United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries

Report of the Commissioner for 1873, 1874 and 1875
A. Inquiry into the decrease of the food fishes.
B. The propagation of food-fishes in the waters of the United States.

With supplementary papers.

Washington: Government Printing Office, 1874

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CONTENTS
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. (PDF) ***Report Table of Contents PDF *** HTML

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. SEA FISHERIES AND THE FISHES AND INVERTEBRATES USED AS FOOD 1

I. HISTORICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE CONDITION OF THE FISHERIES AMONG THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS AND THEIR MODE OF SALTING AND PICKLING FISH
By J. K. Smidth

Introduction 3
Classified groups of fishes 8
Curing Processes 14
Lobsters 17

Fish, Oyster, and snail ponds 18

II. STATISTICS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FISHERIES OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC
By Carl Dambeck
1. Norway 21
2. Sweden 21
3. Denmark 22
4. Germany 22
5. Great Britain and Ireland 23
6. France 24
7. North America 24

III. ON THE FISHERIES OF NORWAY 25

IV. STATISTICAL DATA REGARDING THE SWEDISH FISHERIES 31.

V. ACCOUNT OF THE FISHERIES AND SEA-HUNTING IN THE WHITE SEA, THE ARCTIC OCEAN, AND THE CASPIAN SEA. By Alexander Schultz 35

The fisheries of the White Sea and the Petshora. 36
1. The herring 37
2. The salmon 40
3. The navaga (Gallus navaga) and other salt-water fish 43
4. River and lake fish 44

B. Fisheries in the Arctic Ocean 44
1. Fisheries on the Mourman coast 44
2. Fisheries at Novaya-Zemlya 52

C. Fishing and seal-hunting in the Caspian Sea. 53
1. Fish found in the Caspian Sea 54
2. Spawning-season of the fish in the Caspian Sea 61
3. Wealth of fish in the Caspian Sea 62
4. Estimated value of the fisheries In the Caspian Sea 63
5. Fishing-basins of the Caspian Sea 64
6. Fishing-implements 72
7. Importance of a vataga, (fishing-establishment) 60
8. Preparing the fish and its several parts 8.2
9. Market-price of fish and their products 90
10. Price of fish, as fixed by agreement between the fisherman and the fishing-houses 91
11. Seal-hunting 92
12. Manufacture of seal-oil 95

VI. THE NORWEGIAN HERRING FISHERIES. By A I. Boeck and A. Fedderson 97

VII PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR 1873 AND 1874 AND THE HERRING FISHERIES ON THE WEST COAST OF SWEDEN.
By Axel Vilhelm Ljungman 123

1. On different species of herring and small-herring 125
The spring-herring (Clupea majalis) 128
The Sea-herring (bafslottsill) 130
The wandering-herring (Stroksillon) 131
Herring spawning in autumn 133

The large herring, or the so-called (garula) herring, (Clupea bohusica, Nilss) 133
Of the propagation and growth of the herring and small-herring 143

3. Of the herring's and small-herring's mode of life; its migrations, and the dependence of these latter on meteorologic and hydrographic circumstances 147

4. Of the herring fisheries and their time and place 150

5. The small herring fisheries, their time and place 153

6. Of fishing implements, the manner in which they are used, and other matters connected therewith 154

7. Scientific of observations and scientific as well as practical experiments necessary for continuing the investigations and bringing them to a satisfactory end. 165

8. Of the Immediate continuation of the investigations and the sums required for this purpose 167

VIII. THE HALIBUT FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. By Lieut. P. do Broca 169

IX. THE FISHING-VILLAGES, SNEKKERSTEEN AND SKOTTERUP, AND THE COLLECTION OF FISHING IMPLEMENTS EXHIBITED BY THEM AT ELSINORE, DENMARK, DURING THE SUMMER OF 1872. 173

X. ON HERRING AND ITS PREPARATION AS AN ARTICLE OF TRADE. By Hjalmar Widegren 183
Introduction 183
1. Preparation of common Baltic herring for consumption in Sweden and in the German ports of the Baltic 189
2. Preparation of extra-fine herring for home Consumption 192
3. Preparation of spiced herring (Kryddsill) 193

XI. NEW CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HERRING-QUESTION. THE DISPUTE BETWEEN AXEL BOECK AND OSSIAN SARS REGARDING THE NORWEGIAN SUMMER-HERRING. SARS's RECENT OBSERVATIONS AND HIS NEW THEORY ON THE MIGRATIONS OF THE HERRING 195

