1 66 Descriptive Zoology. 



halibut, flounder, herring, catfish, various kinds of bass, both 

 fresh-water and marine, pike, pickerel, sucker, buffalo, carp, 

 and many others. Space will not permit an account of 

 them here, but the student is referred to the Riverside 

 Natural History, and other works of the same scope. 



Artificial Propagation and Distribution of Fishes. In 

 late years much has been done toward protecting and 

 propagating our edible fishes. With the increase of popu- 

 lation the food question will gradually become a more and 

 more serious one. An excellent authority has said that an 

 acre of water ought to supply as much food as an acre of 

 land. The time has passed when the privilege is extended to 

 any one to fish anywhere and at any time. Common sense 

 dictates that fishes should not be caught during their breed- 

 ing season, and that they should not be caught under a cer- 

 tain size, etc. ; hence laws limiting the fishing season, and 

 requiring that seines must have meshes not less than a given 

 size. Killing fishes by the use of dynamite is prohibited. 

 Also it is provided that there shall be no obstruction to the 

 free passage of fishes up and down streams ; and that 

 where dams are necessary, side channels (fish ways) shall 

 be provided. 



Most of the states have enacted laws for the protection 

 of its native fishes. A number of states have made appro- 

 priations for the establishment and maintenance of fish 

 hatcheries, where fish are artificially hatched. These are 

 shipped, to be introduced into various waters where it is 

 thought they will thrive, sometimes to replenish a stock 

 that is diminished by overfishing or other causes ; in other 

 cases to introduce them where they do not naturally occur. 

 The United States government has also taken the matter 

 in hand, and many valuable results have been obtained. 

 This industry is comparatively in its infancy, but it promises 





