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THE ATHENS GEORGIAN: APRIL 3 7, 1877.
The Fish Mania.
[For the Athene Georgian.]
Among the various mental epidem
ics now sweeping the country, is the
desire to stock all our rivefs w^h
imported fish. Before spending any
more money in this enterprise, or
wasting additional ink on the sub
ject, would it not be well to pause a
moment, and do a little thinking f
Time was when all our streams
were abundantly supplied with fish.
That time is past. The good fish
have all disappeared; but few of any
kind are left , and such as we have,
are of very poor quality. Of course,
this effect must have a cause.
Whatever this cause may have been,
it is probably still in operation, and
if our rivers w> re re-stocked with
fish, they would booh disappear just
as their predecessors have done, and
for the same reason. Hence, all ef
forts in this direction must be useless,
until the cause, whatever it may be,
that is unfavorable to fish life, is dis
covered and removed.
T. is cause is, probably, the muddi
ness of the water; and the cause of
this, is probably the mode of culture
which is necessary for cotton and
corn, (keeping the land always clesn,)
and the shallow culture of all onr
lands, which allows the top soil to
wash away. If this be the case,
then, before we can make our waters
habitable for. fish, we must either
cease the culture of cotton and corn,
or contrive some way to get the
water in our rivers clear, and keep
it so. Possibly, if all the red clay
hills and gullies were covered with
some kind of growth, and if our am
ble lands were so deeply ploughed
that the waters would penetrate in
stead of running off, the object might
be accomplished. This, if ever done,
will not be done soon. Hence, our
prospects in the way of pisciculture,
are by no means encouraging.
So fine a fish as the St. Lawrence
salmon would soon die in the turbid
waters of the Savannah, the Ogechee,
the Ocmulgee, and the Chattahoo
chee. Perhaps in our mountain
streams where -the same causes do
not exist, the fish found in the clear
waters of northern streams might
thrive; but even there, experiment
might show that difference of latitude
and temperature, and difference of
food might either destroy the fish or
change its character. But in Middle
aud Lower Georgia, there can be
no doubt that the fish would either
die or so deteriorate in quality as to
be of little or no value. We all know
that a hog fattened on mast, makes a
very different kind of pork from a
hog fattened on corn. For the same
reason, a fish fattened on mud, will
be very different from 4 fish in clear
water fed on clean and suitable food.
It is possible in a certain sense, for
water to be too clear for fish. The
fish in the lake of Geneva, (and here
the water is clear as chrystal,) are
perfectly insipid. The reason prob
ably is, that the lake for some un
explained reason, perhaps, from the
presence of immense quantities of
molted snow-, does not supply the
necessary vegetable and animal food.
Water equally clear, but of different
temperature, and calculated to pro
duce suitable fish-food, as in Florida
for instance, might afford very fine
fish. O11 the whole, it Would seem
that until we aro prepared to supply
the imported fish with conditions
entirely different from such as we
now have, the enterprise in question
might as well be abandoned.
Some of the points above presented
may be disputed, but there remains
another, in regard to which, there
can scarcely be a doubt. Suppose
the most sanguine expectations'of the
pisciculturists to be realized; sup
pose all our rivers and streams to
be swarming at all seasons of the
year with delicious fish. What would
be the effect 011 the negro population?
Would they not all leave the plough,
throw down tha h- e, and go fishing?
Would not this very sedentary and
delightful occupation depopulate all
our fields? Would not every stream
be lined on each side with b ack dots,
from fountain-head to debonchure ?
If fish were plenty, and would come
to the hook, the fisher liaviug noth
ing to do but to sit down, what
would be the effect on the price of
labor? Experience in Jamaica and
elsewhere, has shown that the easier
ETJHBKA C3-TT.A-ZESTO.
Ths Best and the Cheapest!
This reliable Fertilizer is again offered to the public and its high
&1T&X&&S0 WWMiEsV MTtmdJeTEMB.
