234 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that is manifest to raise tish and there is also an interest in the State manifest to 

 raise an angle fish, a fish that can not be raised profitably. I will say that I have 

 been experimenting with the native fish for some eight years and I have found the 

 majority of our native fish not worth cultivating. The best variety of our native 

 fish are the carniverous fish that have to live upon animal food and the minnows^ 

 It was stated here this morning that the Bass is a fine tish and it is true. Also the 

 Ked Eye is a fine fish but practical experience and thought teaches us that we can 

 not produce it as an article of food and place it within the reach of all. In con- 

 nection with those carniverous fish there has to be a hatching house for the impreg- 

 nation and rearing of the young fry. 



Fish culture is not without a record. We have in the United States a commis- 

 sion spending thousands of money, which is worse than thrown away; we have 

 it to-day, and it is doing us much injury. Men are trying to draw others into the 

 idea of placing fish in these filthy streams. Fish twenty miles below Indianapolia 

 are not fit to come to the table as an article of food. I ask every intelligent per- 

 son in my presence if you have had any of those fish which have been hatched and 

 thrown into your rivers that are valuable. It is a failure. I will admit those fish 

 grew in the rivers once, but what were the circumstances under which thej' grew? 

 I want that we should come down to practical facts. Your streams at an early 

 time were bordered with virgin forests, which shaded them and kept the water cool 

 and clear; the little brook ran out from the woods and come to fill up the rivers. 

 These carniverous fish lived on minnows and became fat, and when you caught and 

 used them they were good fish. Now they are scarce and nearly 'worthless. What 

 has done this ? It is laid to the fisherman. He is to blame to some degree, but 

 there are other causes. The brooks are tiled and various obstructions; sewer 

 pipes are laid in our towns and cities conveying filth and impurities into our 

 rivers; slaughter houses and privy vaults contribute not a little to the impure con- 

 dition of our streams. Think what the river is below this city. I have taken fish 

 from the stream by the hundreds and put in my ponds, and found that they were 

 not fit to be eaten ; they were full of gasses from the sewers of Indianapolis, and were 

 not fit for food. During the dry season of the year the water becomes low and 

 muddy, and carniverous fish will not thrive in stagnant and muddy water. Their 

 culture in such a stream is a failure, and they will eat one another up. Those fine 

 bass rear their young to a certain age and then turn around and eat the ofispring. 

 The little perch is also a failure. The pound fish and sword fish and cat may 

 be raised, but they are not a success when you put them on the 

 market for the rich and poor alike. This is my experience with the native fishes 

 of the United States. Now, shall we go on and restock those streams? Some of 

 those writing on this subject are doing the cause an injury. We have had croakers 

 in all ages. When the Fultz wheat was first introduced there were croakers on 

 thai, but we did not cease raising it. The carp can be raised and also other fish can 

 be. I have made many experiments and the time is not far distant when there will 

 be much discussion on the carp. Some are doubtful as to whether we have the real 

 German carp in the United States. I have made several experiments with the 

 carp, and I find it is going to take care of itself. The United States Fish Associa- 

 tion, that is organized in Philadelphia, has condemned a portion of the carp, which 



