CHAPTER XIV 



RECENT LIGHT UPON SALMON PROBLEMS 



THE great importance of the salmon, both from a com- 

 mercial and a sporting point of view, must serve as my 

 excuse for adding a chapter of comment upon the latest results 

 of systematic observation, and the conclusions to which they 

 tend. It is of value from time to time to focus the information 

 which we have upon obscure topics. 



Truth it is, that upon no subject of human interest, 

 theology always excepted, has controversy raged more fiercely 

 or dogma been more fearlessly wielded than upon the habits 

 and nature of this noble fish. In neither of these fields can 

 be traced any sign of slackening enquiry ; but whereas in 

 theology the professors seem as far asunder as at any period 

 of history, the leaders of research upon the salmon problem 

 have lately elicited certain facts which contain material for 

 agreement upon some of the chief points in dispute, and 

 promise the dispersion of much of the mystery which has so 

 long obscured the life-history of one of our most important 

 food-fishes. 



Admitted that some degree of obscurity is inseparable from 

 both theology and ichthyology, it is not inconsistent with pro- 

 found respect for the professors of both sciences to observe 

 that a great deal of it has been created by themselves. 

 Christianity remained a fairly simple creed until, as an or- 

 ganisation, it obtained clear ascendancy over pagan philosophy, 

 and ecclesiastics, relieved from immediate concern for their 



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