CHAPTER XIV 
RECENT LIGHT UPON SALMON PROBLEMS 
THE great importance of the salmon, both from a com- 
mercial and a sporting point of view, must serve as my 
excuse for adding a chapter of comment upon the latest results 
of systematic observation, and the conclusions to which they 
tend. It is of value from time to time to focus the information 
which we have upon obscure topics. 
Truth it is, that upon no subject of human interest, 
theology always excepted, has controversy raged more fiercely 
or dogma been more fearlessly wielded than upon the habits 
and nature of this noble fish. In neither of these fields can 
be traced any sign of slackening enquiry ; but whereas in 
theology the professors seem as far asunder as at any period 
of history, the leaders of research upon the salmon problem 
have lately elicited certain facts which contain material for 
agreement upon some of the chief points in dispute, and 
promise the dispersion of much of the mystery which has so 
long obscured the life-history of one of our most important 
food-fishes. 
Admitted that some degree of obscurity is inseparable from 
both theology and ichthyology, it is not inconsistent with pro- 
found respect for the professors of both sciences to observe 
that a great deal of it has been created by themselves. 
Christianity remained a fairly simple creed until, as an or- 
ganisation, it obtained clear ascendancy over pagan philosophy, 
and ecclesiastics, relieved from immediate concern for their 
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