574 REPOET OF COMMISSIONER OP PISH AND FISHERIES. [36] 



IV. — Some of the causes of the general diffusion of fish- 

 culture IN THE COUNTRIES VISITED, ESPECIALLY IN GERMANY. 



The process of artificial fecundation of fish is said to have been a 

 secret possessed by some French monks towards the end of the fifteenth 

 century. It was also discovered by the Hanoverian Jacobi (1758), and 

 again fell into oblivion, but when it was again discovered in 1849 by 

 two fishermen, Remy and Gehiu, due publicity was given to it by Pro- 

 fessor Coste. No practical application, however, wa.s made of it until, 

 at Professor Coste's suggestion, the Hiiningen establishment was 

 founded, to which Europe is certainly indebted for the modern impulse 

 given to fish-culture, because its influence made itself felt not only in 

 France, to which it formerly belonged, but also to foreign countries, 

 including Germany. The new industry soon spread rapidly and made 

 constant progress, numerous societies and journals promptly diffusing 

 its knowledge. 



But Hiiningen, during the last years of the French regime, did not 

 keep up with the progress made in fish-culture, both in Europe and 

 America, and lost its importance, until it passed into the hands of the 

 German Government, and Mr. Haack became its director, when it 

 again began to improve.* 



The interest taken in fish-culture by the Governments of Germany, 

 Switzerland, and the Netherlands, which in a large measure have con- 

 tributed to the restocking of public waters, and which have also fur- 

 nished the necessary material for private establishments, has greatly 

 aided the diffusion of artificial fish-culture ; its further progress is assured, 

 as the results of its operations are no longer uncertain, and as the pe- 

 cuniary benefit derived therefrom becomes greater. 



This industry has beeu made popular -to no small degree by the pub- 

 lic exhibition of fish-cultural apparatus in full operation in zoological 

 gardens (as at Dresden, Amsterdam, Frankfort-on-the-Main), and in 

 aquariums (Berlin), which, as is well known, arc visited by large num- 

 bers of people. 



In Saxony fish-culture is popularized by courses of lectures given by 

 Professor Nitsche, of the Academy of Forestry, at Tharand. As this is 

 the only course of instruction on fish-culture of which I have any pre- 

 cise knowledge, it will not be out of place to give a more detailed de- 

 scription of the same. At certain convenient seasons Professor Nir'sche 

 gives free lectures on fish-culture at the Academy of Forestry. He has 

 published a large wall diagram, giving illustrations of the fish in ques- 

 tion (trout) ; the distinctive characteristics of sex ; the eggs, both sound 

 and spoiled by mold 5 the phases of their embryonal development; the 

 young fish with and without the umbilical sac ; a figure showing arti- 

 ficial spawning ; the gravel-filter of Mr. Ryfsell, pincers, glass pipes, 



'Mr. Haack lias introduced at Hiiningen new apparatus ; has bad cement tanks 

 constructed ; has improved the distribution of the water, and the arrangement of the 

 ponds. 



