trifling loss, the result being more satisfactory in this respect than in any previous year.

It is probable that nearly three times as many young fish will be hatched out and planted in the waters as were procured in 1874. Between two and three millions of eggs still remained at the establishment on the M'Cloud River on the 14th of October, when the shipments were completed, their hatching and planting in the Sacramento being provided for by some public-spirited citizens of California, among them Governor Leland Stanford, Mr. Crocker, and others.

NEW FISH PRODUCT.

In the fishery division of the Danish agricultural display held not long since at Biborg, in Jutland, a new fish product was exhibited by Möller, in the form of fish-sausage. This consisted of finely chopped salted fish, with an addition of pork and spices, and constituted a very acceptable article of food.

REPORT OF THE FISH COMMISSION OF VIRGINIA.

The annual report of the Fish Commission of Virginia, under its new organization, for 1875, has been published. The Commission is now composed of Mr. A. Moseley, of Richmond, Dr. W. B. Robertson, of Lynchburg, and Professor M. C. Ellsey, of Blacksburg, who have been extremely active in the discharge of their duties, although with a very limited. appropriation at their command. The report is very creditable to them, and shows a comprehension of the problem to be solved in regard to the protection and multiplication of food fishes in Virginia. As might have been expected, the shad and the striped and black bass received special attention on their part. Much also has been done in regard to the introduction of the California salmon, that fish of the future. They obtained a large number of the eggs from the United States Fish Commission, for which they established two hatching-houses-one at Blacksburg College and the other at the Virginia Military Institute; and they propose to have others hereafter at the University of Charlottesville and at the Hampden School, at Hampden, whenever their funds will permit. The young fish will probably be soon introduced into their new quarters in appropriate streams

in Virginia. The Commissioners also did what they could toward propagating the shad, although the season was unfavorable for the fullest measure of success.

INSPECTION OF FISH IN THE WASHINGTON CITY MARKET.

The annual table of the inspection of fish in the Washington city market has just been presented to the Board of Health by Mr. C. Ludington, Inspector of Marine Products. From this we learn that the number of shad inspected amounted to 464,215; of tailors (a species of shad), to 56,430; and of herring, to 1,674,465. The number of "bunches of fish" sold was 557,203; of sturgeon, 1240; the whole of which, reduced to pounds, is equivalent to 7,002,049. Of oysters there were 305,737 bushels; of clams, 1,110,725; of crabs, 446,525.

This table, as compared with that of 1874, exhibits some notable differences. Of shad scarcely more than two thirds as many were marketed as in 1874, and about one half of the number in 1873. Herring showed a still greater diminution, the yield in 1874 having been 6,567,240. "bunches of fish" were about the same. On the other hand, the yield of sturgeon was much greater, being nearly three times that of 1873, and thirty per cent. more than that of 1874.

The

The total yield of fish, in pounds, in 1873 was 8,548,851; in 1874 it was 10,827,967, that of 1875 being a very notice able diminution from the yield of the previous year. Of oysters and clams a considerable less number was marketed in 1875, but a larger number of crabs.

Some idea of the importance of a careful inspection of the fish in the market may be learned from the fact that the value of the fish condemned as unfit for food in 1875 amounted to over $7000; in 1874 to over $10,000.

It may be remarked that by far the greater portion of the fish sold in the Washington city market is derived from the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, as may also be said of the oysters, clams, and crabs. The inferiority in the number of shad and herring taken in 1875 is supposed to have been due to the continued cold weather during the spring, which prevented the waters from attaining a temperature such as would invite the expectant fish to enter the rivers

from the sea. The yield in the Delaware, the Hudson, and the Connecticut was larger than usual, thus explaining what became of the difference.

SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FISH COMMISSIONERS OF NEW YORK.

The seventh annual report of the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of New York, transmitted to the Legislature February 1, 1875, contains a great deal that is interesting and useful in connection with the measures for supplying the rivers and lakes of the United States with food fishes. A noteworthy feature of the report consists in the large number of embellishments it contains, such as the New York shad-hatching camp and the method of taking the spawn from the fish; plates representing the black bass, the salmon-trout, the brook-trout, and the true salmon, showing the appearance of some of them at different ages. There is also a plate representing the typical shad-hatching box, as invented by Seth Green.

