274 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES ITSll COMMISSION. 



numbers. From others I have heard the same story, viz, the fontinalis, 

 although apparently a hsh suitable to our streams, appears for some 

 reason or other not to multiply therein. 



The whitefish, the eggs of which have hatched out very quickly at 

 South Kensington, is a great commercial fish in America. They are 

 very prolific spawners, and with the aid of artificial culture a vast 

 amount of these fish are annually reared in the United States. Mr. 

 Silk, the intelligent pisciculturist to the Marquis of Exeter, whose fre- 

 quent journeys to America and Canada give him exceptional opportuni- 

 ties of studying the many questions connected with the fisheries of those 

 countries, tells me that an extensive trade is carried on in salting these 

 fish, which in that condition find a ready sale throughout the States. 

 They frequent deep lakes, spawning on the shallow shores, where they 

 lay their ova in vast quantities. Mr. Clark, of the United States Com- 

 mission, has lately been making som interesting experiments in rear- 

 ing whitefish in confinement, with the aid of artificial feeding. The ex- 

 periments have been carried on at the Eorthville hatchery, where he 

 placed in confinement 1,200 whish had been hatched on March 12. In 

 September 276 were alive and in good condition, and many of them 

 had grown as much as 6 inches in length. They were fed exclusively 

 on liver. The Marquis of Lome has taken a great interest in the intro- 

 duction of this fish to our English, Irish, and Scotch lakes, and -at his 

 suggestion a large consignment of eggs was lately received at South 

 Kensington. 



The fry produced from the first batch of eggs, which arrived at the 

 aquarium some time ago, have been distributed in various places. The 

 Marquis of Exeter turned in a vast number to his large pond at Bur- 

 leigh Park, where it is to be hoped they will escape the ravages of the 

 older inhabitants. A baby whitefish seems to be a very tempting 

 morsel for other fish. They may, perhaps, hide themselves away among 

 the weeds, out of harm's way, and perhaps by and by we shall hear 

 of their establishment at Burleigh. Two batches of whitefish fry have 

 been sent to the MacLaine of Lochbuy, with a view to stocking his 

 waters in the Isle of Mull. The first batch, unfortunately, were all 

 dead before they reached their destination. The other lot left Loudon 

 the other day, and I have not yet heard how they bore the journey. A 

 number of the whitefish fry have been sent down to the Fish Culture 

 Association's fishery at Delaford Park, where, under the direction of 

 the energetic secretary, Mr. Oldham Chambers, a series of ponds have 

 been made for rearing purposes; and I understand that the fish, which 

 are fed on liver, are flourishing, having grown considerably since they 

 left South Kensington. A number of fry of the other American fish 

 have also been placed in the ponds, and are said to be doing remark- 

 ably well. 



The above mentioned fish, with one exception, as I have said, are 

 unknown in English waters, and 1 think warm thanks are due to Prof, 