XII. ON THE SPAWNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COD-FISH. By Prof. G. O. Sars. 213

XIII. THE NORWEGIAN LOBSTER FISHERY, AND ITS HISTORY. By Axel Boeck 223
Introduction 223
Implements for catching the lobsters, methods of catching them and the manner of shipping them 228
The lobster-trade and the history of its legislation 232
Draught of a law regarding the protection of lobsters 253

XIV. TRANSPORTATION OF LOBSTERS TO CALIFORNIA 258

XV. ON THE ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF THE LOBSTER 267

XVI. ON THE OYSTER INDUSTRIES OF THE UNITED STATES. By Lieut. P. deBroca 271

Letter to the minister of marine and colonial affairs 271
Chapter first
Introduction 277

Chapter second
Oysters of the United States 286
Mode obtaining the oysters 292
Culture of oysters 296
Laws concerning oyster-plantations 299

Chapter third
The oyster-business in several cities of the United States 302

Chapter fourth
General views upon the natural history of the market-clams 313
Recommendations for introduction 318

APPENDIX B.—THE RIVER-FISHERIES 321

XVII. THE PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SHAD 323

A. Operations in the distribution of the shad in 1874. By James Milnor 323
Distribution from Coeymaus, N. Y 323
Distribution from South Hadley Falls, Mass 323
Table of distribution, 1874 326

B. Report on shad-hatching in New Jersey. By G.A.Andorson 327
C. Voyage to Bremerhaven, Germany, with shad. By Fred Mather 328
D. Living shad on their way to Weser. Translated by II Jacobsen 330

E. Shad hatching and distributing operations of 1875 335
1. The Neuse River station 335
2. The Pamunkey River station 336
3. The Potomac River Stations 336
4. The distribution of shad from the Hudson River 337
5. The Connecticut River station 337
6. Experiments with a view to transporting shad to Germany 338
7. The trip to Germany 339
Tables of shad-hatching operations 340

XVIII. REPORT OF THE TRIANA TRIP. By J. W. Milner 351

XIX ON THE TRANSPORTATION OF SHAD FOR LONG DISTANCES 363
A. Experiments with a view to transporting shad in sea-water. By James W. Milner 363
B. Experiments with a view to transporting shad a few months old. By Charles D. Griswold 370
C. Apparatus for hatching shad-ova while en route to new waters. By Fred Mather

XX. REPORT OF OPERATIONS IN CALIFORNIA 1873. By Livingston Stone 311

A. Clear Lake 371
1. Field-work in the winter of 1872-'73 377
2. Character of Clear Lake 377
3. List of fishes inhabiting the lake 379
4. The condition of the fish in Clear Lake at different seasons 380

B. Sacramento River 382
1. Character of fishing on the Sacramento 382

C. California aquarium car 385

D. Overland journey with live shad 390
1.Preparation for the trip
2.The start
3. The apparatus 381
4. The care of the fish 391
5. Journal of the trip 395
6.Experiments to ascertain the character of the water 400
7 Stations affording supplies of water 401
8. Temperature of the water in the cans 401
9. Conclusion 401

E. McCloud River station 402
1. Catching the parent salmon 403
2. Confining the salmon 405
3. The Indian sentiment in regard to catching the salmon 408
4. Spawning the fish 410
5. The hatching-apparatus 411
6. Hatching the eggs 415
7. Packing and shipping the eggs 419
8. The method of packing discussed 420
9. Cost of the eggs 420
10. Journal of overland trip with salmon-eggs. 421
11. Distribution of salmon eggs 423

F. Catalogue of collections sent to the Smithsonian Institution, 1872 424

G. A list of McCloud Indian words, supplementary to a list contained in the report of 1872. By Livingston Stone 428

XXI HATCHING AND DISTRIBUTION OF CALIFORNIA SALMON 431
A. Report on California salmon spawn hatched and distributed. By J. H. Slack, MD 431
B. Hatching and distribution of California salmon in tributaries of Great Salt Lake. By A. P. Rockwood 434

XXII REPORT OF OPERATIONS DURING 1874 AT THE UNITED STATES SALMON HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT ON THE MCCLOUD RIVER, CAL. By Livingston Stone 437

Introduction 437

Table of consignment of salmon-eggs according to order of shipments 441
Cost of the eggs 443
Camp-buildings. &c. 443
The hatching-apparatus 444
The fish and the fishing 445
The taking and ripening of the eggs 447
Packing the eggs 448

The overland journey of the eggs 449
Life in camp 459
Our neighbors 468
Game 468
Extracts from journal 468

Tables of temperature 471

Catalogue of collections sent to Smithsonian Institution, contributed in 1874 474

