31 
and he regretted very much that Mr. Whitcher, a colleague 
of his in the Canadian Fisheries, should have thought 
proper to issue circulars amongst the Commissioners, stating 
that fish culture had not been satisfactory. Mr. Whitcher’s 
own documents, evidently not written nor read by himself, 
however, proved the very reverse of that statement, and 
the blue-books of Canada contained returns which showed 
most conclusively the beneficial results arising from the 
protection of rivers and the raising of salmon by artificial 
means. After quoting a number of returns from Inspectors 
of Fisheries and other officers from the annual reports of 
1882, proving that there had been a very remarkable 
improvement in the salmon fisheries of Canada, he said 
it would be quite unnecessary to read the individual reports 
of fishery officers in all parts of Canada, which, with only 
a few exceptions, indicated that the salmon were increasing 
wonderfully during 1882. He might also mention that he 
had received letters stating that the catch of salmon by 
netters and anglers in 1883 had been in excess of any 
previous period, especially in those rivers where salmon 
hatcheries were in operation. It was the duty of all 
civilised governments and intelligent people to adopt such 
means as would bring about a better supply of food, and 
he had no hesitation whatever in saying that the means 
adopted in Canada had in most instances been very bene- 
ficial. Perhaps on some future occasion the matter might 
come on again; if so he could give volumes of even 
stronger evidence in proof of the success attending fish 
culture. 
It was painful indeed to be obliged at this Conference 
to refer to the circular issued by this well-known official 
crank in Canada, who, to gratify personal spleen, had 
wantonly attacked an industry of world-wide beneficial 
