FISH CULTURE IN RUSSIA.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 273, 27 April 1875, Page 3

FISH CULTURE IN RUSSIA.

A recent official report on the progress of fish culture in Russia contains much interesting information respecting the different piscicultural establishments of that country, and especially with regard to Nicolsky, an institution belonging to the state, and under the Department of the Agriculture and Rural Industry. On account of its size, its excellent arrangement and apparatus, and the improved method of fecundation adopted, the latter deservedly occupies a foremost place amongst the artificial fish-hatching depots of Europe. The principal aim of those conducting it at present, is to stock certain waters of Russia with valuable fish not at present found in them, though abounding in other parts of the empire. The nursery is situated between Lakas Pestow and Velis ; and the river Pestooka, which unites these, serves to feed the different ponds and basins, the quantity of water being regulated by a number of sluices at the river head. The building, 28 feet long by 40 feet broad, consists of a wooden erection on a foundation of stone, and its centre is occupied by a large wooden basin, divided into several compartments, each of which, during the period of incubation, contains a different variety of fish. Flanking the central basin, on either side, are eight small stone ones, supported by brick arches, in'which not only fertilised ova is kept, but also young fry, the latter being fed, until the time arrives for turning them into the ponds, on larva, insects, and small dace, &c, bred on the spot. The institution is capable of producing and fecundating annually five million lavaret eggs, two million trout, and one million eggs for sale, and sustaining them in good condition until they reach that state when they may be forwarded to their destination without injury. Through careful manipulation by the dry method of impregnation (according to which no water is added to the eggs, and but very little to the milt previous to mixing the two), the subsequent development of the embryos has always been attended with great success ; whilst under the ordinary or moist system of fecundation it is not uncommon for 30 or 50 per cent, of the ova to remain unimpregnated ; the fertile eggs, where the above method is practised, scarcely exceed 1 to 10 per cent. To supply the young fish with plenty of oxygen, the water flowing into the basins and rearing boxes in which they are first kept is made to flow from a height in the form of a shower, and air is pumped into the basins at frequent intervals. The eggs of salmonidai " raised" in this establishment are sent to their destinations in the postal vans of the mail trains. Since the introduction of salmon into Lake Peipus, in 1852, perhaps the most important undertaking connected with the culture and acclimatisation of fish in Russia has fcbeen the attempt to raise the sturgeon by artificial propogation and to stock the River Uolga with some of the numerous varieties of lavaret (Corenyoni) met with in Lake Ladoga. Up to the present, fifteen large lakes belonging to the state have in turn been populated with fish hatched out and reared at the government nursery, and so favorable have been the results of this enterprise that their products increased between 1860 and 1869, in some localities three, in others six and seven fold.