A Historical Sketch of Fish-culture. ioi 
annually one or two millions of trout-fry, and here, in 1867, 
shad were first artificially hatched in the United States, 
and sturgeon in the same way in 1875. In 1888 Mr. Green 
published his book upon “ Home-Fishing,” a recognized 
authority upon American Fish-culture. 
I may appropriately insert here an extract from this 
work, illustrative of the economy of Fish-culture. Mr. Green 
says: “The Fish Commission of New York estimated in 
1887 that the cost of hatching 100,000,000 fish (salmon, 
trout and white-fish) was, including all expenses for real- 
estate, buildings, labor, etc., $250,000. Supposing that one 
quarter of all these fish live, that would be 25,000,000 fish 
at one cent per fish. Now, at a fair valuation, these fish 
are worth in the market 15 cents apiece: therefore the in¬ 
vestment returns 1,500 per cent, or $3,750,000 for an outlay 
of $250,000 and the land and its betterments remain! A 
great gift to the public, and this in New York alone.” 
Progress in Fish-culture was delayed by our Civil War, 
but upon the return of peace the matter received an impetus, 
largely through Mr. Green’s exertions, and private hatch¬ 
eries and fish-preserves multiplied in all the States and 
are still increasing in number. Soon the State Governments 
took it up, and State Fish Commissions were formed for 
the encouragement of this industry and the protection of 
the fisheries, both inland and upon the coast. New Hamp¬ 
shire has the honor of having taken the lead, founding her 
Fish Commission in 1864, during the latter part of the 
War. This Commission made, in 1866, the first attempt 
in this country at breeding salmon for re-stocking the rivers, 
and also made the first public appropriation toward that 
end. It is said that the necessary salmon-eggs were brought 
from New Brunswick, the price paid being $40 per 1000 
or four cents apiece. The present price, with modern im¬ 
provements and facilities, for eggs raised at home is, I 
believe, not over 50 cents per 1000. Massachusetts and 
Vermont were the first States to follow the example of 
New Hampshire and created Fish Commissions in 1865, 
