1144 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [2] 



uriug ouly an inch in length, was the result in autumn. But some- 

 times the eggs spoiled, or the tender fry were destroyed through lack of 

 food or by animals, and the many spawners, to the great astonish- 

 ment of the cultivators, produced but few offspring, which, because they 

 did not have to share the scanty food with other lish, sometimes devel- 

 oped nicely, reached a length of 4 inches, and were known by the name 

 of " May fry." If the summer was unfavorable, or if nature did not fur- 

 nish certain conditions in the spawning-ponds, the fish did not spawn 

 at all, and hope was deferred till the following year, or older fry, 

 often very i30or fish from the preceding year, had to be planted in 

 order to raise carp. Frequently it was also expected of a ijond to 

 produce fry and at the same time to feed the larger carp. The charac- 

 teristics of the "old method" are: great uncertainty, at best great 

 irregularity, consequently small results quantitatively and qualita- 

 tively, and great loss oftime. 



At the ijresent time matters are much better. Fish-culture and 

 pond culture have become sciences, which are still in their infancy, and 

 therefore far from being fully developed, but which undoubtedly have 

 a great and promising future. By the artificial raising of fine food- 

 fish, pond farmers, and more especially carp raisers, have been filled 

 with a desire to become as independent as possible of nature. After 

 many vain attempts we have again returned to nature, the great 

 teacher, and have found that all which is needed to raise fish success- 

 fully is to give them those conditions which their instinct demands for 

 spawning. It will be sufficient, in this place, to state this leading prin- 

 ciple of modern fish-culture. To give all the details of my method, which 

 had best be done privately, would not further the interests of fish-cult- 

 ure, because here likewise the old adage holds good that "there are 

 many roads which lead to Eome," and because, improbable as it may 

 appear, some other method may be discovered for carrying out the 

 principle laid down above, which will answer the purpose still better. 



If the natural requirements of the fish are properly met the result is 

 certain. Within twenty -four hours after being placed in the pond they 

 will spawn, and soon finish this process. Many people would like to 

 know how this is done, but not much can be said on the subject. All 

 that can be seen in the pond is that the fish rub against each other, and 

 with their tails beat the water, which is thrown the higher the shallower 

 the spawning place. But, as far as I know, it has not been definitely 

 settled where the eggs are impregnated, whether inside or outside of 

 the mother fish. According to Dubisch the grains of roe are*impreg- 

 nated inside the female fish, whereupon they immediately commence to 

 swell, thereby exercising an increased pressure on the sides of the ab- 

 domen, which finally causes them to be ejected. Physiologically cor- 

 rect as this view seems to be, I cannot share it until 1 have become 

 convinced by the microscopic investigations of an experienced naturalist, 

 because it seems impossible that the spermatozoa can, during the short 



