STOEMONTFIELDS FISH. 41 



but all are returned carefully to the river, 

 and never a dead one has been found, either 

 male or female, after undergoing the opera- 

 tion. As an instance of safety to the fish, I 

 may mention that a few years ago, a fine 

 male fish of about 201b. was used for spawn- 

 ing purposes at Stormontfields. A mark was 

 put on him by means of a piece of copper wire, 

 and two years afterwards he was got when 

 nearly 301b. weight on the same ford and at 

 the same season ; and, after doing duty 

 again was returned to the river hale and 

 strong, but was not traced afterwards." 



