230 PROPAGATION OF FISH. 



CHAPTEE XXYI. 



PROPAGATION OF FISH. 



THERE is no subject more important to the material 

 welfare of our country, or that a persistent and willful 

 disregard of the laws of nature has rendered more neces- 

 sary, than the culture of the various tribes of fish that 

 were once abundant in our rivers and lakes and along 

 our coasts, but which are rapidly diminishing, and 

 threaten soon to become extinct. How sad it is to think 

 that once the glorious salmon leaped and frisked in the 

 quiet waters of our noble Hudson, and sought bowers of 

 love in its cool sources ; that they were formerly so plenty 

 in the Connecticut, as I have already mentioned, that a 

 person buying shad was required to take a proportion of 

 salmon. How great the loss, not merely to us sports- 

 men, but to the long-headed political economists, who 

 calculate to a penny all that a nation would bring if put 

 up at auction, and look at everything as a, source of 

 wealth. 



Thousands of dollars are* sent yearly to Nova Scotia 

 and the Ganadas to pay for salmon that even there are 

 rapidly diminishing, whereas, with a little public spirit, 

 they might abound at our own doors. There is no doubt 

 that all these streams might be restored, and many others 

 supplied with salmon, at little expense and less trouble ; 



