70 



indeed, in such a manner as to arouse suspicion of an 

 unworthy motive. 



There is no question as to the value of the experi- 

 ments herein described, and however much American 

 fish culturists may differ from some of the distin- 

 guished author's opinions, they cannot fail to find in 

 the article many useful hints for their guidance. We 

 have to thank him for the information that the quin- 

 nat salmon will reproduce without going to sea when 

 three years old and weighing thirteen to fifteen pounds, 

 and that they can be successfully and profitably reared 

 in ponds. — T. H. B.] 



In Belgium, as well as in France, ponds have not 

 taken the rank to which they are entitled in increas- 

 ing the food supply and supporting industries because, 

 instead of constantly improving their system of cul- 

 ture, the breeders of fish have remained hypnotized by 

 obsolete methods, and have found nothing better than 

 the indefinite perpetuation of the carp, which has been 

 practiced from the thirteenth century. 



It is desirable to abandon this plan and in this pro- 

 gressive age to give up ancient errors. After I have 

 shown the result of the extended researches which I 

 have made into this interesting subject, I hope all your 

 doubts will be remo\ed and you will be convinced, as I 

 am myself, that pond culture is susceptible of taking 

 its place in the first rank of fish cultural industries. 



At present it is rare that a pond suitabl}^ located 

 yields sixty francs per hectare of surface, and again 

 how often they do not give more than a revenue of 

 thirty or forty francs per hectare every two or three 

 years. It will be admitted that with such meagre re- 

 turns this industry will be greatly neglected. 



I hope to demonstrate to 3'ou that if this had been 

 differently^ managed the culture of the pond might be 

 made to ^deld seven hundred, eight hundred, or even a 

 thousand francs per hectare. 



