Ani('rir((ii Fislicries Society 173 



to ivarinp- boxes: tliose aro about 3 feet square and 3 feet dee]), 

 with ;i latticed lo|) and with sides and bottom formed of a tine. 

 sli-()ii_u-. lilark ^e^i^^. Sueh l)0xes. whieli will aeeonnnodate H.OO) 

 to 1(1. MIO hirvac. are moored in rows between roeks or stake-^ in 

 ])rol('ete(l l;ays. wliei'e there is M'ave movement but no hea\-v 

 ^e.!s. Jt is re])orted that owing jierhaps to the lower tt'mjx'ra- 

 ture of the water the development of the hirvae is apparent! v 

 considerably slower than in America. My personal opinion is 

 that the alisenct' of a well marked and sustained circulation 

 within the boxes decidedly impairs the chances of success. 



kSturgeoii and t'<lia(J. 



The sturgeon fisheries of Eussia are more important than 

 those of any other country; and it is only in Russia that stur- 

 geon c-ultivation is carried on. Mr. Borodine, the Russian chief 

 specialist in tisli culture, told me that several million sturgeon 

 are now hatched annually on the Caspian Sea, the species being- 

 the one he recently described. There is difficulty in holding the 

 young for any length of time. With other species the great 

 drawback encountered is the same which we have to contend 

 with, the inability to find ripe fish. 



In connection with ]\Ir. Leary's etforts to acclimatize shad 

 (and other fishes) in a salt-water lake in Texas, I may mention 

 the existence, in some of the Italian fresh-Avater lakes, of a 

 naturally landlocked shad (Alosa vulgans var. lacustris). Mr. 

 G. Besana, of Milan, the gentleman who has achieved such 

 marked success in the acclimatization of our black bass and sun- 

 fish, has the cttltivation of this lake shad under consideration, 

 and has been making some observations on the fish's habits 

 preliminary thereto. It reaches a length of a foot, but the 

 average size is several inches less ; the anadromous form is much 

 larger, comparing very favorably with our shad in size. The 

 lake fish is very ])alatal)le, and is said to be superior to the sea- 

 going form in food value. The spawning period is the first half 

 of June, and the eggs arc deposited mostly in the evening, al- 

 though there is a secondary spawning time about four or five 

 in the morning. The fish come from the deep waters of the 

 lake to spawn, and then make a loud splashing noise about the 

 shores. For three vears immense numbers have been dving in 



