177 



and he regretted very much that Mr. Whitcher, a colleague 

 of his in the Canadian Fisheries, should have thought 

 proper to issue circulars amongst the Commissioners, stating 

 that fish culture had not been satisfactory. Mr. Whitcher's 

 own documents, evidently not written nor read by himself, 

 however, proved the very reverse of that statement, and 

 the blue-books of Canada contained returns which showed 

 most conclusively the beneficial results arising from the 

 protection of rivers and the raising of salmon by artificial 

 means. After quoting a number of returns from Inspectors 

 of Fisheries and other officers from the annual reports of 

 1882, proving that there had been a very remarkable 

 improvement in the salmon fisheries of Canada, he said 

 it would be quite unnecessary to read the individual reports 

 of fishery officers in all parts of Canada, which, with only 

 a few exceptions, indicated that the salmon were increasing 

 wonderfully during 1882. He might also mention that he 

 had received letters stating that the catch of salmon by 

 netters and anglers in 1883 had been in excess of any 

 previous period, especially in those rivers where salmon 

 hatcheries were in operation. It was the duty of all 

 civilised governments and intelligent people to adopt such 

 means as would bring about a better supply of food, and 

 he had no hesitation whatever in saying that the means 

 adopted in Canada had in most instances been very bene- 

 ficial. Perhaps on some future occasion the matter might 

 come on again ; if so he could give volumes of even 

 stronger evidence in proof of the success attending fish 

 culture. 



It was painful indeed to be obliged at this Conference 

 to refer to the circular issued by this well-known official 

 crank in Canada, who, to gratify personal spleen, had 

 wantonly attacked an industry of world-wide beneficial 



VOL. vi. c. N 



