HINT TO THE LEGISLATURE. 171 



ova in the shallows, they have recourse to the in- 

 undated banks or sides of rivers, and deposit their 

 ova there. The consequence is certain destruc- 

 tion of the deposited eggs, for long before they 

 can be incubated or hatched, the waters subside, 

 and the salmon-beds with their contents are left 

 high and dry upon shore.* 



Before salmon commence the preparation of 

 their beds, I think, if not impeded, they will not 

 stop until they have arrived at the spot, or at 

 least very near the spot, at which they them- 



* I call the attention of the Legislature to the facts and 

 inductions embodied in the two preceding paragraphs. Can 

 any thing be more evident than that early spawning is ne- 

 cessary for the successful propagation of salmon ? Is not 

 the converse of the proposition equally patent, that late 

 spawning is highly injurious to the breeding of that most 

 valuable fish ? Why then, with such results before us, 

 should we (be allowed to) oppose natural laws in such a 

 way as to change the regular and appointed time for salmon- 

 breeding ? Not even the most sceptical of the accuracy of 

 this natural history and habits of salmon can deny the al- 

 most next to uselessness of late breeders, or fail to acknow- 

 ledge that it is the early breeders that produce a numerous 

 progeny — a progeny likely to thrive, and, if permitted, 

 become in their turns early breeders. If the present system 

 continue, if the Legislature will allow salmon-fishing to 

 extend almost to the winter months, the consequence will 

 be salmonless rivers. And when the evil is done, restocking 

 the rivers will be the only remedy that can be resorted to 

 — a costly remedy both in time, trouble, and expense. 



