152 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



as far as can be ascertained, are practically unpolluted, 

 would justify an answer in the negative. But before 

 coming to such a conclusion, we may carefully study 

 what is stated by Professor Huxley (the only source 

 I know of for trustworthy information on the 

 question of the disease), in the report of the Inspec- 

 tors of Salmon Fisheries before alluded to. For 

 the information of any of my readers who may not 

 have perused this report, I quote as follows, from 

 pages 26 and 27 : — 



" A factory for making spirits from turnips was 

 established near Schweidnitz,in Silesia, and the refuse 

 was poured into an affluent of the river Weistritz, 

 which runs by Schweidnitz. The result was such a 

 prodigious growth of Leptomitus, that the fungus 

 covered some 10,000 square feet at the bottom of 

 the stream, with a thick white layer, compared to 

 sheep's fleeces, choked up the pipes, and rendered 

 the water of the tow^n undrinkable. 



"Scattered hyphse of this Leptomitus may some- 

 times be found among those of saprolegnia, growing 



