287 



fruits and Lignite, from Brandon, Vt., and Fucoids from 

 the tertiary deposit of Massachusetts. 



Dr. Gould remarked, that at Brandon extensive iron 

 works are carried on, in which the only fuel used is the 

 Lignite, of that locality, which was accidentally discovered 

 about the time the works went into operation. In working 

 one of the drifts, timbers were found supporting galleries, 

 constructed some sixty years ago, which had become con- 

 verted into the same substance. The Lignite when found 

 is moist, and must be kept so to preserve the fruits entire. 



The President called the attention of the Society to a 

 subject which he regarded as one of much importance, 

 namely, the introduction of foreign fish into our waters. 

 Several species, highly prized in Europe, such as the Turbot 

 and Sole, might, he thought, be brought over and become 

 very valuable articles of trade. In France the experiment 

 had been tried of raising salt water species in the fresh 

 water Lakes of the interior with complete success. He 

 stated, that at his request the American Minister to Eng- 

 land had m.ade inquiries in relation to the matter, and 

 obtained estimates as to the necessary expense, but no 

 attempt had been made as yet to carry the proposition into 

 effect. 



With reference to the difficulty experienced in transfer- 

 ring living fish from one locality to another at a distance, 

 the Secretary stated, that he had been told that the experi- 

 ment had been recently tried of introducing the Musca- 

 longe, Esox nobilior^ from one of the Western Lakes into a 

 pond at Cape Cod. The fish arrived safely within the 

 borders of Massachusetts, but died almost immediately on 

 changing the water, in which they were brought, at one of 

 the railway stations. 



Dr. Gould stated, that several attempts to bring living 

 fresh water shells from Cuba and England to this country 

 had failed, as the vapor of salt water seems to be fatal to 

 them, whether they are brought in mud, in water, or dry. 