It has never failed to maintain itself as a
First Class Fertilizer 2
Recognizing the fact that all farm products ate lower, the company
still offer the option of 15c. for Middling cotton without
making any advance in the
FHICE OF THE FZFTXXiXZBXl.
THE BEOEGIAH FOR 1877.
Thus making it what the farmer need*, a first-class Guano reasonable in price. For prices and
information, apply to J. II. RUCKER, Agent,
** * ‘ " ’tens, Go.
feb6-2m
Broad street, Deupree Building, Athens,
Feed Your land and the Land Will Feed You.
S0LUM.E PAttfte mm®.
AND
Compound Acid Phosphate.
FOR COMPOSTING WITH SEED COTTON,
THE MOST POPULAR FERTILIZERS IN USE.
Last year, 1876, there were 112 different brands sold in the State of Georgia, the sale aggre
gating about 70,ow tons, and of that quantity the Pacific Guano Company sold 13,000 tons.
BV m EVBBY &E&BQN SlWCM
PRICES 11ST AJGUSTA, GA:
it is to obtain what we’ actually need,
the harder ltd* to procure labor and
the higher is its price. If the earth
and air and water- produced all the
necessaries of life spontaneously, labor
could not be had at all; and the
nearer we approach to this, the fewer
laborers there will be, and the higher
we shall have to pay for such as we
can get. Suppose that besides re
stocking the rivers with fish, we
could also re-stock the forests with
deer, turkeys aud other game; and
suppose that besides all this, we
could persuade.tbc banana ap<l bread
fruit trees to grow on our soil, how
much cotton could we raise, and at
what price, and what would be the
moral effect of the consequent idle-
'nesi on bur whole population ? Bet
ter far "for us all, white ami black, j
that neither fish nor fowl, nor any
Other thing that goes to promote
comfort in life, should ever come in
reach without labor. “ In the sweat
of thy face shall thou eat bread”
sounds like a curse, but as we arc
now constituted, it is a blessing.
Ease promotes idleness, and idleness
promotes vice. When work produces
plenty, and when idleness leads to
starvation, th.se are the best condi
tions of life.
\ But after all, while the replenish
ing of our rivers with fish would tend
to raise the price of labor and lead to
general demoralization, there is one | ^ohible Pacific Guano.-. ;••••••• :
,, , ,, i Soluble Pacifatt Guano, Time, with 13c. cotton option 60 00
tiling which would probably c ph^hate, Cash f. 36 00
from disaster, and that is this: a few j Compound Aeid Phosphate, Time, with ii»c. cotton option 42 00
euterprising individuals would soon j *■-
sweep them all out with sains, and j Delivered at any Boat or Depot in the City free of Charge,
we should be just where we were j
before, minus the trouble and ex., j
pense of importing said fish.
On the whole, may not the entire ;
scheme be said to be full of nothing-
Largest Weekly in the State.
With increased facilities for carrying on the publication ot our paper
for the New Year, the Georgian will be found, as heretofore,
Strictly Democratic,
And will endeavor to supply its readers with the most careful, com
plete and trustworthy accounts of current events. It will
remain its usual size, eight pages, and has -1
Time sales payable by FIRST OF NOVEMBER, 1877, without interest, with options of paying
in Cotton of a grade not below Middling, at 13 cents, delivered at your Railroad Depot, or any
Warehouse of Augusta, Savannah o- Charleston.
J. o. MATTHEWSON <& CO.,
GENERAL AGENTS, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.
ness ? There is not enough fish in it
to make the thing even fishy. But
if this be a mistake, and if cur waters
be made to teem with the finny tribe,
then would the country be to that
exteut Jamaieafied; ami if by appro
priate legislation, game should also
be made abundant, then would our
whole negro population, to say noth
ing of juvenile Caucasians and ease-
lovers generally, be transmogrified
(by Sidney Smith’s classification) into
“ Nimrods, ramrods and fishing-rods.”
