CONFERENCES WITH STATE COMMISSIONERS. 759 



bite in Slioal Water Bay, affording rare sport, althongb it is only a 

 few years since this fact was ascertained. He did not remember to 

 have seen any authentic statement of a salmon haAing been taken with 

 the fly on the west coast. They can be caught in other ways ; but 

 whether they can be induced to rise at a fly in the eastern waters is 

 l)erhaps questionable. 



Again, according to the published accoants, many of these species are 

 worthless ; they are soft,white-meated, and not much better than cat-fish 

 or suckers. Then, there is this fact, that one kind runs up in the spring 

 and another in the fall ; so that there are salmon almost all the time 

 in the Columbia and in the Frazer; and there are said to be certain 

 kinds that always die after spawning. The Indians say they all die ; 

 and the shores of the rivers are lined with dead fish, furnishing food 

 for bears, hawks, &g. Probably, however, the white -raeated fall-salmon 

 or dog-salmon are in reality only the exhausted fish of the spring-run 

 in the kelt condition, corresponding to what is known to occur in the 

 European salmon. In this event, the number of species will be reduced. 



If it be unadvisable to take these salmon from the West, is it worth 

 while to encoHrage the idea of depending upon the Canadian govern- 

 ment 5 or is it best to supplement our own stock by sending to Ger- 

 many, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, especially Norway and Germany *? 

 He invited any of the gentlemen present to give their views or make 

 any suggestions on this subject. 



Dr. Slack heartily indorsed the suggestions of Professor Baird, be- 

 lieving that the General Government should co-operate with the States. 

 Rivers were frequently the boundaries of the States, and the only hope 

 of securing the propagation of fish in such cases was in the action of the 

 United States. The people of New Jersey were anxious to stock the 

 Delaware, but Pennsylvania could not agree, and thus nothing was done. 



Mr. Brackett spoke of Mr. Atkins's experiments with reference to 

 stocking the rivers of Maine with salmon, and his plan of purchasing 

 them from the pounds and keeping them in ponds until the spawn is 

 mature, and thus obtaining a stock of spawn for supplying the rivers. 

 Mr. Atkiushad not beensuccessfuliuhisfirstattempt; buthavingchanged 

 his plans somewhat, he now anticipated good results, and the method 

 was now considered entirely feasible. His station is at Bucksport, Me., 

 and he thinks he can furnish salmon for $4 a thousand, being furnished 

 himself with the breeding salmon from weirs at the mouth of the Pen- 

 obscot Kiver. 



Professor Baird inquired what should be done with the salmon-spawn, 

 supposing it to be obtainable from the Penobscot. 



Mr. Brackett thought it should be distributed among certain States, 

 where salmon can be grown, according to population. 



Professor Baird. Will it be desirable to add from the funds provided 

 by the General Government to the State funds in the hands of State com- 

 missioners ; or have they all the money they want ! 



