54: FISHES. 



2. A new kind of sucker, called the black suck- 

 er. 



3. The catfish of the lakes. 



4. A chub, or dace, of a silver colour, and 

 tvhich sometimes weighs 4 lbs. Great destruction 

 has been made of this fish by the improper use 

 of coculus indicus in catching it. I accidentally 

 met a German from Schoharie county, who was 

 bound to the Oneida Lake for catfish to stock his 

 pond. 



The canal will bring the western fishes into the 

 eastern waters. At first, worms and insects will 

 supply them with food ; their amazing fecundity 

 will fill the streams with eggs and young — cannibal 

 like they will subsist on each other, and in pro- 

 portion to their multiplication will be the demand 

 for, and the supply of subsistence ; but as the lat- 

 ter will probably exceed the former, new and 

 abundant fiisheries will be brought into operation 



The more, my dear sir, I see, and the more I 

 think, of the canal, the more thoroughly am 1 

 convinced of its astonishing blessings. Nature 

 has poured down her benefits on this favored land 

 — and the mighty genius of enterprise has brought 

 them to perfection. 



O fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norint. 



But alas ! faction is at work to undermine the 

 b-oon of heaven, and the gifts of Providence, 



