APPENDIX. 281 



commonest care, may be comparatively easy. The stocking 

 of the Potomac with salmon bass is an instance, on the 

 other side, of what a little shrewdness and readiness in 

 resource may do. 



Many of these American fishes, as the bass, shad, &c., 

 would be particularly valuable to us as estuary fish, and 

 there are very few of our rivers which they would not suit; 

 and, after being naturalized in one or two, they would 

 spread to others of their own accord. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, if they get on but slowly in the progress of piscicul- 

 ture in the United States, we do not get on at all. In 

 fact, if we are doing anything, we are going back. This is 

 most unfortunate, as there really is a splendid field of opera- 

 tions in this country, if there were any means of directing, 

 assisting, and encouraging those operations. 



Francis Francis. 



Dear Sir, — In the second edition of your valuable work 

 on fish culture, page 21, you speak of a species of salmon 

 above the Falls of Niagara, in the great lakes, visiting the 

 vicinity of Salt Springs, &c. I refer you to the passage. 



In accordance with the wish you express, I would say 

 there are no salmon above the falls alluded to ; that they 

 were never known there. The only species of salmo 

 attaining the size of the salmon are Sahno nai/macush, and 

 another lately detected by Professor Agassiz — I forget the 

 scientific name just now, but previously it was confounded 

 with S. naymacush. Both of these species grow to the 

 weight of 801b., and have been known larger. They are 

 inferior fish, both in beauty and flavor, compared with the 

 anadromous salmon. In habits, and in fact in appearance, 

 they are very like your Salmo ferox of Scotland. 



Now as to a salmon we have, which does not go to sea. 

 It is found in the Schoodic Lakes, which are drained by 

 24* 



