123 



" ' (Ontario) was in its primeval state, overshadowing it from the sun's rays Me. • 



" ' and influences. This, with the multitude of springs of icy cold water .MILNE HOME, 



" ' oozing out here and there, and little rills trinkling along the ever-shaded 



" ' surface of the earth, together with the constantly splashing current against 



" ' logs and fallen trees, gave both aeration and hiding places innumerable 



" ' for the fish. These obstacles also prevented the gravelly beds in the stream 



" ' from being shifted or carried away by the force of freshets. All these were 



" ( Natures provisions for assisting migratory fishes in the reproduction of their 



" ' species. But now the forest has all disappeared, laying bare the face of the 



" ' country to the rays of the sun, and general influences of the atmosphere, 



" ' whereby the process of absorption and evaporation have almost wholly 



" e dried up the numerous springs and wells which were the original feeders of 



" ' the creek. This has also diminished the flow of water fully one half, and 



" • increased its temperature to such an extent during the spring and summer 



" ' months, as to create enormous quantities of infinitesimal spores for growths 



" ' °ff un 9^ an d other deleterious matter.' 



" ' In addition to the above, there is the ungovernable force and destructive 

 " ' consequence of immense freshets, rushing down the now unimpeded course 

 " ' of the stream, carrying away previously-formed spawning grounds, sweeping 

 " ' down the offscourings from ploughed fields and turnpike roads, and rotten 

 " ' vegetable substances from barn-yards, compost heaps and other deposits of 

 " ' foul matter, and the refuse from saw-mills and other manufactories erected 

 " ' on the stream. This turbid state of the water (and it is the same in all 

 " ' others in populous districts) takes place just previous to or immediately at 

 " ' the critical time in the spring of the year, when the fry are emerging from 

 '■' ' the eggs. These difficulties cannot be overcome or even ameliorated in 

 " ' the course of natural reproduction. The foul sediment permeates every- 

 " ' where, covering the eggs during the course of a few hours with a muddy 

 " ' mixture of putrid earthy and vegetable matter. These and other causes 

 " ' had well nigh exterminated the salmon from the waters of Ontario. But 

 " ' now a remedy has to a certain extent been instituted, through the instru- 

 " ' mentality of your department, in the formation upon this stream of a 

 " ' commodious artificial fish-breeding establishment.' (Pages 16-17.) 



" Mr. Venning in his report to the Minister of Marine and Fisheries for the year 

 " 1878, dated 31st December 1878, also adverts to some of the evils which are 

 " fast hastening the extirpation of salmon from the Canadian rivers ; he says, 

 " * In the county of Carleton alone, there are now 36 mills of various kinds, 

 " ' and the whole of their rubbish is allowed to pass into the river. This has 

 " ' had a most injurious effect upon the salmon and shad fisheries along 

 " ' the whole extent of the river. If this is allowed to continue a few years 

 " f longer, it will destroy the fisheries, for it is fast covering the spawning 

 " ' grounds, and driving the 'fish from their accustomed haunts.' 

 " (Page 254.) 



" The steady falling off in the three most valuable food fishes which 

 " resort to the St. John's River, viz., salmon, shad, and gasperaux, has become 

 " ( so marked of late years, that there are substantial grounds for appre- 

 " ' hending their total extinction. Advancing civilisation is producing its 

 " ' usual results. The settling of the country, the clearing of the wilderness, 

 " ' the extension of lumbering, the multiplication of mills, and the m- 

 " ' creasing extent to which fishing is pursued, all combine to alter the old 

 " ' condition of things, which were more favourable to the natural increase of 

 " ' fish. It is not matter of surprise, that the supply is becoming less, when 

 " ' the breeding stock is yearly becoming smaller.' 



" ' The only remedy I can suggest for this residt, is the extension of artificial 

 " ' hatching. By the natural process, it is shown by those who have made the 

 " ' subject a special study, that not over five per cent, of the eggs deposited 

 '• ' by a female salmon are developed into young fish. By the artificial pro- 

 " ' cess, it has been proven that seventy-five per cent, can be hatched with 

 " ' certainty. A hatching house for salmon at some suitable place on the 

 " ' St.'John river might yet restore these fisheries to a healthy state.' ' (Page 

 " 255.) 



Ample proof is afforded of the success of the Canadian fish hatcheries in 

 these reports. Thus, on the same page of the report from which the above 

 extract hag been taken, the following paragraphs occur : 



