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38 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISE I OMMISSION. 



part of the Exhibition where I intended to lead yon, and where I shall 

 hold you for some, time, viz,, the exhibit of the United States. Here 

 yon find gathered, with astonishing completeness, everything relating to 

 the fisheries of the Union. Do not ask me how mnch Congress appro- 

 priated to cover the expense of America's share in the great London Ex- 

 position; bat if yon should ask, and receive an answer, don't compare it 

 with the amount which the Netherlands exhibit had at its disposal : or, 

 rather, keep in mind the comparison between the two sums whenever 

 you wisli to compare the completeness of these two exhibits. 



This, however, is not the principal object of our visit to this exhibit, 

 and its tasteful arrangement must not cause us to forget the circum 

 stance that, for the present, we only wish to become acquainted with a 

 part of it, viz, that relating to fish-culture. Every one knows what 

 this word means. But it may not be generally known that the first fish- 

 culturist was a German, by I lie name or Jacobi, who lived from 1709 to 

 1784, and who, in the year 1765, published a work on the subject, which 

 was the first of the numerous publications relating to fish culture 

 which have appeared since. "Breeding of fish," u artificial breeding 

 of fish," these are two other terms for the same idea, viz, that of human 

 aid extended to fish at the time when they propagate their species. 

 This aid consists in accelerating the production of the eggs, in impreg- 

 nating them, and in protecting both the eggs and the young fish during 

 the first period of their development. 



It is self evident that under these circumstances a couple of fish can 

 produce a much larger number of offspring than when they are left to 

 themselves, when the eggs, from the moment they have been laid, are, on 

 all sides, exposed to numerous dangers, from which they are protected 

 by man's interference. Hence the term " artificial breeding of fish," 

 which, however, is not well chosen, as the whole process of breeding 

 and the development of the vj;^ takes place in an entirely natural man- 

 ner, human aid only being engaged in removing as much as possible 

 everything that could hinder or injure this natural process. If tor this 

 more numerous offspring suitable natural conditions can be found, such 

 as good water and good food, there is no doubt that, by a constant repe- 

 tition of this experiment, the quantity of tish will be considerably in- 

 creased, and consequently a larger supply of healthy human food will be 

 furnished, and the interests of the fishing-trade will be furthered, if nor 

 by securing a larger revenue to the fishermen, at any rate by giving 

 employment to a larger number of people. By a rational application of 

 the rules of systematic fish'-culfure, the well-being of a country — provided 

 it possesses a considerable area of water, and a large portion of the popu- 

 lation is engaged in the fisheries — can be furthered rapidly and substan- 

 tially. Opinions, however, may be divided as to the idea of rational 

 application; and here we are met by one of the main questions relative 

 to fish-culture as a public interest. 



This will become very evident if we look round a little in the Ameri- 



