How to obtain it. 123 



Salmonida. There is, however, this difference, that trout being 

 retainable in fresh water ponds can be successfully cultivated by 

 the individual, whereas salmon must be allowed to go to sea if 

 they are to produce the highest results, and this renders individual 

 action somewhat impracticable. By a well-directed system of 

 co-operation amongst owners of fisheries, it is beyond any doubt 

 that splendid results may be obtained. Of one point I have no 

 doubt that no investment would pay a much better dividend if : 

 properly managed. 



It has often been stated by scientists and others that only | / % *v 

 about one trout or salmon egg in a thousand deposited in our V 

 streams, produces a mature fish. This, probably is not far from 

 the mark. Anyhow, we are quite sure of one thing, and that is, 

 that the rule applies to over ninety-nine per cent, of the ova 

 deposited naturally in our streams ; seventy-five per cent of this 

 loss probably occurrs before the eggs are hatched, and during the 

 hatching period. It will be apparent at a glance, that by taking 

 charge of the ova and actually hatching over ninety per cent, of it 

 we are doing good work. It is necessary, however, that it be done 

 properly, and that is just what has often not been done in the 

 past, and cases of failure which the practised fish culturist could 

 foresee, and which were inevitable owing to the means employed, 

 have tended to bring fish culture into bad repute. Circumstances 

 are entirely altered now, however, and the facilities which are 

 provided for sowing good well-eyed healthy ova in our waters, will 

 ere long produce good results if properly utilised. There are 

 some individuals who still assert that fish culture is a failure. So 

 there were those in years gone by who pronounced the steam 

 engine a failure. Anything that is not absolutely perfect in all its 

 details is pronounced a failure by a certain class of individuals, 

 and probably always will be. Fish culture, however, as applied to 

 the SalmonidcR, has been proved by the results to be a great 

 success, and I venture to say that in the future it will be still more 

 so. It is now being successfully applied to the growth of other 

 fish, both marine and fresh-water, and as information is gained by 

 experience, and difficulties are bridged over, its practical use will 

 be found to be of great service in the management of our 

 fisheries. 



