8 



orange color. After they have been subjected to the influence of 

 the milt, they are suddenly changed from pale orange to brownish, 

 and a minute black speck will be seen in the centre of each. 

 Some few white-looking eggs will bo perceived among the rest, 

 and these are barren. 



Now if we consider the numbers thus produced, in comparison 

 with those abandoned to. the open river, we shall at once see the 

 immense benefit this branch of science must bestow. Estimating 

 the salmon — large and small — to yield an annual average of 

 10,000 eggs each female ; and calculating — I believe with a 

 considerable degree of correctness — that not more than one per 

 cent becomes a mature fish; 100 only, is therefore the produce of 

 10,000 ova, when left in a natural state. 



The causes of this production of mere units from thousands, 

 are sufficiently obvious. In some cases, a deposit of mud will 

 accumulate over the spawn, and it will perish. The water-ousel 

 hunts eagerly for his favorite food ; and I have watched this bird, 

 searching and scratching a salmon bed, and devouring the spawn 

 with the greatest avidity. When hatched, the trout, the pike, 

 the eel, and the perch, all prey upon the defenceless delicacy. 

 Then comes man — perhaps as great a destructive as all the others 

 together. Taking these various causes for the paucity of mature 

 fish, compared with the mass of ova, it is perfectly credible, that 

 not more than 100 result from 10,000 eggs. 



Mark the difference of artificial production. 



In 1852, Messrs. Gehin and Remy, obtained from 3,000,000 

 of eggs, 1,600,000 fish — more than the half, instead of the hun- 

 dredth part : and with sufiicient care, I feel satisfied that scarcely 

 ten per cent would be lost : thus introducing an enormous mass 

 of food into the country, at comparatively a very trifling outlay ; 

 a subject which certainly ought to engage the attention of the 

 political economist, and those having the means of improving our 

 fisheries. 



The most striking peculiarity of the salmon, and some few 

 others, is the power they possess of living in either fresh or salt 

 water ; in fact, that an alternation is essential to the continuance 



