The spawn or egg may be destroyed on its outward passage or held back by influences preventing its maturity; or landed on the surface under unfavorable conditions of climate, air, and properties in the water.
Why do shad not exist anywhere in similar coast waters? Where do they come from and is the Gulf Stream to be credited with their origin? Where do the different schools of blue fish, mackerel, herring and numerous other fish find their headquarters to breed, and why after seeking other waters for a season, return to some place that seems to be their “sweet home”?
Was Seth Green the pioneer in transportation of spawn to distant waters for their incubation? It is more than likely that he was not; with all credit due to the great service his genius has rendered.
What is said of the dissemination of fish, shells, and reptiles may be consistently said of vegetation.
The earth is filled with the seed of every plant and tree and shrub that ever sprang into life in any place, clime or time. Dig to whatever depth you will, the substance you throw out, whether earth or stone, when exposed to the air, will produce some growth of vegetation. Frequently something entirely new and different from the surrounding vegetation. To assume that streams, winds, and birds carry and distribute all the seeds to their different localities where found in an isolated condition, is too much for human credulity. On the tops of mountains, where streams do not run uphill on the surface, where the birds seldom fly, and on spaces impossible for seeds to be carried by winds, you find species peculiar to their altitude, atmosphere and soil.
Through the channels that eternally pour from never ending supplies, and in which storehouse are mingled the seeds from every valley, plain and mountain top of our Earth; from this source they can be scattered and mixed in every inch of the soil which composes our Earth from center to surface, and when brought into contact with our atmosphere start into new and varied existences.
The question may be reasonably asked if many of the reptilian specimens attributed to remote antiquity as belonging to our Earth’s surface, may not be specimens from an interior world, and even now have representatives of their existence there?
Certain plants and growths require specific treatment and conditions. Wherever pond lilies, peppermint, cattails, flag-root, cresses, and moss in wells are found is unfailing proof of living fountains of water.
The ocean furnishes every facility of transportation through the co-operative system without and within. The millions of seed that mature in different climes on the surface are dropped and carried by floods and currents into the main ocean. Some sink and lie buried for ages, retaining their germs of life, for the outer ocean has its regular currents and motions to such an extent, it would not make a general distribution of seed in countless years.
Through this avenue passing under the ice belt, every variety is more or less drawn into this general receptacle which, in turn carries them inward and outward, and in course of time filters them in their course into every inch of the earth through which the water passes; which is in this way the medium of transportation.