23? 



ART. IX. On the Transportation of Fish from Salt to 

 Fresh Water. 



[To the Editor of the Quarterly Journal.] 

 DEAR SIR, 



You expressed a desire to know the progress which has been 

 made in the transplantation of fish from salt to fresh water, since 

 the period at which I communicated the paper on that subject to 

 your Journal. Mr. Arnold, who has carried on these experiments, at 

 my wish, with great zeal, has succeeded in adding many more to 

 the list ; and, both in respect to the physical fact, and to the ques- 

 tion of economy, the success has been far greater than any one 

 was willing to believe. 



The list of the additional fish will be seen by comparing that 

 which is appended to this letter with the former one ; and as the 

 subject has excited considerable attention, you will perhaps not 

 object to a statement which may attract even more, by present- 

 ing, in the form of a prospectus, the essential facts and arguments. 

 It is only by placing them in this form that they are very likely to 

 produce the effect which appears desirable. 



I may now, however, subjoin some remarks which could not 

 well find their place in such a statement, and which have been the 

 result of more experience and attention. 



It is certain that the flavour of every fish which has yet been 

 tried has been improved ; and I can vouch for the superiority of the 

 basse,'the mullet, the loach, the atherine, and the sole, from the 

 pond, to those from the sea. This might be expected, for it is 

 what happens notedly with respect to oysters. 



The sole becomes twice as thick as a fish of the same size from 

 the sea, and its skin also becomes extremely dark, or nearly black. 



The plaise also increases materially in thickness, and loses its 

 spots. In some cases, it appeared three times as thick as in the sea. 

 The basse also turns much thicker, and improves in delicacy. 



The mullet almost ceases to grow in length, but enlarges in 

 breadth, and presents a much deeper layer of fat. 



Crabs and prawns have found their own way into the pond ; as 



