It is the inteutioii of the United States Commissioner, to 

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

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

 tions. The most beneficial results are confidentl}^ expected 

 from the introduction into our waters of those which we now 

 have^ as soon as tlieir increase will permit of their being 

 distributed. 



Bay or Salt Water Fishes. 



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

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

 peculiarly rich in this class of food fishes. Tliey, however, 

 are not found in sucb abundance as formerly. Those, such 

 as our tailor or blue fish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and the trout 

 (Cynoscion regalis) which are attracted by tlie herring, ale- 

 wife and small fish^ will, no doubt, appear in greater num- 

 bers, as these are made more plentiful^ diminish still more as 

 these decrease. The pro^iagation of those fishes, wdiich come 

 up from salt water for the purpose of spawning, will be in- 

 directly the means of increasing those fishes which are at- 

 tracted in our waters by them. We can not witli the present 

 lio-hts of fish culture, suggest means for their direct increase 

 by artificial propagation, but understand that important ex- 

 periments are being made in the development of the ova of 

 tlic sheepshead, and other salt water fishes, by tlie U. S. 

 Commissioner, and we will hold ourselves in readiness to 

 benefit by any discovery which may be made in tliis direction. 

 TERRAri^r — {Malacoclemys iialustris .) 



Although one of the well-known reptiles of Mai-yiand, 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 

 tbe o-reatest importance that steps should be taken to increase 

 the much diminished and rajiidly diminishing supply of this 

 most excellent luxury of our Bay. Nowliere on the coast 

 are they found in such excellence as on the Chesapeake Bay. 

 nlthougli somewhat widely distributed. 



It is a source of great regret to us tliat we have not the 

 means to establish a model terrapin farm, so tluit tlie feasi- 

 !lDility of cultivating this great luxury, might be clearly de- 

 monstrated to those who might visit it. and stimulate the 



