54 



feet establishmeat, in which niauy millions of fish can be 

 hatched and distributed each winter, at no great expense, if 

 we are provided with means to procure tlie eggs. 



Conclusion. 



By reference to tables recording liatching operations and 

 distribution of Shad, Salmon, &c., it will be seen, that we 

 have liatched and turned loose into our waters ibur million 

 three hundred and forty thousand young Shad, iu addition to 

 the four million nine hundred and seventy-iive thousand five 

 hundred and fifty hatched and liberated in the Potomac, 

 under the auspices of Prof. Spencer P. Baird, at a cost to 

 the United States of over three thousand dollars ($3,000), 

 that Ave successfully planted one hundred and forty- 

 four thousand healthy, vigorous, California Salmon, 

 eighty thousand Maine Salmon, two thousand Salmon 

 Trout, and transferred five hundred Black Bass, most 

 of them adults, from the Potomac River to other Avaters of 

 the State. We have in addition put out, within the past 

 two weeks, ninety-one thousand five hundred California Sal- 

 mon, and have in the Druid Hill Hatching House over four 

 hundred thousand of two months old fish still for distribu- 

 tion, besides about three thousand of a year old. There are 

 in the hatcliing jars, forty-five thousand eggs of the Salmon 

 Trout, which are hatching every day. 



We find the same decrease in our valuable food fishes, 

 which has been felt in other parts of the country, and which 

 has been arrested in some States by artificial propagation, and 

 by judicious protection. 



That the decrease is attributable to : 



1st. Excessive fishing. 



'ind. The cutting ofi' of the migratory fishes from, their 

 spawning beds. 



3rd. The disturbing of the breeding fish on their spawn- 

 ing beds. 



4th. The destruction of spawn, by washings from culti- 

 vated fields, and natural enemies. 



5th. The destruction of yonng fish, by improper means and 

 modes of capture. 



