94 THE ACCLIMATISATION 



supported by the Indians and trappers, that 

 the Pacific salmon dies after spawning 

 (see the U.S. Fisheries Commission Eeport 

 1872-73, p. 191). Should this be a fact, 

 the stocking of a river with this species 

 would probably be a slow process. Never- 

 theless, the history of success at the Anti- 

 podes and in America with the British 

 species affords ample encouragement to the 

 most sanguine pisciculturist. From " The 

 Twelfth Annual Eeport to the Common- 

 wealth of Massachusetts," we learn that 

 from 1872 to 1876 more than 830,000 parr 

 of 8. salar were turned into the Merrimac, 

 and in the spring of 1877 hundreds of fine 

 fish were seen ascending the river, of which 

 some were estimated to be eighteen or 

 twenty pounds in weight. The Eeport 

 observes very significantly, " It will be seen 

 that what we have so long fought for, what 

 the mass of people here have generally con- 

 sidered mere theories, visions of men who 

 suffered from fish on the brain, has been 

 fully substantiated. It is true it took a little 

 longer than was at first thought ; but now 



