Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1883 — THE FATHER OF FISH-CULTURE. [ARTICLE]

THE FATHER OF FISH-CULTURE.

getfe Green’s Ideas About the Finny Tribe and Some of Hl* Varied Kxperience*. [From the Turf, Field and Farm.] “How did you ever come to devise this scheme?” “I have been working at it ever, since I was large enough to bend a pin.” The above remark was addressed to Mr. Seth Green, the veteran fish culturist, who is known to the entire world, and his reply indicates the exteat of his labors. “When I was quite young,” he continued, •“I would lie on the limbs of trees that reached over the water entire afternoons, watching the movements of the fish and studying their habits. In this way I discovered many characteristics which were before unknown. I saw, as every observer must see, the destructive elements that are warring against fish, and I realized that, unless something were done, the life in the streams of thus country would become extinct To counteract this disastrous end became my life work, and 1 am happy to say I have seen its accomplishment” “Were you successful on the start?” “No, indeed. Up to that time all artificial attempts to hatch and raise fish from the spawn had failed, and I was compelled to experiment in an entirely-new manner. The work was a careful and ledious one, but I finally succeeded, and to-day I am able to hatch and raise fully 75 per cent of all spawn. ” “Enormous! Why, that is a larger percentage than either the vegetable or animal kingdoms produce in a natural condition. ” “1 know it, but we exercise the greatest care in the start and guard the little fellows until they become able to care for themselves.” The foregoing conversation occurred at Caledonia where the representative of this paper was paying a visit to the State fish hatcheriei. It has been his privilege to report very many interesting sights within the past twenty-five years, but the view presented here exceeds in interest anything ever before attempted. “How many fish are there in those ponds, Mr. Green?” “As we have never attempted to count them it will be impossible to say. They extend way up into the millions though. We shipped over 3,000,u00 out of the ponds this year, and there seemed to be as many afterward as before. We have nearly every variety of the trout family and many hybrids.” **■ “ifon speak of hybrids, Mr. Green. What do you mean by that?” “I have experimented for years in crossing the breed of the various fish, and am etui working upon it We cross the female salmon trout with the male brook trout, and thus produce a hybrid. Then we cross the hybrid with the brook trout, which gives us three-quarter brook trout and one-quaxter salmon trout This makes one of the finest fishes in the world He has all the habits of the brook trout, lives in both streams and lakes, develops Vermillion spots on his sides, nses readily to a fly, is far more vigorous and fully onethird larger than ordinary brook trout of the same age. The possibilities of development in the fish world are great and we are rapidly ascertaining what they are. ” As the man of news watched the countenance of Mr. Green while he was giving the above account, he could not but feel that he was in the presence of one of the few investigators who, from a rich and life-long experience, bring great benefit to the world. Let the reader imagine a strong and stalwart frame, surmounted by a head strongly resembling that of Socrates, and covered with a white, silky beard and luxuriant gray hair. Seth Green, the father of fish-culture, is a picture of health, and the reporter could not help remarking so. “If you had seen me the last winter and spring, young man, you might have thought differently,” said the veteran. “How is that? One would think, to look at you, that Bickness was something of which you knew nothing. ” “And so it was until last winter. I went down into Florida in the fall to see what kind of fish they had in that State and study their habits, and was attacked with malaria in its severest form, and when I came home I realized for the first time in my life, that I was sick. My symptoms were terrible. I had dull, aching pains in my head, limbs and around my back. Mv appetite .was wholly gone, and I i'elt a lack of energy such ai I had often heard described but Had never experienced. Any one who has ever had a severe attack of malaria can appreciate my condition. I went to bed and remained there all the spring, and if there ever was a sick man. I was the one ” “It seems hardly possible How did you come to recover so completely?” “My brother, who had be;m afflicted by a severe kidney trouble and threatened with Br ght’s d ! sease, was completely cured by a remedy in wirch I had great confidence. I theiefore tried thfe same remedy for my malaria, and am happv to say that I am a well man to-day, and through the instrumentality of Warner's Safe Cure, which I believe to be one of the most valuable of medenes. Indeed, I see it is indorsed by the Un.ted State i Medical College of New York, and that Dr. Gunn, Dean of that institution, has written a lon r article concerning its value.” “And are you now as well as formerly?” “Apparent y so. I keep the remedy on band all the wh ie, 1 hough, and do not hesitate to recommend It to others ” “One quest on moie * How many ponds of have you here, and how are they divided?” • Well, we have 43 ponds which are divided up as follows: 22 ponds of brook trout, 2 ponds of salmon trout, 4 of McCloud river or rainbow trout, 2 ponds of German trout. 3 of California mountain trout, 2 ponds of hybrids, 4 of one-quarter salmon and threequarters brook trout, 2 ponds of gold fish, attd 1 pond of Carp. Then we have what we call the centennial pond or ‘happy family,’ consisting of crosses of different fish, including Kennebec salmon, Land Locked salmon, Ca ifornia salmon, brook trout, Ba mon trout and hybrids These fish range in size from minnows to 18-pounders, and in age from one-and-one-half months to e even years I forgot to say, also, that we have a ‘hospital’ pond, which is entirely empty, which speaks pretty well for a community of many millions. Indeed the whole secret of fish culture can be summed up in four things Impregnation—using no water. P.enty of food. Plenty of pure water and cleanliness” The numerous fish exhibitions which are taking place in all parts of Europe and the unusual interest which is being man fested in this subject throughout the world all ow e their origin to the piocess above described as originated and conducted by Seth Green. It is certainly cause for congratulation to every American that this country produces so many men whose genius brings value to the world, and it is proof positive of the greatest merit that a remedy, even with such high standing as Warners Safe Cure is known to have, should be so strongly indorsed and recommended by one so reputable and reliable as Seth Green.