APPENDIX. 173 



season, and then covering this spawn in gravel, laid 

 in streams or rills of water, formed within his own 

 premises, he there observed the development of the 

 embryo fish, and watched their progress through all 

 the stages of their growth, until they became full- 

 grown salmon-fry. All these experiments were per- 

 formed under the observation both of philosophical 

 persons, and practical fishermen in Scotland, and the 

 demonstration was rendered so complete, that no 

 doubt is now left upon the subject, neither is there 

 any difference of opinion that Mr. Shaw is the per- 

 son fully entitled to the merit of this discovery. 



But this is a practical age, and the problem which 

 now awaits solution, is not,, who was the first disco- 

 verer of a curious and interesting truth — but how 

 to turn the newly-ascertained fact to useful pur- 

 poses ? 



The first thing which strikes the visitor on enter- 

 ing this department of the Exhibition, is, the very 

 minute size of these fishes. Let us, in the first in- 

 stance, however, give the birth and parentage of the 

 identical specimens before us. These little fishes 

 were produced at Oughterard, adjacent to the Gal- 

 way Salmon-fishery, by the artificial process, which 

 is now attracting so much attention ; and we believe 

 they are the first which have been produced in Ire- 

 land by such means. Messrs. Ashworth, of Eger- 

 ton Hall, Lancashire — gentlemen of large capital, 

 purchased recently in the Incumbered Estates Court 

 the Galway Salmon-fishery, and not satisfied with 



