SALMON AND TROUT CULTURE, 435 



heavy_ losses. The process of hatching and rearing young 

 S. Salar is precisely the same as in the case of non-migratory 

 varieties, only we keep these latter nearer home as it were, and 

 consequently can protect them more effectually. 



The proof of the great value of salmon and trout waters is 

 the eagerness with which anything like a good stretch ' is 

 taken up. To say nothing of the rental per annum of 500 

 yards of salmon river which recoups itself to a great extent by 

 the sale of fish for the market, a very large sum is ungrudgingly 

 paid for a decent piece of trout-fishing, or a rod on Club 

 waters. 



Many of our streams and ponds are capable, with judicious 

 management, of holding far more fish than they now do, but 

 the water must be carefully protected, and the stock of fish 

 kept up by breeding artificially. There are many Angling 

 Societies and proprietors of private fisheries who make a point 

 of replenishing their stock every year by purchasing from pisci- 

 cultural establishments, or by carrying on artificial breeding on 

 their own account. Most fishing-clubs, however, are at a dis- 

 advantage in not being able to provide suitable rearing places 

 for their young fish, and they have to turn the ' Fry ' that they 

 purchase or breed direct into the rivers, which already contain 

 trout, the probable consequence being that 99 out of every 100 

 go down the throats of the larger fish ! Professional trout 

 breeders have, of course, their rearing ponds from which they 

 supply yearling fish, and although these are much more expen- 

 sive than fry, there is at least the -satisfaction of knowing that 

 almost every fish will attain to a killable size if protected. It 

 is far more economical for Angling Societies and Fishing Clv.b - 

 to purchase yearling fish than to erect hatching establishments 

 of their own, as there is not only the original outlay, with 

 interest thereon, to be considered, but also a weekly expense in 

 wages to one or more persons all through the hatching season, 

 with in many cases a very unsatisfactory show of fish. A few 

 hundred yearling fish would cost far less, and make a much 

 better ' show ' in the water. 



