Sec. 13.] 



DOMESTIC FISII-BREEDIXG. 



269 



salmon by artificial means in Ireland and elsewhere had extensively failed, 

 we think it right to state tliat we have obtained some infortiiation from the 

 very best sources, which convinces us that these reports are wholly unlbunded. 

 On the contrary, we are glad to say the success attending the first attempt 

 at propagation on an extensive scale in tiie country has surpassed our most 

 sanguine expectations. It is rejxirtod from Perth, where alnnit 3iJi),i)iJ0 ova 

 are nearly hatched, that everything has progressed most satisfactorily ; the 

 whole of the ova, with a trilling exception, seem in a lively state. Tiie onlv 

 difficulty appears to be that of providing sufficient ponds for such a multitude 

 of fishes, when they are able to swim, as the feeding-j)onds already provided 

 will not contain one tenth of them ; and such is the number, that there 

 appears no other way, after having hatched and protected them for twenty 

 weeks, but that of committing them to the river to take their chance. At 

 Galway about 260,000 ova arc in a similar prosperous condition. Propagation 

 on a smaller scale has also been carried into etiect on the rivers Tweed, Lou- 

 chard, the Foylc, Bush Mills, the Plackwater, the J[oy, the Dee, near Chester, 

 and other places. By the use of spring water the spawn has been entirely 

 protected from injury by frost, during the past severe winter; and of 2,500 

 eggs which were sent from Galway to Basle, a distance of nearly l,iiuO 

 miles, M. Lex states that a considerable portion are good, and in a state likely 

 to live." 



Bobert L. Pell, of L'lster County, N. Y., has done a good deal to establish 

 fish-ponds upon his farm; he says " that he is trying to grow the moss-bunker 

 for manure, and hopes for success in growing them, but thinks tiie use of 

 this fish the cause of disease in the districts where used. As many as 86,0i)0 

 moss-bunkers have been taken in a seine at one haul upon our coast. Mr. 

 Pell also has in his ponds the black bass of the lakes — a fish that grows as 

 large as shad. Another fish from the lakes very much resembles tiie black 

 bass, and flourishes in artificial water. Both do well, and are easily caught 

 with a hook. The dace is a good fish for ponds, as he prefers still water. 

 The rock bass is a common fish in Lake Chaini)lain, and is mucli esteemed, 

 and can be cultivated without difficulty. Tlie muscalonge, from tlie lakes, 

 is an excellent fish, and appears well calculated for artificial water if pure. 

 This fisii grows large, and somewhat resembles the pickerel or i)ike of tiie 

 lakes. Mr. Pell has the stickleback, that curious little fish that builds a nest 

 something like a bird. Haddock he has tried, but failed of success, not- 

 withstanding he salted the pond. The haddock is much inferior to the cod- 

 fish, although frecpicntly salted and sold as cod. He also gave accounts of 

 experiments with several other varieties, and how to transport tish alive 

 safely. Mr. Pell thinks it is possible to stock all the streams in the country 

 with fish, and thereby increase the food of the people to a very great extent, 

 without any expense." 



A writer in T/ie Homestead says: 



" Tlirce years ago I constructed, in a ravine, ft fish-pond covering a surface 

 of about tiiree fourths of an acre. It is fed by four small springs, and re- 



