16 THE ACCLIMATISATION 



No native predatory fish exist above the 

 influence of the tide. In the estuary the 

 shark is abundant enough, but he is not 

 likely to be able to capture so powerful and 

 active a fish as 8almo, and the cormorant 

 and darter are being exterminated — albeit 

 more than once promising young salmonids 

 have been taken from the maws of these 

 birds. 



Beside the foresight shown in selecting 

 this river, the Salmon Commissioners ac- 

 quired ample powers for protecting the new- 

 comers, and nothing has been omitted from 

 the Salmon Act of 1865 which could secure 

 the safety of the valuable importation. 



Before committing himself to the large 

 expenditure of pubHc funds which would be 

 involved in the next venture, and feeHng 

 his responsibility as its director, Mr, Youl 

 visited breeding estabhshments in Scotland 

 and Ireland, to make himself familiar with 

 the best methods of treating the ova and 

 rearing the young fish, and, armed with 

 introductions to Mr. Geoffry St. Hilaire 

 and M. Coste, examined the plans adopted 



