INJURY TO STREAMS. 71 



from all natural enemies until able to swim freely, 

 hide themselves, feed, and generally look after their 

 own affairs. Turn in one thousand fry, and see how 

 soon they will get out of sight ; that is, provided there 

 shall be weeds or other hiding places to get under. 



Young fishes are, we may feel sure, animated by a 

 natural instinct for self-preservation, and a keen look 

 out for the main chance of existence, just as much, if 

 not more, than we are. Look how at a certain age, 

 soon after birth, they bore down stream. We find 

 them "bunched" where the water runs out, and if 

 they possibly can find a hole for escape, out they go, 

 one after other, as fast as they are able. Why is this ? 

 Natural instinct tells them, just as reason tells us, that 

 the water may fall, and leave the " redds" or spawning 

 grounds high and dry ; so away they go to safer 

 quarters. 



After this discursive chapter, all we have to say is, 

 that as a whole, and from personal experience, we are 

 more and more convinced that taking eggs artificially 

 to a certain and considerable extent from a stream, 

 more especially if a percentage is returned in the 

 shape of fry, is AN UNMIXED GOOD. 



More especially is this the case on streams wherein 

 pollutions, however slight, either do or may exist. 

 The older fishes, being partially it may be, acclima- 

 tized, will be, perhaps, able to stand, through robustness 

 of constitution and sheer strength, a certain amount 

 of pollution ; but to the young, immature, weakly 

 troutlet, such a thing is fatal. They cannot jump 

 weirs or obstructions in order to get above the source 

 of filth. Nor have they the swiftness and "nous" to 

 fly before it and turn up a side-stream out of harm's 



