28 Report of the American 



great masses of the people, who are as yet wholly uninformed as to the 

 novel science of artificial fish culture, not long since introduced into 

 the country-. 



It has been advanced by naturalists of an earl}^ period, and upheld by 

 eminent writers of modern times, that not more than one per cent, of the 

 ova laid in the natural waj' ever becomes a living fish. But in the 

 present day it is possible, by artificial propagation, to rear from eighty 

 to ninet}' living fish from ever}- hundred eggs, which larger increase is 

 actually needed for restocking the waters of the country with fish of such 

 various kinds as may be required in various places, and for supplying in 

 part the increasing demand in the markets of the country for fish food. 



As we have chosen to illustrate the necessity' for legal enactments for 

 the protection of fish b}" introducing the salmon, we shall continue to 

 take the same fish for an example while we explain the modus operandi 

 of laying and hatching out of the fish spawn in the natural way, and 

 relate the many difficulties which beset the eggs at the time of their 

 deposit by the parent fish, and through the process of incubation, and 

 until they are hatched out in the rivers or other waters. It may be 

 observed that these operations are performed at different times and 

 places by the various kinds of fish. 



Salmon, after leaving their feeding grounds, will, after the somewhat 

 lengthened migration previously mentioned, reach their spawning 

 grounds far up river, or, in some instances, if very late in the season, 

 near at hand above tideway. A suitable gravelly bottom, rapid part of 

 the stream, is selected, where the female fish commences, by writhing 

 movements of her bod}', to displace the stones and gravel in order to- 

 form the bed in which she may \sxy her eggs. 



In this work she is ver}' much aided by the swift current of the water, 

 which helps to move the gravel down stream that is being displaced by 

 the exertions of the fish. In this wa}- a hollow spot is dug out, and a 

 small hillock of stones is formed just below. Into this scooped-out bed 

 the fish, b}' contortions and strong muscular action of the body, ejects a 

 portion of the mature ova, man}' of which sink to the bottom amongst 

 the gravel, whilst numbers are carried below and far bej'ond the bed b}^ 

 the current. The little ledge of gravel just above the bed is again dis- 

 turbed, and the stones in the act of falling are, by the action of the fish, 

 assisted by the swift water, carried down over the eggs, thus partially 

 covering them, and hiding many of them from sight, and also from many 

 of their numerous enemies. 



This operation of spawning will take from two to three days to a week, 

 and sometimes longer, depending much upon the lateness of the season, 

 and also the flow of water in the stream at the time. Should the season 



