We do not propose to trace back the science of fish culture to its origin, nor settle the disputed claims of individuals or nations, to its discovery. That the old stagnant, almond-eyed nation of the East may have known something of it, as that curious, half developed race had misty intimations of many other important natural phenomena is not to be doubted; but the knowledge was of small extent and little utility, and has remained like the people among whom it existed, without development. Its practice consisted mainly in transporting from place to place, certain varieties of fish-eggs, which had the peculiarity of sticking to whatever they touched after emission from the parent. These were caught on twigs, sticks, and branches of trees, and so carried wherever they were needed. They were protected as they developed, and used to stock waters which had been depopulated. This was but a rude attempt at fish culture, and beyond it there was little more real foundation than for the pretence of hatching spawn in the eggs of fowls beneath setting hens.

The children of Confucius, thousands of years ago, in this as in many other investigations, commenced groping from the darkness of ignorance toward the light of truth ; but before they had passed into the twilight of the morning, they seemed to be stricken with paralysis, and like the fabled seven sleepers, have stood on the semblance of death ever since.

The French have the honor of originating fish culture as now practiced among civilized nations. Two Frenchmen, called Remy and Gehin, having observed that the mature eggs of certain fish flow from their bodies on the slightest pressure, and comprehended what important results might be obtained by taking advantage of this peculiarity.

It was some years after these discoveries in France that America commenced to take an interest in this subject, and from its geographical conformation and political government, labored under the greatest disadvantages. Many different States have conflicting rights in the same waters. Rivers rising under one jurisdiction, frequently pass under several others before they reach the sea; lakes touch or are included within four or five States; streams divide or bound two or more sovereignties. This diversity of control, and often of interest, naturally threatened to be fatal to any attempt at fish culture which required a uniform system in all waters to which it is applied. Take as an example of this difficulty, the most southerly of all known American salmon rivers of the Atlantic coast -the Connecticut. This magnificent water-course, once abounding in countless myriads of the noblest of fish, rises amid the wild, rugged hills on the confines of Maine and Canada near the lakes in whose crystal waters still sport the largest brook trout of America. Concentrating its numerous tributaries into one grand river, it flows between the green mountains of Vermont and the still more imposing ranges of New Hampshire; next it cuts Massachusetts nearly in two, and finally sweeping through Connecticut, now deep enough to float vessels of war and carry important commerce, it empties into Long Island Sound. Here we have in the first place the rights and interests of the estuary fishing at its mouth, once valuable net fisheries for salmon, and still productive of shad ; in these the State of Connecticut is deeply concerned. Above these are the dams at Holyoke, fatal to all migratory fish, among which are to be counted both the salmon and shad, but which have contributed much to the wealth of Massachusetts, and are busy all year long in driving millions of looms and spindles. Farther north, the residents along the fluvial portion of the stream, in Vermont and New Hampshire, complained that for more than half a century no salmon or shad has been permitted to reach them and to bring their welcome dowry of wholesome food to their very doors. While still further to the northward the lumbermen must be consulted as to what effect the introduction of salmon and shad culture will have on their rafts and rafting dams.

Our country has a compensation in the character of its fish which more than makes up for these disadvantages, and has led to a more vigorous prosecution of fish culture, and more valuable discoveries in implement and methods than in any other land. The fish of North America are the finest in the world for food and sport, while some species have peculiar recommendations to the fish culturist. Probably the most valuable variety to be found anywhere is the shad ; it is scarcely surpassed for the table, it is among the most, prolific, it is the most easily manipulated, its eggs hatch in the shortest time, its fry require no care after birth, and being migratory it draws its sustenance from the sea while it travels far inland, in its periodic visits to the land. We have abundant varieties for the vast extent of valuable waters in our states, from the sluggish turbid streams and ponds of the South to the lively sparkling spring brooks of the North; from the smallest ponds to the immense inland seas of fresh water. For the lakes, the Whitefish, Salmon Trout, Herring, Black Bass and Wall-eyed Pike; for the rivers, the Yellow Perch, Black Bass, Shad and Salmon; for still and deep streams, the Bullhead or Catfish, the Perch and many other kinds of coarse fish; for the swift mountain stream, the Trout, Gold Fish, a good coarse pan fish, can be grown in all our rivers and bays. Beyond doubt, with very little care and expense these fish can be made to abound in our waters. But for some kinds this requires government aid, since individuals owning parts of streams will not hatch out fish there at their own expense for the benefit of all other owners of the stream, and special legislation seems to be required to get fish-passes constructed over the numerous dams in our rivers and to prevent substances destructive to the fish being thrown into our streams, such as saw-dust and the refuse of paper mills, tanneries and dyeing establishments.