RECENT RESEARCH UPON SALMON 247 



the fry to the smolt stage, perhaps 5,000 or 10,000 may be 

 annually released — a scarcely perceptible recruitment of the 

 swarms which may be seen migrating without the aid of man. 

 The evil done by disturbance of spawning fish in obtaining ova 

 for the hatchery probably far exceeds the infinitesimal good 

 which may be secured. 



And note that, even assuming that i or 2 per cent, (a 

 liberal estimate) of artificially reared samlets return as grilse or 

 salmon, the advantage, in a dry season, accrues to the netsmen 

 only. The upper proprietors who maintain the hatchery cannot 

 expect to see their fish again, except by the accident of friendly 

 floods. Let them, then, provide machinery rendering them 

 independent of rain. It will be to the advantage of all con- 

 cerned, whether netsmen or anglers. I feel convinced that if 

 the money now spent on hatcheries were devoted to water- 

 storage, the beneficial eff^ect upon the salmon-fisheries of this 

 country would be direct and permanent. 



