74 



Commission for 1878, '74, '7o," concerning the value of tisli 

 culture, ''That a farther evidence of the importance oi 

 this effort is shown by the fact that China, with its 

 enormous population — greater to the square mile than any 

 other part of the world — derives the greatest portion of its 

 animal food from the interior waters of the Empire, the 

 methods of lish cultivation there being conducted in a very 

 efficient manner, and every cubic yard of pond and stream 

 thoroughly utilized." 



A statement of a German lish culturist, given in tlie 

 " United States Pish Commission Report of 1878," is as fol- 

 lows : 



"Christian Wagner, of Oldenberg, Germany, says: 

 ' The area of my property would scarcely support a laborer 

 and family, while by pisciculture it gives employment to 

 lifteen men, three horses, and a steam-engine. The profit 

 to myself is much greater than farmer or gardener could 

 make off it ; for the water is much richer than the held if 

 pools are cultivated like land.' " 



As to the extent and importance of the fisheries of the 

 United States, we are told, in the report on the Fishery 

 Industries, by Prof. G. Brown Goode and associates, that 

 in 1880 the number of persons employed in the hsheries 

 was 131,426, of which 101,684 were lishermen, and the 

 remainder shoremen. The hshing fleet consisted of 6,605 

 vessels, aggregating 208,297.82 tons and 44,804 boats, and 

 the total amount of capital invested was $37,995,349. It 

 is believed that the census of 1890 will show an increase 

 of not less than twenty-flve per cent, on these flgures. 

 While the production of salt hsh is decreasing, the sale of 

 fresh hsh is increasing in a greater proportion, owing to 

 the wonderful advance made of late years in methods of 

 refrigeration, rendering possible their preservation for an 

 indehnite period. 



Tliis review of some of tlie more salient features of the 

 fundamental ideas governing fish development and of the 



