438 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES PISH COMMISSION. 



am convinced that 1 could easily induce the Belgian Government to ap- 

 point a commission which would followthe line of action indicated by \ ou. 

 1 ask, for instance, if, after the experiments in multiplying codfish 



which you have made in the port of Gloucester, you would deem it pos- 

 sible to stock the entire North Sea — already rich in fish — to such a de- 

 gree as to bring the codfish nearer to our coast ? At present, our fish 

 ermen only catch codfish on the Dagger Bank, a large bank extending 

 from Scarborough to Jutland, and this only in winter. In acting in 

 conjunction with England, could we not succeed in stocking the southern 

 portion of the North Sea with as many fish as fill its central and north- 

 ern portions? At present, it takes the lishermen two or three days to 

 reach port again on their return from the Dagger Bank. 



Am 1 laboring under a complete illusion in looking for such a result, 

 and is it possible to reach it? Would it be possible to stock the Scheldt 

 with the Alosa sapidis-sima, and the river-herring which you call ale/rife. 9 



But I am only giving you here some few samples of what I have in 

 view. I well know that your ideas on this subject are much more clearly 

 definedthan mine. Wouldit betrespassiiigtoomuchuponyourkinduess 

 to believe that you will guide us with your advice? 



Mr. A. Lefebvre has assured us that next spring you will send us 

 some cattish. We shall thankfully receive these fish, but we are so ig- 

 norant in everything pertaining to them that it would be extremely 

 useful if you would send us some instructions beforehand. In what lo- 

 calities should these fish be placed? In a pond, or in running water? 

 Must some regard be had to the temperature? It would doubtless be 

 useful to place the fish under strict surveillance, so that we can render 

 you a full account of the entire transaction. 



Chamber of Representatives, 



Ghent, Belgium, February 19,1883. 



REPLY BY PROFESSOR BAIRD. 



I will take pleasure in carrying out the original intention of supply- 

 ing American food fishes to the waters of the Netherlands. The spe- 

 cies that I have considered most suitable is the selfsame catfish, of 

 which your letter makes mention, belonging to the genus Pimalodus. 



In reply to your query as to the possibility of stocking the shores of 

 Belgium, I am unable to speak without more knowledge of the coast 

 itself. There is no very good reason why a great extension of these 

 may not be accomplished by artificial means. Perhaps it will be better 

 to wait the final results in the United States before entering upon a 

 similar enterprise abroad. I see no reason why the Alosa sapidisfiima, 

 or American shad, and the alewife, may not thrive in your waters. The 

 only difficulty is in carrying them across the ocean. Upon this subject 

 to shall probably make experiments this year, and the results will en- 

 able us to advise you. 



The catfish which we propose to send are thoroughly hardy fish, and 



