114 



FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



seconded their national official brethren by untiring energy and skill, which 

 brings them under honorable notice by their colabarateurs abroad. The 

 McDonald tishway is a monument which will perpetuate the name of its 

 inventor. Eugene Blackford of New York has his name engraved upon the 

 historical records of fish, with the Lntjanus blackfordii ; so might be enum- 

 erated every one of these gentlemen who, without other consideration than 

 the true manly sense of duty, have labored to protect and increase the fish 

 supply of our country. Prof. Geek of VVurzburg, German}', a noted scien- 

 tist, is now conij^iling a book upon this interesting subject, and has wisely 

 placed himself in correspondence with our National and State Fish Commis- 

 sioners with a view of getting reliable data and information which has been 

 derived from their relative experiences. This is one of many instances com- 

 plimentary to American fish culturists, but when their present efforts will 

 have been matured by material results, more of them will come pouring in. 



Much has yet to be done to develop the plans of increased fish culture. 

 The legislatures of the several States must make liberal appropriations, the 

 people are to be educated to the importance of the enterprise, and then the 

 whole world will marvel at what has and can be done. Oysters, which 

 form so large a part of our food supply, must be artificially propagated. 

 Scientists are already occupying themselves about it, and one or two have 

 even devised apparatus for testing the subject. When this is made practi- 

 cable, with what is being done towards the increase in the supply of fish, a 

 fund of wealth will have been opened far greater than the gold fields of 

 Australia or California. Only a few years ago German carp were introduced 

 into the United States, yet at present their produce would represent edible 

 fish to the extent of many tons. In less than ten years the whole country 

 will be stocked with them. This will materially lessen the existing vandal- 

 ism practiced in our lakes and streams, consequently assisting nature in the 

 increase of fish in them. 



