INTRODUCTION 11 



The late Dr. Mitchell, of New- York, together with Governor 

 De Witt Clinton, have furnished to the Literary and Philoso- 

 phical Society of this city, a great amount of valuable scientific 

 information on the natural history of the Fishes of the State of 

 New-York. Dr. Smith, of Massachusetts, has written a very 

 able work on the Fishes of his own State. But of the history 

 of the fishes of our boundless western rivers and lakes, but little 

 is known. The celebrated Buffon has said, " that in America 

 animated nature is weaker, less active, and more circumscrib- 

 ed in the variety of its productions, than in the old world : 

 that there is some combination of elements, and other physi- 

 cal causes, something that opposes its amplification; that 

 there are obstacles to their development, and perhaps to the 

 formation of large germs ; and that even those which, from 

 the kindly influences of another climate, have acquired their 

 complete form and expansion, shrink and diminish under a 

 niggardly air and unprohfic land " ! ! How absurd and foolish 

 a remark from a person whom knowledge, and that too of a 

 great general character, should have taught better! One is 

 almost tempted to believe that it is tinged with envy. It is 

 true, that at the time it was uttered, our resources were 

 comparatively small, our institutions weak and enfeebled, and 

 in fact our country itself but little known abroad ; yet the re 

 proach, even were the facts as stated, was ill-timed, and not 

 in taste: its falsity is too plain to need comment. 



The plan adopted by many of our State Legislatures, of 

 ordering geological surveys, bringing to its aid some of the 

 best talent of the country, is well calculated to advance this 

 science. As our country gradually progresses in wealth and 



