87 



Beginning from the commencement of August, in 

 what time may we hope that the salmon will attain to 

 the weight of two hundred grams ? Herein the super- 

 iority of the California salmon over other fishes is 

 demonstrated. I do not know au}^ other of which the 

 growth is so rapid when placed under favorable condi- 

 tions. It does not require more than six months for a 

 young salmon of twelve centimetres, placed in a pond 

 at the end of July, to acquire the weight of half a 

 pound. One ma}^ obtain even better results by placing 

 these fish under certain conditions, but this is about 

 the average with current methods. We may, therefore, 

 at the end of January market our salmon. 



It will be seen that pond culture by the method 

 which I have indicated can be made to give a very 

 gratifying annual return. 



If the breeder desires to obtain larger salmon, 

 instead of catching them at the end of January he 

 should continue the rearing in the same manner, and 

 at the end of the second year he will obtain salmon 

 measuring forty-five to fifty centimetres. I need not 

 add that if one cultivates fish of greater weight than 

 two hundred grams, the number per hectare ought to 

 be reduced in proportion to their size. Upon this sub- 

 ject I refer to a table which I have given above. 



As far as my experience permits me to judge, the 

 breeder should limit himself to the average weight of 

 two hundred kilograms per hectare under ordinary 

 conditions. I have reference to a hectare of standing 

 water, for if the pond is traversed by a sufficiently 

 rapid current, such as would be furnished by abundant 

 springs, it is evident that this proportion may be 

 increased. I, therefore, give the amount of two hun- 

 dred kilograms as a good average, rather low, but it 

 may serve as a rule in the majority of cases. If one 

 exceeds this amount very much, he will experience 

 disastrous results, which should be avoided at all cost. 



