LII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



fishes is, for tlie most part, external ; that is to say, the eggs of the fe- 

 male and the milt of the male are discharged at or about the same time 

 into the water, the two being close together, so that, as far as they 

 come in contact with tlie milt, the eggs become fertilized. Observation, 

 however, has shown that a very small i)roportion of the eggs are actu- 

 ally fertilized, possibly 10 per cent, being a liberal estimate. Again, 

 these eggs, some of which remain three months before they are devel- 

 oped, some but a few days, or even hours, are exposed continually to the 

 attacks of vast hordes of animals of all sizes, especially minnows, crabs, 

 frogs, bu'ds, «&c., by which still another large percentage is consumed. 



Still further : The young fish when hatched out is almost as helpless 

 as the egg, being unable to defend itself from danger, and is devoured 

 with great eagerness by the same class of enemies, as being an especial 

 delicacy. As a general rule it is believed that a yield of five young 

 fish, with the yolk-bag absorbed, and the fins fidly formed, and able to 

 take care of themselves, is a liberal allowance for each thousand eggs. 

 By the artificial method of propagation, 90 per cent, of the eggs should 

 be thoroughly fertilized, and when the fish is hatched out it is kept 

 from its adversaries until able to look out for itself. It may safely be 

 assumed that eight hundred and fifty fish out of a thousand eggs are 

 produced artificially as compared with the five in a thousand produced 

 naturally. The ratio of production may, in round numbers, be claimed 

 to be nearly two hundred to one in favor of artificial production, possibly 

 much more. 



A few words in regard to the history of this wonderful art may not be 

 amiss. Among the first to j)ractice artificial hatching was a German 

 named Jacobi, who, about the middle of the last century, announced the 

 success of exi^eriments with the German trout. There are vague rumors 

 of something earher, but they are not matters of history. In 1844, Eemy 

 and Gehin, two illiterate Frenchmen, rediscovered the art and brought 

 it to the notice of the French Government, by which they were hberally 

 rewarded, and steps were taken to exercise it, although with but little 

 result, notwithstanding the efibrts were directed by eminent naturalists, 

 such as Quatrefages and Coste. At a later day, however, the practice 

 of artificial impregnation of fish-eggs in Europe became more and more 

 common, untd at the i)resent time there are several national and a large 

 number of state and private establishments occupied, for the most part, 

 in hatching and rearing the various species belonging to the trout and 

 salmon family. 



In America, the first practical action in the way of artificial production 

 of fish was begun in 1853 with the trout. The experimenters were Drs. 

 Garlick and Ackley, of Cleveland, Ohio ; and to them we owe the in- 

 itiation of actual fish-culture in this country. With the proof of success 

 attending their efforts, as shown by these gentlemen in their fish-ponds 

 near Cleveland, it was not long before many persons entered the same 

 field, the trout, as before, being at first the exclusive object of attention. 



