37 



time of the evergreen trees, had dwindled down considerably, assumed such pro- 

 portions that the irrigation of a considerable area was affected by it, besides 

 supplying the mill with an abundance of water. As regards the evergreen trees, 

 the first cultivation of barren ranges on high plateaus might advantageously be 

 undertaken with these, on account of their ability to resist the severity of the 

 climate in those exposed localities, and to grow on stony and poor soil. But, even 

 on rocky ground and in high altitudes, the larches, birches, and other deciduous 

 trees, will often do well and serve better for the end which we have in view, the 

 water storage and the pisciculture. 



In such localities, where only the most hardy trees can be reared, it would 

 be practicable to cultivate along the watercourses, in the valleys and ravines, or any 

 lower ground, a few rows of deciduous trees as soon as the other trees had attained 

 sufficient height to protect them from the storms and the frosts. Several objects 

 may be gained by doing so. First, the shade, shelter, and other beneficial effects 

 for the fishes ; secondly, that more valuable timber could be reared, as these trees 

 have, as a rule, a greater preference for damp and moist localities than the ever- 

 greens ; and thirdly, because the deciduous trees permit more freely a luxuriant 

 undergrowth of shrubs and annuals. 



All fresh-water fishermen will agree with me in the advantage of having a 

 good growth of annuals, as watercress, nettles, etc., near the bank, and have 

 observed that during feeding time the fish always seek such places. There is a 

 vast variety of shrubs and annuals that might easily and with great advantage 

 be introduced and grown on the river banks, but it would be outside the bounds 

 of this paper to enter fully on the theme. However, I may only mention that 

 many fodder plants and grasses from other countries might be a source of wealth 

 to the population, and greatly benefit the fish as well as the owners of the land, 

 if cultivated on the banks. 



The Prickly Comfrey, e. g. (Symphytum asperrimum) which yields such a 

 splendid forage by its abundant foliage, and many others, are easily reared, both 

 from seed and cuttings, and should do well in the low lands, while on the sandy 

 beaches, near the outlet of rivers and creeks, the cabbage radish (Pringlce anti- 

 scorbutica) would cover these barren and desolate places with vegetation, and 

 furnish an object of merchandise by packing them for the use of fishermen and 

 sailors in the Arctic regions. The plant, when cooked, is a good substitute for 

 cabbage, and has a most wholesome effect on persons suffering from scorbutica. 



By a judicious forest management, the land can be kept covered constantly 

 and always in a state favorable to the purpose of storing the water, but it is 

 important that both sides of the stream should be planted instead of cultivat- 

 ing twice the distance on one side. A great many American trees might well be 

 introduced, as, for example, the Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum), a great 

 tree yielding a fine-grained timber, hard and durable, and the Leverwood tree, 

 Hop-hornbeam, Ironwood (Ostrya viryinica), which, besides excellent timber, 

 furnishes a relished forage from its rich foliage: these, and a great many more 

 might have a good effect on the river fishing, besides other advantages But it 

 is particularly the willows to which our attention should be drawn. The pre- 

 ference which these trees have for water, and particularly for running 

 water, is well known, and points directly to the practicability of placing 

 them in those localities so well suited for them. The fish like willows, and 

 I have oftentimes in Australia seen the best fishing places close to where some 

 weeping willows (Salix babylonica) had taken the place of the indigenous and 

 even more shady wattles (Acacias). 