Under the head of "Shad Hatching," the Commissioners report the hatching and turning into the Hudson River in 1874 of over 5,000,000 young shad; and they announce that the yield of mature shad for the past year has been 100,000, showing a steady increase in the number from year to year. They state that larger hauls were made in the nets last season than have been known for many years, and that the fish have been every where more abundant, this being accompanied by a corresponding fall in price, the prevailing rates being one third of those that had ruled previously. They think, however, that if they could procure a much larger number of spawning shad, they could accelerate the period when the price shall be as low as was ever known in the country, and they attribute their difficulties in procuring these to the great number of stake nets stretched across the river at many points from its month up to Albany, which thus impede the movements of the fish. They earnestly urge that a close time be established, of at least from Satur day night until Monday morning, during which no fish shall be taken, and the nets shall be raised, under a very severe penalty.

The shad-hatching season of 1874 commenced on the 18th

of May, and terminated on the 1st of July, making a period of about six weeks.

The Commissioners, after a careful consideration of the facts, are decidedly of the opinion that the experiment of introducing shad into the great lakes has been a success, and that there is every reason to believe that when deposited in the rivers the young will mature in the lakes and return to their starting-point.

The distribution of black bass, which has been going on for several years, has been continued during 1874, amounting to 365 in number; of the Oswego bass, 533; while 1279 of other allied species have been sent out. These operations have already resulted in a greatly increased yield in the general fisheries of the state, so that lakes where nothing could be taken but a few years ago now furnish satisfactory fishing to many persons.

In regard to other fish, the Commissioners report the addition of 527,000 whitefish, and 180,000 salmon-trout, with a large number of eggs sent to many parties who desire to make experiments upon them. The Commissioners speak in terms of approbation of the efforts now making on the part of the United States to introduce the California salmon into such waters as are not suited to the species of Maine, and cite several instances where the young have been taken after introduction into the streams of New York, showing surprising vigor and rapidity of growth.

The report contains some reference to the action taken by the Commissioners in regard to the propagation of the grayling, and they think that the addition of this species may be one of some practical importance, as it certainly is a matter of much interest. A considerable portion of the report devoted to the consideration of the injurious effect of pound nets and other modes of trapping fish, and they strenuously urge the passage of laws to prohibit their use entirely, or at least to regulate their employment at certain seasons and in certain localities. They point particularly to the use of these nets in the great South Bay of Long Island, where, in their opinion, in consequence of the multiplication of nets within the last few years, line fishing has been almost entirely destroyed.

In conclusion, the Commissioners state that, without re

laxing their efforts in regard to other fish, they purpose now to devote more attention to hatching and distributing the brook-trout. Their establishment at Caledonia has an almost unlimited capacity, and they think they will be able to supply trout spawn or young trout, in a certain number at least, to almost all applicants, and that in this way a great addition to the food resources of the state may be secured.

GLOUCESTER FISHERIES IN 1875.

The average valuation of fish landed at Gloucester during the year 1875 was as follows: 177,473 quintals of Bank codfish, $998,628; 185,758 quintals of Georges codfish, $1,021,669; 4258 quintals of hake, $12,764; 2349 quintals of cusk, $7047; 9417 quintals of pollock, $32,964; 2,462,864 lbs. of Georges halibut, $172,365; 7,248,423 lbs. of Bank halibut, $507,388; 38,292 bbls. of herring, $153,168. Total, $2,905,994. This does not include the amount of shore fishery.

FISHERIES OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS.

Captain Adams, of the whaler Arctic, arrived at Dundee. on the 6th of November from the Davis Strait's fishing. From the condition of the wind and sea at Carey Island he believes there must have been a vast extent of open water toward the north, which would permit the British arctic expedition to reach a higher latitude than possibly could have been done at any time within many years past.

FAILURE IN INTRODUCING SALMON AND TROUT.

An attempt has lately been made to convey the fry of trout and salmon from England to Australia by the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamers, the route of which is by the Suez Canal; but without success. The experiment proceeded satisfactorily until the Red Sea was reached, when the mortality commenced, and on the twentieth day out the whole of the fish were dead.

GROWTH OF OYSTERS IN FRANCE.

A correspondent of Land and Water refers to recent operations conducted in France for the multiplication and growth of oysters, remarking that the process of culture is quite dif