Fish Culturists* Association. 31 



offsets, and abounding in low forms of crustacese, and in dipterous 

 larvae to an unheard of extent, admirably fitted for feeding myriads 

 of any fish that can live in it. That the purely fresh-water species 

 of trout and cyprinidse are unable to survive therein is not to be 

 wondered at; but there seems no good reason to suppose that salmon, 

 shad and alewives may not find a perfect!}^ fitting resting place, and 

 one where they would in time multiply to an extraordinary degree, 

 in consequence of the entire absence of the predaceous fishes, such as 

 sharks, blue fish, etc., which tend to keep down their numbers in the 

 ocean. The experiment is worth tr3n*ng, at any rate, and if success- 

 ful it will add immeasurably to the food resources of the central por- 

 tion of the west. In addition to the genuine salmon ordered from 

 Germany, a large number of hybrids, between the salmon and the 

 trout, are expected. It has been established recently in Europe that 

 such ci'osses are not onl}' fertile to a considerable degree, but that the 

 fisli lose their instinct of wandering to the sea and remain in the 

 rivers throughout the year. Here they grow rapidly, more so than 

 the perfect fish, and their fiesli is highly distinguished for its excel- 

 lence. 



A beginning has also been made in regard to increasing the supply 

 of the white-fish in the lakes, and at present I have about three- 

 quarters of a million of eggs, in charge of Mr. N. W. Clai-ke, at 

 Clarkston, Mich. A portion of these, as soon as tliey have developed 

 sufficiently for the purpose, I propose to transmit to the Commis- 

 sioners of Fisheries of California, for introduction into the waters of 

 the Pacific coast, and another year to take measures for multiplying 

 them largely throughout the great lakes. Fi'om its situation and 

 size, Utah lake appears well adapted for the introduction of white- 

 fish and land-locked salmon, and I propose to try the experiment, 

 this season, with both species. I may say, in conclusion, that in all 

 the work I have hitherto prosecuted, I have had the hearty co-opera- 

 tion and concurrence of the Fish Commissioners of the several States, 

 it being, in my judgment, the best policy to work with and in a large 

 part through them. 



The fund appropriated by Congress is not sufficient to meet all the 

 expenses of the business, especially that of hatching out and distri- 

 buting the young fish ; and I have therefore thought it best to limit 

 my efforts to obtaining the eggs in sufficient quantities and then to 

 turn them over to the State Commissioners, exercising the privilege 



