1054 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



water and of the fishes contained therein. 

 Very little can be accomplished with a single 

 natural pond; it is necessary to have several 

 artificial ponds which can be readily con- 

 trolled, while the various operations of pond 

 culture require frequent attention and con- 

 siderable actual labor. 



The requirements for the successful manage- 

 ment of several kinds of pond fishes have 

 already been worked out at public fish hatcher- 

 ies and there is more or less official information 

 on the subject. Success in private fish culture 

 is possible and considerable fish food may be 

 produced with the same amount of labor and 

 intelligent effort that is necessary for the 

 raising of fowls. There has been much agi- 

 tation over the high cost of living and it is 

 time to consider what the individual citizen 

 can do in the way of assisting in the produc- 

 tion of fish food. 



In some of the countries of Central Europe 

 the cultivation of fishes in private waters 

 has been going on for centuries. In Austria 

 and Germany fish farming as it is often 

 called is a common industry. While it is 

 much practiced by small land owners, there 

 are many large estates which maintain hun- 

 dreds of ponds in active cultivation. Much 

 of this private fish culture is based on the 

 various forms of the carp, but other European 

 fishes are also cultivated for sale, such as the 

 tench, ide, rudd, bream, perch and pike. 

 Some European fish culturists are now raising 

 American basses and perches. There are 

 many villages in Austria where fish ponds 

 are maintained at the expense of the com- 

 munity. In view of these facts, it is remark- 

 able that immigrants from Europe have 

 neglected to practice their ancient art of 

 pond culture in this country. 



Aside from commercial trout raising, which 

 is practiced to a limited extent, we have 

 nothing of such pond culture in America. 

 Our numerous fish hatcheries maintained 

 under the direction of state commissions are 

 devoted almost entirely to the stocking of 

 public waters with young fishes. A few of 

 our state commissions are making efforts in 

 pond culture for the benefit of farming com- 

 munities, notably in Kansas, and it will be 

 interesting to observe what progress can be 

 made. Perhaps the vast natural yield from 

 our coast, lake and river fisheries is responsible 

 for the lack of private effort. 



Our fish supply in general is large and well 

 distributed, but we could consume a much 



greater quantity, especially in view of the fact 

 that in some sections the natural supply is 

 being depleted by over fishing and the pollu- 

 tion of waters. There are many sections of 

 the country inadequately supplied with fish 

 food which could be produced locally by pond 

 cultivation and such supplies would find 

 convenient home markets. 



It is possible for the private citizen to obtain 

 pond fishes for breeding purposes but he needs 

 assistance and direction. Object lessons on 

 approved methods of fish culture could be 

 obtained by visiting public hatcheries, but 

 this he is not likely to undertake. It would 

 be advantageous to the country if state fish 

 commissions generally could supply the 

 coarser fishes for cultivation in private 

 waters, and furnish the public free informa- 

 tion as to the methods to be followed. 



Having practiced wholesale methods for 

 two or three decades, we should now consider 

 whether we might not profit by a little less fish 

 hatching and a little more fish raising The 

 time has come for American fish culturists to 

 simplify their art and teach it to the people, 

 for they can surely help in the production of 

 fish food. 



THE SUMMER AT THE AQUARIUM 



The past summer has been an uneventful 

 one at the Aquarium, Although the exhibits 

 have been as large and varied as usual, and 

 the attendance a little in excess of the aver- 

 age, there is nothing striking to record. Per- 

 haps normal, healthy conditions should be 

 regarded as satisfactory, when the limitations 

 of growth imposed by a building of limited 

 capacity are taken into consideration. The 

 Aquarium may vary its exhibits to some ex- 

 tent, but can not possibly increase them in 

 the present building. Changes were made 

 in the exhibits from time to time. Among 

 the species new to our collection or exhibited 

 at rare intervals, may be mentioned the Am- 

 azon turtles and the Florida and Bermuda 

 fishes illustrated in this Bulletin. 



Early in October additions were made to 

 the collection of tropical fishes, Mr. Chapman 

 Grant having obtained at Key West 175 

 specimens representing 35 species. 



Attendance. — The attendance at the Aqua- 

 rium from January 1st to October 1st was 

 1,710,287. 



