FIFTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN FISH CULTURE 



By James Nevin 

 Conservation Commission, Madison, Wis. 



Upon the basis of my experience of the past fifty years 

 of fish-cultural work, in Canada as well as in the United 

 States, I desire to present some views that may be of 

 general interest. On the 1st of September, 1869, I began 

 the work under Samuel Wilmot, of New Castle, Ontario, 

 who was the father of fish culture in Canada. I served 

 thirteen years under Mr. Wilmot with the fisheries de- 

 partment of Canada before taking up my work in Wis- 

 consin on September 1, 1882. I remember well when 

 the first meeting of the American Fisheries Society was 

 held. It was in New York City, and I secured copies of 

 the newspaper accounts brought home by Mr. Wilmot, 

 who was in attendance. 



The memory of my boyhood days while I was engaged 

 in the business in Canada is still as fresh as though the 

 events happened but yesterday. The methods in vogue 

 at that time were very crude by comparison with those of 

 today, and it is with great pleasure that I note the progress 

 made in fish culture during the past half century. Fifty 

 years ago there was only one hatchery in Canada, that at 

 New Castle, Ontario. Today there are upwards of fifty 

 or more hatcheries, producing hundreds of millions of 

 fish for the public waters of Canada, and cooperating 

 with us across the border in keeping international waters 

 stocked. 



The success in fish-cultural work and the stocking of 

 waters with suitable fish has been worth millions of dol- 

 lars more than the cost. It has 'become a great asset 

 to the people of the North American continent. Note 

 should be made, however, that many fish have in the past 

 been deposited in waters not adapted to them. Thus 



