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there was a difference of opinion with regard to the means 
to be adopted to this end, but, for his part, he advocated 
the protection of fish in every possible way, as well as of 
assistance to those engaged in artificial production. In 
Canada this subject was of very great importance. It was 
now some years ago since artificial culture was introduced 
by himself, with the recognition of the Government, and 
now they stood second to no other country with regard to it. 
The number of Salmon they turned out annually was not 
exceeded by any other country in the world. During the 
last two years from thirty-five to forty millions of Salmonidae 
had been turned into the waters of Canada through the 
artificial process, and, though there were no doubt sceptics 
and others who were inimical to the science of fish culture, 
he thought that could only arise from ignorance of the 
benefits to be derived from it. At first sight it seemed 
extraordinary that fish could be produced by artificial 
means; but it was a most simple process when understood. 
Fish were so prolific, that man with a little ingenuity could 
produce from them far more than nature could herself, 
because it was a well-known fact that large quantities of 
the eggs of the fish family were destroyed by other species. 
This was the ordained law; it was intended that fish 
should live on fish, because if all the eggs of fish were 
permitted to hatch out, there would be no room in the 
waters for them. Consequently, nature had provided wisely 
that fish should live on one another, and this being the 
case, large numbers of ova must be consumed. Under 
artificial culture, however, where the egg was protected 
from its enemies, a larger percentage could be brought to 
maturity than by the natural process. Hence, if it could 
be shown that 75 per cent. of the eggs could produce living 
fish, the system ought to be encouraged by all intelligent 
