1022 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



direct our efforts, the saloion holds at present the first rauk in public 

 favor ; aud the German Fishery Association may weW look with pride on 

 its efforts in behalf of this fish. From the Memel to the Rliine there is 

 scarcely a river or brook which has not during the last few years re- 

 ceived young salmon, or may receive them if the inhabitants of the 

 banks make the slightest effort to obtain them. As regards salmou- 

 culture, Hiiningen and Freiburg in the Breisgau hold the first places. 

 If I am not mistaken, there exists a treaty between Baden, Alsace, and 

 Switzerland, according to which the Hiiningen establishment will annu- 

 ally place several millions of young salmon in the Ehine. Might a 

 healthy change in the present legislation of the Rhine countries soon 

 allow these young salmon to return undisturbedly to the spawning- 

 brooks of the Upper Ehine ; for it can scarcely be demanded that they 

 shall all bo caught by Dutch nets ! 



But, gentlemen, it is my object this day to speak to you of another 

 migratory fish. It is true that the salmon is an ornament on any table ; 

 but it requires a great deal before it can become an article of food for 

 the masses; and, besides, it requires great care for three or four months 

 until it can be placed in the rivers. 



The idea of introducing the shad in Germany, therefore, soon sug- 

 gested itself, a fish which, as I said before, was particularly suited for 

 artificial hatching. Attempts were made in this direction ; the first, at 

 my suggestion, by Mr. Roosevelt, and the second, at the suggestion of 

 Dr. Liudemann. in Bremen, by Professor Baird. The object was almost 

 obtained. One hundred thousand young shad, accompanied by com- 

 petent persons, were sent over by Professor Baird, who desired, to meet 

 our wishes with his usual liberality. These fish reached the neighbor- 

 hood of Southampton alive, but all died before they got to Bremen. 

 Professor Baird thereupon proposed that we should get one of our 

 swiftest war-steamers for transporting shad ; but I must confess that I 

 did not venture to ask our admiralty for a ship. Besides, I had formed 

 another plan. Some time ago I mentioned the following as the experi- 

 ence of American pisciculturists : " There is always a risk in introduc- 

 ing foreign fish ; people should first see what they have in their own 

 country." And, gentlemen, it is my firm conviction that in Germany 

 we have the cousin, yea, even the brother, of the shad in our may-fish. 

 I am well aware that my learned friend Professor Peters has demon- 

 strated the difference between Clnjyea alosa and Clupea prmstahUis ; these 

 ■are the Latin names for may-fish aud shad; but he will pardon me if 

 1 grant such a difference scientcc, but not vitce, that is, as far as 

 our tongue and eyes are to be regarded. To be entirely on the safe 

 side, I had a may-fish from Wesel sent to the highest American author- 

 ity on this side of the water; and the verdict returned by this table-jury, 

 selected in a very practical manner, was, "Yes; this is our shad, in as 

 far as the North Sea can give to it the flavor which with us it obtains 

 from feeding on the rich pasture-grounds of the Gulf Stream." My reso- 



