482 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



often been indulged, of transporting and domesticating in tire waters of 

 France tlie most esteemed fish of foreign countries. He Las succeeded 

 in bringing alive from the Spree to the reservoirs of Marl^^five different 

 kinds, each represented by a certain number of individuals. There are 

 the Sander, {Terca lucioperca, o/Linne) the wels or siiure, {Silurus gla7iis, 

 of Linne,) the Alandt, {Cyprimisjescs, of Bloch,) the German lotte, ( Gadus 

 loia, of Bloch,) and the pitzker {Cohitis fossiUs, of Linne.) Tliis trial has 

 only been made on a small scale, but it is none the less important on 

 that account, since it proves that, in ordinary circumstances, difference 

 of waters would not be an absolute obstacle to the acclimating of for- 

 eign fish. 



The same gentleman was afterward charged by the minister of marine 

 with the duty of inspecting the fisheries of our coast. The report, in 

 which were embodied the observations made in the course of this mis- 

 sion, has remained unpublished, and it is to be regretted that the learned 

 ichthyologist was not able to continue and extend these researches, to 

 which his previous studies so naturally called him. 



It is worthy of notice what wise circumspection MM. de Quatrefages 

 and Milne-Edwards have employed in i)resenting the advantages 

 which rural economy might derive from the method of artificial fecunda- 

 tion. They have incited the proprietors to attempts which appeared 

 likely to be advantageous, but without always promising them certain 

 results. M. Coste has proceeded with less reserve. With unlimited 

 confidence in the future of pisciculture, he has allowed no occasion to 

 pass without exalting the benefits which it will confer. In his first 

 report, at the close of the year 1850, he declared already " that there is 

 no branch of industry or husbandry which, with less chance of loss, 

 offers an .easier certainty of profit."* Later he speaks with enthusiasm 

 of the means tried during a century of providing for the repopulating 

 of the waters. Most certainly it is with excellent intentions, and, doubt- 

 less, in the hope of sustaining the efforts of experimenters, that M. Coste 

 thus undertakes to guarantee future results; but is it not rather to be 

 feared that, in magnifying too greatly some partial successes, he may 

 compromise the general success of the undertaking 1 Meanwhile, though 

 these absolute affirmations seem to justify, to some extent, some criti- 

 cisms of w^hich the learned jirofessor has been the object, they cannot 

 diminish his share in the improvements recently made in the method of 

 Jacobi. 



M. Coste first put in practice the means proposed by the Baron de 

 Eiviere for transporting the "mounting" or the young eels, and raising 

 them in confined spaces.* After having brought this mountiug from 

 the mouth of the Orne to the College of France, in flat paniers, over- 

 liid with aquatic i)lants, he gave them for nourishment a hash com- 

 posed of the flesh of animals, which do not serve for food or that of 



* Practical Instructions upon Pisciculture, j). 34. 



