130 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



iu tlie Netlierlands. After careful consideration, I do not know of a 

 single reason wliy we should not obtain tbe same or even better results 

 tban have been obtained in America. 



Tbere is but little chance for obtaining salmon in America after Julj^, 

 while in the Netherlands they can be obtained, and cheaply, for six 

 weeks after this date. With us the transportation to the inclosure will 

 be easy, as the great fisheries are carried on in the lower portions of the 

 rivers, and the fish could quickly be transported by water to the pen- 

 ning i)laces. The inclosures, also, should be made as near as possible 

 to the sea, so that the water may be brackish if not salt. Salt water 

 seems to have a healing influence on the wounds of salmon, and it is 

 probable that in salt water they will remain free from parasitic growths, 

 as experiments with young salmon seem to indicate that salt is an effi- 

 cient remedy against this trouble. In an experiment made by myself 

 I used well-water, containing considerable salt, for hatching 1,000 sal- 

 mon eggs, with a remarkably small loss of young fish. 



Poisonous pish in China. — In the Chinese Eecorder of February 

 and April, 1S8G, there appeared two articles by D. J. Macgowan, M. D., 

 of Wenchow, Province of Che-Kiang, China, which furnished the ma- 

 terial for the following abstract : 



The flesh of the porpoise is highly prized for its flavor, and yet under 

 certain circumstances it is much condemned for poisonous qualities. 

 Animals seem more liable to be killed by it than human beings ; but 

 many instances of death among the Chinese from eating this flesh are 

 related. Although some magistrates from time to time issue proclama- 

 tions cautioning the people against the use of porx)oise flesh, scarcely a 

 spring passes without fatal cases of poisoning. The Shenpao lately 

 reported eleven deaths that occurred at Yangchow from this cause, 

 and five persons died at Anching in April from eating this flesh. On 

 the sea-coast, or early in the spring, poisonous cases are very rare. In 

 Suchow this flesh is generally eaten, and I have heard of no deaths 

 therefrom during several decades. This is probably not that as food 

 this is there less harmful, but that it is more thoroughly cooked. On 

 the Che-Kiang coast dried porpoise is sold all the year round by fish- 

 mongers, but it requires protracted boiling in order to become safe for 

 eating. The Chinese olive or sugar-cane (Ganarium) is found to be aii 

 antidote /for this poisoning, while long-continued boiling is considered 

 to make the flesh wholesome. 



In Chinese waters there are several kinds of fish that inflict trouble- 

 some wounds by means of their fins or tails. The tetrodon or globe-fish 

 is rejected by coast fishermen as poisonous ; but those globe-fish that 

 ascend the rivers, when properly cleaned and dried, are fit for food. A 

 kind of mud-fish is regarded as hurtful. So also are several kinds of 

 eels. Oysters, iu China as elsewhere, are considered unfit to eat at 

 certain seasons. Some crustaceans, including field and ditch prawns, 

 arc thought to be poisonous. 



