3D 
there is a strong possibility of correct judgment on both 
sides. 
The wide divergence of opinion among trout culturists 
at the present time, as to the most effective methods of 
stocking, with the counter-argumeuts made, is not assur- 
ing to many well-wishers of this branch of fishculture. 
It seems to the writer that the time has not yet arrived 
when any phase of trout culture as yet developed in the 
United States, can be hailed as the ultimate limit of pos- 
sibility, or that the experimental stage is passed. 
It would be well, perhaps, before discussing the vari- 
ous aspects of trout culture, to. recall the arguments in 
favor of and against this branch of fishculture as carried 
on at the public expense, inasmuch as the periodicals of 
the country devoted to the dissemination of whatever 
relates to fishculture are open to virulent attacks, by 
irresponsible cranks, upon those engaged in that pursuit, 
charging them with being robbers, engaged in looting 
the treasuries of the State and National Governments, 
It is the usual policy to allow such attacks to pass unno- 
ticed, and, if there is doubt as to the value of trout cul-. 
ture, perhaps that is the wisest policy; but it has always 
seemed to the writer that the general public want, and 
have the right to know, the truth in the matter, and that 
if it can be shown by argument based on demonstrated 
experience, and not by unsupported allegations and 
invective, prompted by personal motives, that the work 
is of doubtful value, it should be abandoned for other 
branches of fishculture holding forth greater promise of 
usefulness. It is certainly quite easy to bring very 
plausible arguments to bear adversely on this question 
when not considered broadly, or if one side of it only be ° 
touched, and it is the belief of the writer that inasmuch 
as it is generally-conceded that to attain the’ best results 
in trout culture, vastly greater outputs, requiring greatly 
increased appropriations, are required, or, that more 
effective methods of stocking must be’ developed, it is 
