tioii iy white, it is much more active, lively and graceful in 

 its movements, and attains a much greater size. 



It is tlie intention of the United States Commissioner, to 

 make yet aaotlier effort to get a stock of good breeding fish, 

 of the best varieties, to add to our already valuable importa- 

 tions. The most beneficial results are confidently expected 

 from the introduction into our Avaters of those which we now 

 have, as soon as their increase will permit of their being 

 distributed. 



Bay or Salt Water Fishes. 



By reference to the list, in Appendix, of fishes, Avhich are 

 known to be found in our waters, it will be seen that we are 

 peculiarly rich in this class of food fishes. They, hoAvever, are 

 not found in such abundance as formerly. Those, such as our 

 tailor or blue fish (Pomatomus Saltatrix) and the trout (Cyno- 

 sion regalis) which are attracted by the herring, alewife and 

 small fish, will, no doubt, appear in greater numbers, as these 

 are made more plentiful, diminish still more as these decrease. 

 The propagation of those fishes, which come up from salt 

 water for the purpose of spawning, will be indirectly the 

 means of increasing those fishes which are attracted in our 

 waters by them. We can not with the present lights of fish 

 culture, suggest means for their direct increase by artificial 

 propagation, l)ut understand that important experiments are 

 being made in the development of the ova of the sheepshead, 

 and other salt water fishes, by the U. S. Commissioner, and 

 we will hold ourselves in readiness to benefit by any discovery 

 wliich may be made in this dii-ection. 



Terrapin — {Malacodemys Palustus) 



Although one of the well-known reptiles of Maryland, yet 

 as a food product of our waters, we do not think it without 

 the province of your Fish Commissioners to give the celebra- 

 ted diamond-back a passing notice, as we believe that it is of 

 the greatest importance that steps should be taken to increase 

 the much diminished and rapidly diminishing supply of this 

 most excellent luxury of our Bay. Nowhere on the coast are 

 they found in such excellence as on the Chesapeake Bay, al- 

 though somewhat widelv distributed. 



