482 ACCLIMATISATION OF FISH. [CHAI-. xi. 



exaggerated the stock ; it could never have been of the extent 

 indicated, because then no draughts could have had any great 

 effect, no matter how enormous they might have been. From 

 various natural causes, some of which I have indicated in a 

 former chapter, the stock has been kept in balance ; and it 

 seems now perfectly clear that by a course of fishing so 

 excessive as that carried on at present, coupled with the 

 destruction incidental to unprotected breeding, we must at 

 all events speedily narrow if not exhaust the capital stock. 

 We have done so in the case of the salmon ; and the 

 best remedy for that evil which has yet been discovered is 

 cultivation pisciculture, in fact which science, or rather 

 art, I have already treated of on its own merits. In ancient 

 days the land yielded sufficient roots and fruits for the 

 wants of its then population without cultivation ; but as 

 population increased and larger supplies became necessary, 

 cultivation was tried, and now in all countries the culture of 

 the land is one of the main employments of the people. The 

 sea, too, must be cultivated, and the river also, if we desire to 

 multiply or replenish our stock of fish. 



As to the introduction of strange fishes, either sea or river, 

 I for one will be glad to see them, if they are suitable. It would 

 of course be a great misfortune to introduce any fish into our 

 waters that would only become fat by preying on those fishes 

 which are at present plentiful. Some naturalists think that 

 the introduction of Silurus is a misfortune ; I am not of that 

 opinion, because in the kind of water suitable for the growth 

 of Silurus glanis no other fish of any value is to be found, so 

 that no ill could be done. The introduction into our British 

 waters of another fish has been advocated viz. the Goorami. 

 It is a Chinese fish and has been introduced with great success 

 into the Mauritius, and M. Coste is of opinion that it may be 

 acclimatised in France, indeed he is trying the experiment. 

 The Goorami, it seems, is a delicious fish, so far as its flavour is 



