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, 11 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 unprolific 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 
