FISH BREEDING. 



West Point, April 10, 1865. 

 Thaddeus Norris, Esq. 



Sir : The writer of these lines having perused " The American Angler's 

 Book" with much satisfaction, and it having been intimated to him that 

 you were about to issue a new edition, he has imagined that some account 

 of the successful introduction of the Black Bass into several of the lakes in 

 the Highlands, while not devoid of interest to the generality of readers, 

 might induce others, having the opportunity, to try experiments of a 

 similar nature, especially after a sketch of the modus operandi and the 

 result obtained. 



In the mountainous region along the Hudson, known as the Highlands, 

 there exist many quiet little lakes on the western shore ; most of them 

 injudiciously stocked with the voracious Pickerel, and all abounding in the 

 indigenous Yellow Perch, the troublesome Catfish, and the Silver Eel. 

 Residing within easy access of many of these lakelets, the writer had long 

 regretted that some nobler species had not been introduced, and having 

 determined to make the experiment, he very naturally fixed upon the 

 Black Bass of our northern waters as the fish most likely to succeed and 

 afibrd the most satisfactory sport. Consequently, during a fishing tour in 

 the summer of 1859, he fixed upon Saratoga Lake as the point whence to 

 procure the fish. After spending a fortnight on the lake, experimenting 

 and watching the habits of this fish, he finally contracted with an old and 

 experienced fisherman for sixty Bass, to be delivered in good condition at 

 West Point during the ensuing autumn. The contract price for value of 

 fish, transportation, and incidental expenses, was $90, certainly a mode- 

 rate compensation when taking into consideration the transportation from 

 the lake to the nearest railroad station, the subsequent care of the fish 

 during the transit, and likewise the scarcity of the Bass in consequence 

 of the great amount of fishing on the lake, the inducement being the sup- 

 ply required for Moon's fashionable resort. 



The fish, sixty-one in number and all weighing over a pound and a 

 half, were carried in a large puncheon and delivered in fine order at West 

 Point, in November 1859. Peter Francis, the fisherman alluded to above, 

 had them in charge, and being much interested in the success of the 

 experiment, his impatience for their speedy transportation was quite equal 

 to that of the writer. No time was lost, the puncheon was well secured in 

 a wagon, and, in less than a quarter of an hour after their arrival, the 

 strangers were on their way to Wood Lake, their new highland home. 

 Three folds of carpet were strongly tied over the puncheon, to prevent 

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