ARTIFICIAL HATCHING OF FISH. 103 



the baskets and bags were opened, and the young 

 fry appeared as numerous in them, as from that 

 which had been left free in the gravel. In one set 

 of the baskets not above five per cent, appeared un- 

 productive ; and hence Sir Francis* conclusion can 

 scarcely be disputed, that the breeding of Salmon or 

 other fish in large quantities is, comparatively speak- 

 ing, easy ; and that millions may be produced, pro- 

 tected from every danger, and turned into their 

 natural element at a proper age. (Ann. & Mag. of 

 Nat. Hist., viii. 166). Mr. Shaw, as is well known, 

 has long and successfully carried on this artificial 

 process in his highly interesting investigations on 

 the growth of Salmon at Drumlanrig. Concerning 

 the common Trout, Mr. Gottlieb Boccius gives, in a 

 few words, the following directions ; " Take one of 

 the boxes I have described under the head of Stew- 

 boxes, and fill the bottom with clean good gravel, 

 not too large ; in the month of November, or a 

 month before Spawning, place in the box a Spawner 

 and a Milter of good size, then sink it in a deep 

 stream, where there is plenty of water ; and wl A ^r 

 the fish have cast, take them out and turn then 

 adrift into the river : then move the box into shal- 

 low water, which, being influenced by the rays of 

 the sun, will early bring forth the fry : keep them 

 in the box until they are about half an inch long, 

 and then turn them out on the shallows." (Treat, on 

 the Management of Fresh- water Fish, 19). It is 

 with Trout that the experiment has successfully been 

 carried on in Belgium, in the large establishment of 



