PREFACE, 



The numerous essays and articles on Fish Culture which from 

 time to time, have appeared in periodicals and newspapers, 

 clearly demonstrate the increasing importance of this branch of 

 industry, and have promoted a spirit of curiosity and inquiry 

 amongst intelligent people. Some of the first minds amongst 

 our countrymen are giving serious thought as to the means of 

 arresting the gradual extinction of valuable fishes, and restor- 

 ing our failing and exhausted rivers to their former fruitful- 

 ness ; and are becoming convinced that the culture of water as 

 well as of land, can be made to contribute largely to the sup- 

 ply of food required for our rapidly increasing population. 



Many of the short essays with their illustrations, which ap- 

 pear in periodicals, claim the admiration and excite the curiosity 

 of readers. But most of them, with their few and imperfect 

 directions as to the mode of procedure, are calculated to mislead 

 rather than direct the inquirer. With these facts before us, the 

 writer, as well as other practical fish culturists, have declined 

 many solicitations to contribute essays of limited space and 

 matter to agricultural and other periodicals ; being impressed 

 with the impossibility of doing the subject justice if thus 

 abridged. In the mean time, those who have engaged in it 

 and have a knowledge of the art, are applied to for information 



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