29 



'•with this laige number of eggs, has proved the hatching 



house a thorough success, and demonstrated its great capacity. 



Smelt — ( Osmerus mordax . ) 



It is a desire of your Commissioners to attempt the intro- 

 duction of this savory little fish into the waters of the State. 

 iShould we succeed, they must be a valuable addition to the 

 food resources of the numerous rivers and streams of the 

 .iSastern Shore. 



In tlie localities where they abound, they rush up the 

 -.streams in countless numbers in the spring, and are taken in 

 seines, and although averaging but five or six inches, they 

 'are much sought after on account of their excellent flavor. — 

 -Although taken in large numbers in seines, they bite readily 

 at the hook when baited with shrimp, and other crustaceans^ 

 afibrd excellent sport, and they are said to rise readily to the 



%• 



They will be an excellent exchange for the tasteless gud- 

 .-geon, so much sought after by youthful anglers. 

 Buffalo Fish — (BubaUcthys hubalus.) 

 'it is very desirable that this, the largest of the suckers 

 (Catostomidae) be introduced from the Ohio, into the Poto- 

 mac, and other rivers inhabited by the Black Bass. Being 

 very prolific they will furnish a supply of food to the Black 

 Bass when young, and attaining a considerable size as adult, 

 from two to three feet in length, ^they will be too large to fall 

 a prey to them, and those escaping the perils of youth, will 

 jceep their race from being exterminated. 



They will, on account of their great size, be of no small 

 ■value as a source of food to those living ^on the streams, — 

 Although not so highly prized as the Trout, '^Black Bass, Sal- 

 mon, etc., they are certainly better than many of their smal- 

 ler cousins Avhich are sought after by those who have not the 

 White Perch, Sheep's Head and Tailor at their doors. They 

 •are themselves by no means a predaceous fish, and we there- 

 fore strongly urge their introduction. 



The Carp. 



Professor Baird, having decided to attempt the introduc- 

 tion of the European Carp, engaged the services of Mr. Eu- 

 Klolph Hessel, an eminent Pisciculturist to proceed to Ger- 

 rmany, procure from the ponds bordering on the Danube, and 



