76 THE ADVENTURES OF A SALMON. 



because every scheme which has for its object 

 general results, has to encounter in its progress 

 little jealousies, which peril the undertaking at 

 every turn, and sometimes threaten to disgust 

 even its warmest adherents. 



Such were the circumstances under which a 

 former Association for the preservation of the 

 Dee was broken up ; such, we trust, however, 

 will not be the fate of the present one. 



Every day that adds to our stock of informa- 

 tion relating to the physiology of fish, is opening 

 the eyes of the public to the importance of the 

 subject, and to the fact that its importance is 

 still underrated. Experiments lately made have 

 demonstrated the possibility of making even an 

 unproductive river, by artificial means, a source 

 of absolute wealth ;* and common sense tells us 

 the wisdom of so protecting the fish that Nature 

 has sent us, that they may attain a maturity 

 which shall increase their value fifty-fold, and 

 prevent their indiscriminate destruction, while as 

 yet all but absolutely worthless. 



* See a shilling pamphlet on the "Artificial pro- 

 duction of Fish," by Piscarius, published by Reeve 

 & Co., which gives an account of what has already 

 been done in France, and a detailed description of 

 the method. 



