TO FISH CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
Mr. Biackrorp.—I would call attention to one remark made 
by Mr. Green on the death of fish below the ice. If this is the 
case generally we should take measures to prevent it, and per- 
haps it would be well to invite discussion of this subject. 
Mr. ANNIN.—I saw a pond on the Genessee Flats, this winter, 
which was frozen over, and contained perch, catfish, etc. The 
ice was three feet thick, but near the head was a small spring, 
and it was packed full of small fish, all alive. 
Mr. MatHer.—The case mentioned by Mr. Annin is different. 
In the winter of 1855 I was trapping about the Grant River, Wis- 
consin, and near it along the Mississippi. There were along the 
latter river numerous sloughs where in the overflows the fish 
were left. One of these I knew to be full of fish in the fall, and 
in the winter cut through the ice to spear them. They were all 
dead and the stench was fearful. 3 
Mr. RoosEveELT.—Mr. Annin tends to confirm Mr. Green. The 
fish were distressed, and crowded to the spring holes for relief. 
If there had been no springs to make an opening the fish would _ 
have died. 
Pror. Goopre.—I do not care to argue this question, but having 
given some attention to the hibernation of fishes in cases where 
they assume a torpid condition and vitality seems suspended, it 
may be well to state that in Africa there are fishes which live in 
a state of astivation or a suspension of life in summer. They 
live in the mud when the ponds dry up, and wait for the rainy 
season to release them. We also know that in high Northern 
latitudes the fish go into a state of hibernation as the tempera- 
ture falls to a certain point. Mr. Mather has published some 
experiments with mud-minnows. I should think that in some 
cases the instinct of hibernation might be hereditary, and often 
death might ensue while the fishes were torpid. 
Dr. Hupson.—The question arises if a pond of large size 
freezes entirely over. Most large bodies of water have air@ 
holes. 