Much of what has been said, would
not apply to private fish-ponds kept
by gentlemen for their own use. In
these, clear water and proper food
might be provided and excellent fish
might be bred. Nothing would be
easier than to protect these ponds
from depredation. All that would
he necessaiy would he to place a
guard well armed with double-
barrelled shot guns over each pond,
and keep said guard on duty day
aud night, Sundays and week-days,
throughout the year.
A still simpler plan would be this:
have the pond so i ear the house that
it could he guarded by boys. On
this plan, there is the additional ad
vantage that one can raise his own
musquitocs. A few sprigs of Euca
lyptus would doubtless keep down
the miasmatic influences; and as fish
diet abounds in phosphorus and
other brum-food, the intellectual de
velopment that would follow, would
amply compensate • for any outlay of
time, trouble and money.
Hardshell.
EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS,
By A- J. Webb, Esq-, Covington, Ga-> 1876-
Oust per Picked
row Sept 4
No Manure —- -M 2*4
1C lbs. •• MerrimanV’ to the row - BX ll;ij
16 lba. Cumberland —- — 81b, *£''z
16 lha. KaK*dule - —.,W"i»»- *l!j 17
19 lbs. “ Brighton ” - 79 13
Merryuian’s and Stable Manure Mixed 81*4 12*;
Zell’s" Add with Stable Manure - 82*^
Pacific Guano Cos. Acid with Stable Manure - 81'
9 «
11
2.v*4
t x
Sit
23
•r.%
Nor. 3 Nor. 15
6?4
19*4
24
i
Iu the aborc experiment 1 estimated stable manure at filteen dollars per ton.
w,
33*4
$
5
5J4
39?4
ceil
65^
62*4
e:y,
66*|
lore Reading Matter tn its Column
Thau any two weekly papers in the State. We have the largest
bona tide subscription list in Northeast Georgia, and we
intend to make it, as heretofore, an interesting
FIRESIDE COMPANION.
“ Merchants have learned that hon
esty is not encouraged by easy com
promises, or releases and extensions
impudently asked and indifferently
grauted. They have found that the
honest suffer when the fraudulent es
cape, and that the upright tradesman
who pays his debts is al ways under
sold by the rogue who buys dear on
credit to sell cheap for cash, without
any intention of paying, and relying
upon the ill-judged leniency of cred
itors t® discharge him wheu bankrupt,
and launch him again on a new career
of fraud.’’—Exchange.
Dr. Bull’s Cough Syrup is fast tak
ing the place of all the old-fashioned
cough remedies. It never fails to re
lieve the most violent cold, and for
throat diseases it is invaluable. Price,
25 cents.
H. EDWARDS, Gunn's Mills, G. R- El-
Norwoou, Ga., January 12, 1877.
Messrs. J. O. Mathewson & Co., Augusta, Ga.—Dear Sirs: 1 have used the Pacific Guano
for several years with good success. Last year I tried several kinds, via: Barry, l’utspsco aud
Soluble Pacific.
On the 80th of March last 1 concluded to make a test with Gu.tno and Green Cotton Seed. I
manured three rows witli Cotton Seed only. I then manured three rows with fifteen pounds of
Pacific Guano and Cotton Seed, using the same quantity of Ba rv’s and Patapsco mixed with
Cotton Seed on the same quantity of ground, which was poor uiullato land, all the same kind aud
all treated alike.
Manure. Picked Sept. 28. Picked Lee. 22. Total.
Three rows Cotton Seed 10 17 27
Three rows Pacific Guano and Cotton Seed 41 88 79
Three rows Barry’s Fertiliser and Cotton Seed 88 22 60
Three rows Patapsco Guano and Cotton Seed 37 26 63 >
The rows were l'O yards long, and I used at the rate of four busln-ls of Cotton Seed per acre, j
Cotton was al. picked’on sunny afternoons, 1 being present mid weighed it myself. I
The experiment was made to ascertain what Guauo was best suited to use with Green Cotton i
Seed. * Verv respectfully yours.
