NATURALIZATION OF FRESH-WATER FISH. 105 



The complete success of the experiments on the 

 artificial hatching of fish have a veiy direct bearing 

 upon the subject of the transportation of fishes from 

 one locality to another, for the purpose of introducing 

 new and improved breeds, and hence the information 

 which has been collected concerning their different 

 powers of enduring conveyance becomes compara- 

 tively unimportant, or scarcely an element in the 

 calculation at all. Carp and Tench, Mr. Boccius 

 says, are easily conveyed during the months of Octo- 

 ber and November, their breeding season, by means 

 of casks, which must have an opening sufficiently 

 large to admit the fish without bruising, and which 

 must be kept open for their breathing. Eels, Flat- 

 fish, Gurnards, Minnows, and Dog-fish have been 

 distinguished for possessing the same powers ; while 

 Pike, Salmon, and other fish are very tender, and 

 scarcely ever survive any considerable transporta- 

 tion. All doubt and risk, however, will, we believe, 

 be prevented by the transmission of spawn. 



If the introduction of a new variety of tree, 

 grain, or turnip, be a boon to the farmer and a 

 benefit to the country, the introduction of a valu- 

 able fish would certainly not prove less so, were 

 the same attention paid to Piscatory science as is 

 now directed to agricultural. According to Dr. 

 M'Culloch, the value of an acre of water, in France, 

 is little if at all inferior to that of an acre of land ; 

 and that owing to the produce procured by an en- 

 lightened system of rearing, protecting, and fishing 

 their preserves. (Journ. of Koy. Inst.^ xvii. 224), — 



