XIII. 



THE DEPOPULATION AND RE- 

 STOCKING OF TROUT -STREAMS. 



DURING the past twenty years the trout-streams of 

 this country have been depopulated to the extent 

 of from fifty to a hundred per cent. The more 

 fortunate rivers are in the former case ; whilst 

 many famous trout- streams that once were, have 

 become too poisonous for fish to live in at all. 



The causes which have contributed to this- 

 state of things are few, but are alarmingly on the 

 increase. Chief among them is pollution by town 

 sewage and mill refuse ; and those who, in the first 

 case, are alone competent to set the legal ma- 

 chinery at work are usually the greatest offenders. 

 These are the Corporations of towns. In a case 

 of summary proceedings for pollution* the pro- 

 secution must prove " dead fish." But direct 

 proof of this kind is often unobtainable. 



* Under 24 <Sc 25 Viet., Cap. 109, Sec. 5. 



