RECENT RESEARCH UPON SALMON 247 
the fry to the smolt stage, perhaps 5,000 or 10,000 may be 
annually released—a scarcely perceptible recruitment of the 
swarms which may be seen migrating without the aid of man. 
The evil done by disturbance of spawning fish in obtaining ova 
for the hatchery probably far exceeds the infinitesimal good 
which may be secured. 
And note that, even assuming that 1 or 2 per cent. (a 
liberal estimate) of artificially reared samlets return as grilse or 
salmon, the advantage, in a dry season, accrues to the netsmen 
only. The upper proprietors who maintain the hatchery cannot 
expect to see their fish again, except by the accident of friendly 
floods. Let them, then, provide machinery rendering them 
independent of rain. It will be to the advantage of all con- 
cerned, whether netsmen or anglers. I feel convinced that if 
the money now spent on hatcheries were devoted to water- 
storage, the beneficial effect upon the salmon-fisheries of this 
country would be direct and permanent. 
