38 FISH—CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
The New York State Fish Commission has stationed men at 
different points on the Hudson River where the most sturgeon 
were caught, principally at Hyde Park, New Hamburgh, Tivoli, 
and Catskill, during three seasons, and has succeeded in hatch- 
ing one hundred and fifty-five thousand young fry. The mature 
fish are so scarce that it was with great difficulty that a ripe 
male and female could be obtained at the same time, although 
every exertion was made to obtain them, and every fish was in- 
spected as it was brought in by the fishermen as long as the 
season lasted, which is during the months of May and June. 
If a pond or enclosure could be so. constructed that eels could 
not gain access to it, it would be a long step toward the propa- 
gation of sturgeon. Eels are the great drawback to keeping 
sturgeon in pens for propagating purposes, for the reason that 
when the female is ripe, or ready to cast her spawn, the vent 
enlarges or loosens to such an extent that eels are enabled to 
enter therein and live upon the ova until it has all been de- 
stroyed. I have seen this frequently when I have had them in 
fish cars. 
It would be very difficult to finda place on the Hudson or any 
other river that flows into the ocean, where a pond could be 
built and not be infested with eels, but I believe such an en- 
closure could be made, with a little experimenting and careful 
study. In case there was no pond,I think the experiment would 
be worth trying of putting the fish in ordinary cars and con- 
structing a harness of some sort to fasten around the fish, and 
protect the vent from invasion by the eel; a simple cloth or 
leather bandage might answer, but I would suggest a small bag 
made in the shade of a jug or otherwise, being fastened to the 
bandage securely around the aperture. I think the difficulty 
could be overcome by pursuing some such course. I offer this 
as a suggestion, and perhaps it may put somebody on the right 
track to work it out and make a great success. 
There is no question about its being very necessary to propa- 
gate sturgeon artificially. There is no other way to keep up 
the supply, and unless it is done sturgeon must soon become a 
luxury of the past. 
I have never seen or known of an eel entering a striped bass, 
