THE HISTORY OF FISH-CULTURE. . 535 



In 1859 Mr. Steplieu H. Ainsworth, of West Bloomfiekl, N. Y., began 

 operations with the brook-trout in a sitiall stream and with good snc- 

 cess. His successes and his generous spirit toward all who visited him, 

 or sought information by letter, have largely influenced the spread of 

 the interest throughout the country. 



Seth Green's establishment, at Ca;ledonia Springs, near Eochester, 

 erected in 1864, was the tirst hatching-house in this country large enough 

 to prove the importance of fish -culture as a pecuniary investment. It 

 took but a short time to establish the fact, and from the interest excited, 

 by his very marked successes, among the newspapers and magazines, 

 the art obtained its great impetus in this country. 



The brooJc-trout. — As stated, attention was at first, and it is equally 

 true that it remained for a long time, concentrated almost entirely upon 

 the brook-trout, {Scdmofontinalis.) This fish is a general favorite, be- 

 cause it combines all the desirable qualities demanded by sportsmen, 

 epicures, and others. It has beauty of color, form, and movement ; is 

 adapted to scientific fly-fishing, being sufficiently shy to be tempted only 

 by skillful and experienced anglers, and, when hooked, fighting long and 

 pluckily against the attempt to lift it from the water, and, withal, supe- 

 rior in flavor, moderately prolific, and adapted to small streams and ponds 

 if sufficiently cool, so that owners of such waters may have it as a pos- 

 session almost as much under their control as their cattle or horses. 



This general demand for the living fish has made it much more 

 profitable than if merely propagated as an article of food, as the sale of 

 ova and young fishes bring better prices with smaller outlay than where 

 the fish are retained and fed and cared for until they are mature. 



That it is possible to raise them profitably merely as an article of 

 food has, however, been established in one or two instances wh&re the 

 facilities for breeding large numbers and procuring their proper food 

 in abundance and cheaply have been afforded. 



The breeding of trout among the different and widely separated cul- 

 turists does not seem to have developed lately any marked or novel im- 

 provements in apparatus, though valuable modifications of methods have 

 been attained. 



The graveled troughs are in most general use, though a few prefer the 

 apparatus invented by M. Coste, professor of embrj^ology in the College 

 of France, the Coste hatching-trays, with glass grilles or parallel rods, 

 upon which the eggs are placed. 



As already stated the advances in the art of fish-culture in general 

 both in America and in Europe, have been largely the result of eiforts at 

 multiplying the brook-trout of the two countries respectively. Whether 

 we consider Bachmau or Garlick as first to initiate the work in the 

 new world, it was with the trout that the labors of both were con- 

 nected. A comparison of the claims of these pioneers may result in giving 

 Doctor Bachmau the priority in time, but his labors have had little or no 

 influence in developing interest in or adding to the kuowleclge of the 



