ART OF IMPREGNATION. 145 



his flies, and no more was seen of the fish. This case, 

 no doubt, proves that the smolt will grow more rapidly 

 in salt water than in fresh ; but as none of these fish 

 noticed by Mr Brown is estimated to have attained a 

 weight of more than 1 Ib. in ten months, the confine- 

 ment, or the limited supply of food, evidently stinted its 

 growth. A smolt of about an ounce, leaving Stormont- 

 field, returns to the Tay in about six weeks weighing 3 

 or 4 Ib. If salmon are to be reared for the market in 

 sea-ponds, they must be artificially fed. 



Supposing the poacher caught with a fly-hook these 

 young salmon at Storiehaven, we have here corrobora- 

 tion of recent statements as to the capture of salmon at 

 sea by means of the artificial fly. As it is so difficult to 

 procure permission to fish for salmon in a good river, we 

 counsel the lovers of the angle to try their luck in the 

 open sea, where, we presume, they will not be interfered 

 with, and may enjoy their sport undeterred by the pains 

 and penalties of recent legislation for the protection of 

 salmon. 



To those who wish to multiply this noble fish in our 

 Scottish rivers, Mr Brown's little work will supply valu- 

 able information. The art of artificially impregnating 

 is easily acquired, and is thus described : " So soon as 

 a pair of suitable fish were captured, the ova of the fem- 

 ale were immediately discharged into a tub, one-fourth 

 full of water, by a gentle pressure of the hands from the 

 thorax downwards. The milt of the male was ejected 

 in a similar manner, and the contents of the tub stirred 

 with the hand. After the lapse of a minute, the water 

 was poured off, with the exception of sufficient to keep 

 the ova submerged this must always be attended to, 

 even when the ova or milt is flowing from the fish 

 and fresh water supplied in its place. This also was 

 poured off, and fresh substituted, previous to removing 

 the impregnated spawn to the boxes prepared for its re- 

 ception. We observed in this the first manipulation, and 

 in all the others afterwards, that a very small quantity 



