38 Report of the American 



was a great philosopher, a great scientist, and a great astronomer, and 

 among his most literarj' productions was one on the ' Uses and Abuses 

 of Food.' He gave a special chapter to fish diet, and maintained that 

 it was particularly adapted to students and men of letters." The theory 

 of Agassiz is a very old one, and I was often reminded in China of 

 the trite adage, " there is nothing new under the sun." 



The societ}', I believe, are aware that I propose to return to China 

 with a view of a thorough exploration of the Yang-tse Kiang, and I 

 hope to send the American Fish Culturists' Association some interesting 

 facts about the samli on the upper Yang-tse Kiang. I believe I shall 

 find the fish three thousand miles from the Pacific Ocean. 



ON THE ACCLIMATIZATION OF THE MICHIGAN 

 GRAYLING IN EASTERN WATERS. 



BY THADDEUS NORRIS. 



In considering the practicability of the project, it is of importance 

 that we bear in mind the peculiarities of the waters the gra^ding naturally 

 inhabits, and the characteristics of those into which we would introduce 

 it. Let us in the first place, therefore, refer to the streams which are its 

 present habitat. 



That portion of Michigan lying between the two great lakes, and 

 extending from the 44th parallel to the straits of Mackinaw, is nearlj' 

 level, or at least but slightly rolling. There is a gradual but almost 

 imperceptible rise of some six or eight hundred feet from the shores of 

 either lake to the highest points of the interior of the State. The surface, 

 and for many feet down, is of coarse loose white sand, and underlj'ing 

 this, as far as my observations have enabled me to judge, is a stratum of 

 tough clay. There being but little water shed, it is natural to suppose 

 that the rains quickl}- percolating through the sand, and being arrested 

 by the impervious cla}^ necessaril}' form small underground water 

 courses, which in greater or less volume find opening into the rivers and 

 creeks. These rivulets, as a general rule, are so far beneath the surface 

 as to be but slightlj- affected by the heats of summer or frosts of winter. 

 The water of the streams may therefore not inappropriately be termed 

 " spring water," and are of very uniform temperature, cold — so to speak 

 — in summer, and never freezing over in winter. 



