232. NATUKAL AND ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION. 



propagation and replenishing in 1866, when that sturdy 

 pioneer of pisciculture, Seth Green, received from France a 

 gratuitous consignment of vivified ova for restocking our 

 streams, our Government was so indifferent or unconscious 

 of our extremity that they actually detained them in the 

 4,Custom House until they died ! 



Nevertheless, pluck and perseverance, combined with for- 

 tuitous circumstances, saved our streams fi'om total depopu- 

 lation. The subject was kept in agitation by gentlemen 

 who were awake to the value of these material interests. 

 It was constantly pressed upon the attention of the authori- 

 ties of several "States. Then, one after another, the States 

 appointed Fish Commissioners, delegated powers to them, 

 and made appropriations. New England took the lead; 

 New York and New Jersey followed; and now we have 

 Commissions, not only in those States, but in Pennsylvania, 

 Virginia, Alabama, and California. Meanwhile, private indi- 

 viduals, impatient of delays, had established Fish Farrns : 

 Seth Green, at Mumford, N. Y. ; Stephen H. Ainsworth, in- 

 ventor of Ainsworth's Spawning Sluice at West Bloomfield, 

 N. Y. ; and Dr. J. H. Slack, at Bloomsbury, taking the lead. 

 Canada also took hold of the matter in sober earnest, and ^,'' 



appointed a Fishery Commission which has proved wonder- 

 fully efficient in working out the most gratifying and im- 

 portant results. While our States were dallying, or impeded 

 in obtaining means of replenishing our rivers, which they 

 did not possess within themselves, Canada, with superior 

 natural facilities, made rapid progress in the work of recuper- 

 ation. Though most of her rivers were sadly impoverished, 

 some still teemed with salmon, and readily supplied the seed 

 which has multiplied into rich and abundant harvests. All 

 were at once placed under Government protection and con- 

 trol. Some were set apart for natural propagation, and 

 jealously guarded by competent overseers and wardens. 

 Fish-ways were ordered to be built over or around all dams 

 which obstructed the ascent of the fish to their spawning- 