Second California aquarium-car 477

XXIII CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER AND ITS FISHES 479

XXIV. THE ATLANTIC SALMON. (Salmo salar) 485
A. Report on the collection and distribution of Penobscot salmon in 1873-'74 and 1874-'75.
By C. G. Atkins 485
1. Methods 483
2. Purchase of breeding salmon 486
3. Development and distribution 488
4. Marking salmon for future identification 490
5. Summaries 492
Tables 493

B. The salmon of Lake Champlain and its tributaries. By W. C. Watson 531
1. Abundance of the salmon in early times 531
2. The disappearance of the salmon, and its causes 534
3. Traits of the salmon 538
4. The Au Sable River. 539

APPENDIX C. FISH-CULTURE RELATING MORE ESPECIALLY TO SPECIES OF CYPRINIDAE 541

XXV. NOTES ON PISCICULTURE IN KIANGSI. By H. Kopsch 543

XXVI. ON THE CULTURE OF THE CARP 549
A. On carp-ponds 549
B. Carp-culture in East Prussia. By R. Struvy 552
C. Carp-ponds 555

XXVII. THE GOLD-ORFE, (Cyprinus orfus) 559
A. On the raising of the gold-orfe, (Cyprinus orfus.) By M. Kirsch 559
B. Correspondence relating to the gold-orfe. By Prof. C. Th. E. v. Siebold 561

XXVIII. DIRECTIONS FOR USING TABLES FOR RECORDING THE PROPAGATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FISH 563

APPENDIX D. THE RESTORATION OF THE INLAND FISHERIES 560

XXIX. FISHERIES AND FISHERY-LAWS IN AUSTRIA AND OF THE WORLD IN GENERAL. By Carl Peyrer 571

A. General considerations 571
1. Early protective measures 571
2. Improved appreciation of the interest 572
3. The object of fishery-legislation 573

B. The fisheries 575
4. The former condition of the Austrian fisheries 575
5. The present condition of the fisheries and its causes 576
6. Artificial fish-breeding 580
7. Progress of foreign fisheries 585
8. Condition of pisciculture in Austria 589
9. Value of the products of the fisheries. 598
10. Fishery statistics 601
11. Scientific investigations 603

C. Important fresh-water fisheries 605
12. Salmon family, (Salmonoidae) 606
13. The pike family, (Esocini) 613
14. The catfish family, Siluroides) 613
15. The cod family, (Gadoidei) 613
16. The eels, (Muraenoidei) 614
17. The carp family, (Cyprinoidei") 614
18. The perch family, (Percoidei) 616
19. The sturgeon family (Acipenserini) 616
20. The crawfish, (Astacus fluviatilis) 617

D. Protective legislation 618
21. The Fishing-privileges 618
22. Foreign fishery laws 619
23. Fishing-privileges and fishing-laws in Austria 643
24. The buying-off of fishing-privileges 665
25. International fishery-treaties 669
20. Salt-water fisheries and the laws relating to them 674

E. Conclusion 677

XXX. HOW CAN OUR LAKES AND RIVERS BE AGAIN STOCKED WITH FISH IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME?
By Mr. Von dem Borne 681

APPENDIX E. NATURAL HISTORY 625

XXXI. PRELIMINARY REPORT ON A SERIES OF DREDGINGS MADE ON THE UNITED STATES COAST SURVEY STEAMER BACHE IN THE GULF OF MAINE. By A. S. Packard, jr., M.D. 687

XXXII. LIST OF THE MARINE ALGAE OF THE UNITED STATES. By W. G. Farlow, M.D. 691

Class Algal 691
List of the principal useful sea-weeds occurring on the United States coast 716
Used as food 715
Used as fertilizers 716
Used for the manufacture of iodine 717
The great kelp of California 717
Alphabetical index 718

XXXIII. LECTURE ON THE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION AND THE FECUNDATION OF FISHES AND ESPECIALLY OF EELS By Dr. Syrski 719
Introduction 719
The organs of reproduction and fecundation in fish in general 720
The reproductive organs of the eel 725
The ovaries of the eel 730
The spermatic organs 732

XXXIV. THE FOOD AND MODE OF LIVING OF THE SALMON, THE TROUT AND THE SHAD.
By D. Barfurth 735

Prefatory note by Theo. Gill 735. T
The food of Trutta salar Siebold, (Salmo salar and hamatus Val.,) and Trutta trutta Siebold
(Fario argenteus Val.) in the river Rhine 738
2. The food of Trutta fario 753
3. The food of Alausa vulgaris while in the Rhine 757

Conclusion 758

INDEX OF APPENDICES