations of 

 years, to be properly studied, and be made profitable for practical life 

 and the wants of man. When, in 1878, 1 asked Professor Pagenstecher, 

 of the Heidelberg University, what was the reason why the may fish 

 carried so many spoiled eggs, he replied that he would be exceedingly 

 glad to investigate this matter, but unfortunately he did not have the 

 necessary material. This I procured for him at once, but so far, at 

 least, I have not received an answer to my inquiry. If the German 

 Government were to apply the sum annually required for the support 

 of the Hiiuingeu establishment — 25,000 marks [S5,950J — which is of no 

 practical benefit to the establishment of one scientific station here, on 

 my estates, the entire civilized world would be greatly benefited thereby, 

 and scientists would soon take a greater interest in the matter. My estab- 

 lishment raises various kinds of fresh- water fish, and has a lake area 

 of 400 hectares; it is not subsidized by the Government, but stands, so 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 83 25 



