INTRODUCTION. Vll 



length, all raised from spawn impregnated by ourselves. In 

 every case our misfortunes could be traced to our own ignorance 

 or neglect. For the latter we can offer no excuse ; for the 

 former we can only plead the great want of facilities for instruc- 

 tion which then existed. Thus far, but two original works* on 

 fish culture have appeared in America, and both were issued 

 subsequent to our entering upon the business. These works, 

 written as they are by two of our most renowned fish culturists, 

 should have a place in the library .of every lover or practitioner 

 of the art. Yet, as a practical man, we feel that many points 

 of the greatest importance are in them but casually mentioned ; 

 and since their publication many new facts have appeared and 

 new theories been advanced, beside the invention of labor-sav- 

 ing apparatus, which we think will render a new work upon the 

 subject not unwelcome to the fish-breeding fraternity. 



Though every care has been taken in the preparation of this 

 work, we can not flatter ourselves that it is perfect. New theo- 

 ries will often be accepted, rendering the old baseless or even 

 ridiculous. New inventions may be made by which the manual 

 labor required will be still more simplified, though the Collins 7 

 spawning race, by which spawn may be taken without wetting 

 the hands of the operator, seems to us the ne plus ultra of labor 

 and health saving apparatus. Much has already been done, but 

 the science is still in its infancy ; doubtless much remains to be 

 discovered and invented, as " let well enough alone " is a maxim 

 not to be obeyed by the fish-breeder. All science is progressive, 

 and fish culture must not be expected to be an exception to 

 the rule. 



*Norris' "American Fish Culture," Philadelphia, 1868; Green's "Trout Cul- 

 ture," Rochester, 1870. 



