106 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



In the numerous reports wLich I liave read I have, however, found 

 very little concerning it, so I cannot state in dollars what it will cost to 

 hatch out some millions of salmon or shad. At the same time I have 

 seen that the gathering of salmon-eggs, according to a statement, is 

 becoming less expensive each year, and that the profit steadily increases. 

 The same was still more the case with the shad, which jields so remark- 

 ably many more eggs. In the large establishments it is managed so that 

 they succeed in one of them in hatching out a miJliou shad for $1.09, 

 including all expenses. This million of shad one cannot naturally keep 

 under his care until they become salable fish. They set free the whole 

 mass, and it disappears in the deep to return in about three years to the 

 shore where it was liberated. It is believed that one-fourth part return 

 from their wandering about in the sea, where they are persecuted by so 

 many fish. But even with so small a portion in safety, it must indeed 

 turn to good account. Because, if one estimate, for instance, that an 

 establishment hatches one billion in three years at $1.09 per million, 

 then would this outlay of $1,092 in the space of the next three years 

 yield a shoal of two hundred and fifty million shad. If only 2 per cent, of 

 these are caught, one will then get five million shad, which would amount 

 to fi'om ten million to fifteen million pounds of fish, worth at least 11 

 cents per pound, which is $273,000 to $409,500 gross receipts. This cal- 

 culation will seem, however, so exaggerated that, perhaps, no one will 

 accept the result. One can, therefore, take off, deduct freely, and reckon 

 on getting merely 10 per cent, profit, and then it reaches $27,300 to $40,950 

 gross profits from the young shad hatched out for $1,092. 



I have been informed that this shad (and the alewife also) might be 

 particularly adapted to our Norwegian fiords. Lately I have come to 

 the behef that an experiment in this direction will be worth the trouble. 

 If one could, along the iSTorwegian coast, for an outlay of several thou- 

 sand crowns, cause some shoals of shad to visit the coast annually, there 

 would be a possibility that an attempt would be made with our own 

 herring; perhaps it would multiply just as rapidly. With the American 

 experiments in sight, I cannot, for my part, consider it a bold idea to 

 contemplate the possibility that one, by skillful hatching, might be in 

 condition to make up for the vanished spriug-herring. But what will it 

 cost ? With the above calculation as a clew, the price would not appear 

 to be great. But the point for the Norwegian herring concerned is this : 

 that no one yet understands hatching it, scarcely how to use an appa- 

 ratus; yes, indeed, no one knows how long it takes before it will mature 

 or become salable. The prospects so far are indeed uncertain, and it 

 is perhaps far too early to suggest the idea. It is also with a certain 

 risk that I at present entrust it to paper and — publicity. However it is 

 allowed to stand as my calculation. 



With regard to the expense of hatching salmon and trout, they have 

 in Europe varied experience in these branches. But the Americans 

 maintain, as previously remarked, that they have carried the business 



