44* EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



ing business by the sale of fisli for breeding purposes. Mr. Poppe lias 

 kindly sent me some specimens of Ms fish. These are scale carp, ap- 

 parently somewhat hybridized ; at least, they do not present the char- 

 acteristics of the pnre breed brought by Mr. Hessel. Information in 

 regard to any other experiments in this direction will be gladly received, 

 especially if accompanied by specimens of the fish for the identifica- 

 tion of the variety. 



The European Tench (Tinea vulfjaris). 



Fully appreciating the tenacity of life of the tench, and the readi- 

 ness of its acclimatization in foreign waters, as shown by the prodigious 

 success of experiments with it m Anstralia, I requested Mr. Hessel, on 

 his return from the last trip to Europe, to bring with him as large a num- 

 ber as possible ; and these have also been placed in Druid Hill Park. 

 The especial value of this fish is in the fact that as the water in a given 

 pond dries up or flows off, it buries itself in the mud, and if this is kept 

 sufliciently moist it will remain in perfectly good condition, while, perhaps, 

 the ground above it may become hard and parched, requiring only the re- 

 turn of the water to its bed to permit its emergence. Indeed, it is said 

 that in some places when the pond is dry and the fish is needed, it is 

 dug out like potatoes from a hill. The fish Nvill be distributed together 

 with the carp, as there is nothing incompatible in their occupying the 

 same waters. 



A few special varieties of what is known as the golden tench were ob- 

 tained, and will be propagated ; but they have no special value beyond 

 their abnormal color. 



The Golden Ide (Idus melanotus var. anratus). 



A large cyprinoidfish in Germany, known as Idus melanotvs, attaining 

 sometimes a weight of three or four i^ounds, lias, within a few years past, 

 been develoj)ed into a golden or red variety, corresponding with that of 

 the gold-fish, but much more beautiful in shape and larger in size. As 

 comi^ared with the gold-fish it has the merit of swimming about on the 

 surface of the water, and being more active in its movements. Mr. 

 Hessel brought with him on the trii3 just referred to, a large number of 

 the ides, the increase from which w ill also be distributed in due course 

 of time. 



The Sea Herring {Chipea cJongata). 



The question of the propagation of the sea herring {Clupca elongata) 

 is one of considerable economical importance, although less prominent 

 in this country than in Europe, as its capture does not occupy so large 

 a part of the American fisheries. Here its most important application 

 is as fresh bait for cod, halibut, &c. The fact that herring eggs are very 

 adhesive, and attach themselves firmly to all objects which they touch, 

 makes it impossible to apx)ly the same methods as with the salmon and 

 the shall, the eggs of which are non-adhesive to each other or to other 



