STORMONTFIELP EXPERIMENT. 83 



the exception perhaps of the Sutherland rivers) 

 which have the same market for their fish, have, 

 since 1852, had a lower rental instead of an 

 increased one. It is true that in 1853, 1854, 

 and 1855, the proprietors of the Tay voluntarily 

 agreed to close their net fishings upon the 26th of 

 August instead of the 14th of September, and 

 that, in 1858, an Act was passed legalising that 

 agreement, which has no doubt done much to 

 increase the number of fish in the river; still we 

 are of opinion that the great rise of the rental in 

 nine years cannot be accounted for in any other 

 way than from the pond-bred fish, and if the 

 fishing proprietors would see to their own in- 

 terests, they would have many acres of breeding 

 boxes and ponds made to rear and preserve their 

 young fish. At present, however, their rental is 

 in the ascendant, and they are contented; but, 

 should a reverse take place, we would then see 

 artificial propagation much in favour. 



In corroboration of these remarks, and of the 

 advantages to be derived from the artificial culture 

 of salmon, we have been favoured with the fol- 

 lowing remarks upon the subject by Mr Thomas 

 Ashworth, the originator of the experiment, and 

 we are at liberty to say that his conclusions have 