W. II. EDWARDS. !
Walton Cccnty, Ga., Jan. 16th, 1877. _
Messrs. John 0. 1’itneb & Co., Athens—Gents, I used your Acid Phosphate for composting j
last season, ai.d was well pleased with its results, and expect to ise it again this season aud re- 1
commend it to the planters as being ouc of the cheapest aud mot profitable Acids that can be I
used for both Cotton und Corn. Very respectfully,
JOSEPH CLACK. i
hqiivee: e:virmsjNrciE:
Messrs. J. C. Pitner & Co., Athens, Ga.—Gents, I used your Soluble Pacific Guano last !
season and proved equal to other standard Fertilizers used on iny place and was well pleased |
with iu results and will use it ugaiu this season.
- * Very respestfnlly» JOSEPH ALEXANDER.
Orders received, information furnished, and a guarantee giver, that if Cotton should be over
onr option price, next fall we will allow one cent j>er lb. more.
• • JOH1T C- E»ITlTBn & Co., Agents,
lebC-2m. Athens, Ga.
Counected with our newspaper, we have a
Cottrell & Babcock Press,
The finest Book and Job Press, together with the best selection
of Job Type, all new, and ordered within the last six months,
and are prepared to-do all kiuds of
THRASH’S
CONSUMPTIVE CURE.
Sure cure for
CONSUMPTION, COUGHS
CROUP, COLDS
And all Lung Affections,
call at
R.T. Brumby & Co’s
Drug Store and get a
Trial Bonn Worth 50c„ Free,
FIRST BOTTLE GIVEN AWAY
To any reliable person wishing to test its virtno
feb20-tf. R. T. BRUMBY & CO.
To Stent!
THE beat, Stores, Offices, Shops, Warehouse,
Dwelling Houses &c. E, P. BISHOP
a-g.l.tf. No. 1. Broad St., np stairs.
T°¥
O cri
cription neatly dune at this office.
BLACKSMITHING.
Having rented the Blacksmith Shop so long
occupied by the late William P. Talmadge and
employed competent workmen from the North,
I am prepured to do utiy and all work in the
T.lyio
at the shortest notice and at the lowest prices of
any shop iu the city. I have a
Skillod Edge-tool luEntcor
and make specialty of Axes, Mill Picks. Mat
tocks, Picks, Garden Hoes and tools of all des
cription and of the finest temper.
wagons and buggies
Ironed and Repaired.
Plows of all kinds madi
prices. Also
First Class Horse-Shoeing
done by a northern slioer, Trotting Plates.
Concave Shoeing Etc., in a manner unsurpassed
by any. All new work warranted aud satisfac
tion guaranteed. Guna aud Pistols repaired.
John M. Bassett.
march20-ly.
Tire Shrunk, Etc.
and repaired at low
NEW BUSINESS!
1 would respottfully inform my friends and
the public in general that I have opened a New
Store, in the place lately occupied by Mr. L.
Morns, where 1 shall keep constantly on hand a
great and solectel stock of
Dry Goods, (Mil g, Millinery, Notions, Hals, Etc.
And ask the patronage of all.
L3 MORRIS
I have en
gaged Mr. LOUI5 MORRIS for’the management
or my business, and I am convinced that all
buyers will meet with a courteous, polite and
fair dealing, and will find it to their interest to
give me a call.
mhl3-4t JOS. J. 3IORBIH.
TREES, ff
Nursery, 111 '
Plants. Spring Lists tree. F
Phoenix, Bloomington
feblS-tf. .
With a new supply of Rules and Figures, we aro prepared to turn
out all and every kind of
Railroad Blanks, Abstracts, Tags,
WAY BILLS, ETC., TOGETHER WITH
£**4% ¥******>
»e&4*s* $****♦
As Cheap as they can be done in any city in the South. The Wo
men iu our Job Department cannot be surpassed in
Excellence and Finisla-
®^r*Givo js a call at our old stand, Broad street, Athens, Ga..£#