40 



4 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [18] 



sum would liave been required to do this in a manner worthy of our 

 country. I believe that many other persons entertained the same 

 views. If the president of the German Fishery Association asked the 

 German Government for an approi)riation, it was a step dictated by 

 simple politeness. The Government did not comply with the request, 

 because it thoug-ht that no special advantajre could be derived from our 

 being- represented at the London Exhibition. The president of the 

 German Fishery Association hasnotbeen painfully disappointed thereby, 

 nor has the German Government by its action intended to express any 

 displeasure with the association, for, at the instance of the Government, 

 a number of prominent members of the association were sent to Lon- 

 don in order to report on the exhibition. These reports are to be pub- 

 lished by the German Fishery Association, for which jmrpose the Gov- 

 ernment has granted an approx)riation. 



AUSTRIA. 



In this country artificial fish-culture has also, during the last ten 

 years or more, made good progress. Very remarkable results have 

 been obtained in Bohemia as regards the salmon-culture of the valley 

 of the Elbe, and this at a very trifling expense, as has already been 

 stated under the head of Germany. Young salmon have also, during 

 the last few years, been planted in the territory of the Upper Vistula, 

 bnt so far no results can be recorded. Austria has more es]iccially 

 devoted her efforts in artificial lish-culture to the various kinds of trout, 

 and, as I have been informed, very satisfactory results have been ob- 

 tained by i)ri\^ate individuals. 



If Professor Malmgren endeavors to find some connection between 

 the closing of the Salzburg establishment (founded in 18G5) and the 

 decline of artifu'ial fish-culture, he certainly labors uiuhn' a mistake. It 

 is true that Professor jNIalmgren mentions the article on the Salzburg 

 establishment, by M. Schrayer {Deutsche Flsclierei-Zeitung, 1882, p. 151), 

 but without quoting those passages which show its defects. Schrayer 

 states expressly that the Salzburg establishment was by no means a 

 model institution, but that it suffered from a combination of unfor- 

 tunate circumstances. The two branch institutions of Seekirchner and 

 Hintersee, althougli in a good condition, were not able to save the 

 main establishment. As early as 1871 I learned from very good au- 

 thority that the establishment rested on an unsound basis, and would 

 sooner or later have to be closed. Why does Professor Malmgren pass 

 these facts in silence, although he must certainly have been acquainted 

 with them from Schrayer's article ? 



ENGLAND. 



Professor Malmgren questions whether artificial fish-cnlture has met 

 with any success in England, and ascribes the increase in the number 

 of fish to the strict observance of the seasons of prohibition. People 



