1024 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



A central board, such as in America Professor Baird's commission, 

 and in Germany the German Fishery Association, is by no means super- 

 fluous; but, if it is to be really useful, it requires the co-operation of 

 numerous other associations, such as the State commissions in America. 



I am happy to be able to report the formation of provincial associa* 

 tions in Prussia, as the one in the province of Prussia, with which we 

 have already established friendly relations. Would it be hoping too 

 much soon to see an association in every province, having its own hatch- 

 ing-house, distributing fish gratuitously, like the one in New York? 



Is there no provincial ofiQcer among us who might be induced to take 

 an active interest in the formation of such associations? 



I am not sufficiently posted concerning such associations outside of 

 Prussia ; but I do not hesitate to consider Mecklenburg very fortunate 

 in possessing in Mr. Brussow, of Schwerin, a gentleman who devotes 

 careful attention to all the waters of his State, who endeavors to find the 

 most suitable location for every species of fish, who is about to establish 

 six salmon-ladders, who is just now urging the jiassing of an ordinance re- 

 quiring every one who rents a fishery to put a certain number of young fish 

 in his waters. His labor has, so far, been crowned with success, although 

 the sum at his command is very small. The finest fish of the Lake of 

 Constance, which he has raised in his hatching-house and placed in 

 Mecklenburg lakes, have recently been caught there ; and the specimens 

 caught being particularly fine, shows that our more northern climate 

 does not hinder their cultivation. 



As far as Prussia is concerned, a great deal may be expected from the 

 step which the royal forest administration is about to take. Piscicul- 

 ture is to be taught theoretically and practically in both academies of 

 forestry. Think what glorious results we will be able to chronicle when, 

 in comparatively few years, every Prussian forest officer of a higher 

 grade is skilled in the easy and remunerative process of stocking every 

 sbeet of water in his district with suitable fish. 



Gentlemen, when 1 look over this large and illustrious assembh', when 

 I see how the interest taken in our work is growing throughout the em- 

 pire, which, among the rest, is shown by the fact that during the last 

 three months our association has received sixty-one new members, I 

 confidently expect that Germany will soon accomplish something in the 

 field of pisciculture worthy of her name. 



Gentlemen, I ask you to give us your assistance, either direct or in- 

 direct, by taking an interest in our work, and by favoring our efforts with 

 your criticism. Might, above everything, those gentlemen who will to- 

 day by this assembly be intrusted with the management of the affairs 

 of the association in the future feel convinced that our great and beau- 

 tiful German country has the right to demand that also in this respect 

 its interests shall be furthered in the best possible manner. 



