84 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
were made for me with the view of ascertaining the number of sturgeon eggs to a 
pound. For this purpose a quantity of eggs was carefully weighed and it was found 
that 68,888 were required to make a pound. Last summer a fisherman brought to 
Gliickstadt a mature sturgeon which was estimated to contain eighty pounds of roe. 
If the roe of such a sturgeon were successfully treated, we would got 5,511,040 impreg- 
nated eggs. I think that this goes to j)rove that if we desire to aid nature we must 
hatch sturgeon by the million. But in order to do this, it is necessary to gain much 
more experience than we now have in regard to the matter. In the first place, it is 
essential that we should make every possible effort to devise some means of penning 
sturgeon, which have not been much injured during capture, until they become mature. 
I would like to see the German Fishery Association grant to our association a certain 
sum annually for this purpose for a period of ten years, for if we desire to hatch stur- 
geon successfully, we must arrive at something definite in the matter, so that it can 
be said when there have been average catches, we are prepared to impregnate a spe- 
cific number of sturgeon eggs. It is also very desirable that the Seth Green hatching 
apparatus, now in use, should be slightly modified by replacing the wooden front and 
back with metal wire grating from 3 to 4 inches high, so that when the apparatus is 
placed where there is not much current, the tide may nevertheless pass through it. 
At present the water must be kei)t in continuous gentle motion in order to insure a 
slight current through the apparatus. This motion is effected by means of a boat or 
raft producing gentle waves which pass through the grating from below. The present 
apparatus is serviceable in the oi)en waters of the Elbe, where the surface, however, 
sometimes becomes so rough that no boats will venture out from the secure harbor; 
but if some other arrangement were possible, one would not think of resorting to such 
a place. If the Seth Green hatching apparatus were changed, in the manner indicated 
above, it could, in order to adapt it to occasional spells of rough water, easily be 
altered so as to cause the waves to pass through the grating from below only, by i)ut- 
ting boards in front of the grating. 
It is exceedingly desirable to hatch large numbers of sturgeon, because the sturgeon 
fisheries are constantly declining. The sturgeon fishermen on the Elbe take a lively 
interest in the subject of sturgeon-culture. This is evident from the fact that the 
Holstein fishermen of the Lower Elbe and of the rivers Stor, Kriickan, and Eiehn have 
formed an association, the by-laws of which contain the following provision : “ This 
association considers it as its object to increase the quantity of fish within its territory 
by planting artificially raised fish in such places as are suited to them. Every mature 
spawning sturgeon caught by a member of the association shall, for that purpose, be 
delivered at the nearest hatching station (mouth of the river Stor, Gliickstadt, or Koll- 
mar.)” Furthermore, “every member of the association is obliged to set free at onceany 
sturgeon caught by him which does not measure at least 1.25 meters in length,” and 
“only such nets are to be used for catching sturgeon as have the meshes, when wet, at 
least 16 centimeters across from knot to knot, and therefore measuring at least 64 centi- 
meters in circumference.” It appears from the above that our practical fishermen are 
anxious to protect and increase the sturgeon, and that the old adage, “ Fishermen only 
want to destroy,” does not apply to them, for the minimum length of sturgeon allowed 
by law to be taken is only one meter. I am fully convinced that if our fishermen are 
given some practical hints by persons who have a thorough knowledge of the fisheries, 
rbey will gladly do their share in aiding us to further the interests of the same. 
