350 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



After Dr. vou Scberzer had given an interesting sketch of the vast 

 extent of the fisheries of some conutries outside of Europe, especially in 

 the United States, accompanied by some characteristic illustrations of 

 the most important treasures of the watery kingdom, he passed from 

 the sea-fisheries to the fresh-water fisheries in rivers, ponds, and lakes, 

 and gave a vivid description of the vast and truly beneficent efforts for 

 improving the fisheries, made by the United States Government, efforts 

 which have been crowned with the most astonishing and brilliant re- 

 sults. In this respect Prof. Spencer F. Baird, the distinguished ich- 

 thyologist and director of the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution 

 at Washington, which, under the modest motto, "to diffuse knowledge 

 among men," has done so much for science and accomplished such great 

 results, has, by his wise and extensive measures, given a great and 

 healihy impetus to artificial fish-culture, and has in these efforts been 

 supported most liberally by his Government, which, during the years 

 1871 to 1879, has appropriated no less than $1,300,000 for this useful 

 purpose. 



From the almost overwhelming mass of statistical data and instruct- 

 ive information, which kept the attention of the audience till the end 

 of the lecture, we will quote only the following as showing the vast 

 importance of the cultivation of the sea. The daily quantity of fish 

 food consumed per head of the population is : In London, one-seventh 

 pound ; in Paris, one-half pound ; in Berlin, one-fortieth pound 5 in 

 Vienna, one four-hundredth pound. This comparatively small quantitj'^ 

 in the German cities indicates a neglect in the matter of utilizing the 

 vast treasures of the sea as food for the masses, for recent scientific in- 

 vestigations have shown that one hundred parts of fish-flesh contain 

 12 or 13 per cent of blood and strength-producing matter, therefore 

 only 5 per cent less than beef, and 4 or 5 per cent more than wheat 

 bread. 



One pound of beef costs, in Leipsic, from 70 to 75 pfennige (about 16 

 to 17^ cents), including a great many bones (for the butchers of all 

 civilized nations have made the custom of the so-called " throwing in" 

 of the bones an economical principle), while one pound of codfish, even 

 at the retail price, only costs 20 pfennige (4i cents). 



"All that is needed for supplying the great masses of our population 

 all the year round with a chea]), well-flavored, and wholesome article 

 of fish-food is to cultivate our water area in a suitable and rational 

 manner, to improve our means of communication, and to reorganize our 

 local markets." 



The large audience rewarded the lecturer by loud and long-continued 

 applause. Dr. von Scherzer stated that he would gladly comply with 

 the wish of the chairman and publish a full report of his lecture, thereby 

 making it accessible to a larger circle. 



Leipsic, Germany, March 12, 1884. 



