720 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Valenciennes, in the seventh volume of their " Histoire Natnrelle des 

 Poissons," published in 1831, acknowledge the reception of one of the 

 fishes originally taken from Islede-Frauce to Cayenne. The belief that 

 their acclimatization in America had succeeded has even found utter- 

 ance in the statement as a fact which has obtained currency in several 

 publications. Although the fishes introduced continued to live, none 

 seemed to be fruitful in their new quarters, and there is no i)ublished 

 evidence that any individuals of the species are now living in America. 

 We have the fullest and most authentic details concerning its fate in 

 Martinique. 



The little fishes, on their arrival at Martinique, were placed in a large 

 basin of fresh water ; the largest of them was only about three French 

 inches long. Some mouths after, they were transferred to a small pond 

 in the botanic garden of Saint Pierre ; all were still alive and healthy, 

 and had attained a length of from 10 to I'i inches. Their subsequeny 

 increase was, however, much less rapid, and after six years, thet 

 had little more than doubled that length, for in 1827 the largest had 

 only gained a length of from 24 to 27 inches. The subsequent rate of 

 increase was still less rapid, as might naturally be supposed ; and the 

 last survivor of the original twenty-six, which was served on the table 

 in 184G, twenty-seven years after its arrival at Martinique, measured 

 about a meter, or somewhat more than 39 inches in length. JSTone of 

 these fishes had been able to propagate their race in the island during 

 all this time. Five years after their introduction, a formal announce- 

 ment was indeed made that numerous young gouramis had made their 

 appearance in two broods, at intervals of only six months ; but it was 

 soon discovered that the supposed young gouramis w^ere native fishes 

 that had gained entrance into the preserves of the gouramis. The sud- 

 den revulsion from the hope and high expectations to which the appar- 

 ent success had given rise, to chagrin and despair, uuhapi)ily reacted 

 on the poor fishes, and was doubtless enhanced by the ridicule which 

 the exposure of the nature of the discovery entailed on the historian of 

 that discovery, and which engendered a i^roverbial expression in the 

 island. The prospect of propagating the gouramis appearing hopeless, 

 one after another was caught aud served up on the table of the governor 

 when a distinguished guest was to be entertained, and thus was the last 

 disposed of in 1846. Although equally full details have not been pub- 

 lished concerning those introduced into Guadeloupe and Cayenne, no 

 greater success appears to have rewarded the attempts to propagate the 

 species. 



As it has repeatedly been affirmed (18G7, 551) that the gourarai has 

 been acclimatized in, or is a native of, South-American waters, it may be 

 well to state here that there is no other foundation for such statements 

 than the existence in those waters of fishes belonging to the family of 

 icchlids, which have some superficial resemblance to the gourami. 



