354 



head towards the tail, and collecting the spawn in water in a 

 common vessel. The contents of the vessel should be put in 

 motion occasionally, to prevent the collection of parasitical 

 growths upon the eggs. Freezing, or even complete desiccation 

 of the eggs, does not always necessarily destroy them, so that 

 some kinds may be transmitted from one place to another in the 

 dry state, and ready to be matured. Dr. Algernon Coolidge of 

 Boston has estimated the cost of raising one million of trout to 

 be less than two hundred dollars. 



Dr. Storer referred to the disappearance from this Common- 

 wealth entirely of salmon, and almost entirely of trout, and to 

 the constant demand for these fish in the market at exorbitant 

 rates ; to the comparatively small supply of salt-water fish, 

 wholly insufficient, if proper efforts were made to extend the 

 country and western trade ; and to the excellence of many species 

 of fish, now unsalable because not generally known, as the 

 whiting, turbot, &c. 



The feasibility of artificially propagating salmon and trout has 

 been proved in France and Scotland, and that of shad and ale- 

 wives has been proved in Connecticut, on a small scale, by Dr. 

 Wm. O. Ayres, a member of this Society. 



The capacity, in many species of fish, of adapting themselves 

 to new localities is well known ; from fresh water to fresh water, — 

 as is shown in the instance of the common pickerel placed in the 

 ponds of Berkshire County, where there were none before, and 

 in the instance of the great northern pike of the lakes trans- 

 planted to the Connecticut River ; from salt water to fresh water, — 

 as is illustrated by the presence of smelts in Jamaica Pond ; and 

 from salt water to salt water, — as is proved by the tautog planted 

 in Massachusetts Bay, north of Cape Cod, and consequently in 

 water of much colder temperature. 



Dr. Storer alluded likewise to the comparatively small expense, 

 both of the preliminary experiments and of the business when 

 established upon a permanent basis ; to the adaptation of many 

 of the waters of this State to the purpose ; and to the advan- 

 tages of a greater supply of fish to the general health, and in 

 reducing the prices of meat. 



Mr. Sprague read a fourth letter from Mr. Samuels, 



