230 PROPAGATION OF FISH. 



CHAPTER XXYI. 



PEOPAGATION OF FISH. 



Theee is no subject more important to the material 

 (velfare of our country, or tliat a persistent and willful 

 disregard of the laws of nature has rendered more neces- 

 sary, than the culture of the various tribes of fish that 

 were once abundant in our rivers and lakes and along 

 our coasts, but which are rapidly diminishing, and 

 threaten soon to become extinct. 



Fortunately great strides have been made and great 

 interest aroused in this matter, and the only article in the 

 first edition of this work which the author has felt himself 

 called upon to seriously modify, is that upon this subject. 

 Then there was not a Fishery Commission in a single State 

 of the Union, nor was there a skilled fish culturist in the 

 land, except perhaps Dr. Garlick, who was making experi- 

 ments out West, and Mr. Seth Green, who was studying 

 out the spawning habits of fish by himself, by the side of 

 the forest streams, and laying in stores of knowledge 

 which were to serve as a foundation for the great fish- 

 cultural fame that he has since acquired. The author 

 may claim that his former few pages of advice and in- 

 struction may have tended in a measure to bring about 

 the change, and to give to us State Fishery Commissions 

 in a great majority of the States, and a National Com- 



