THE NEW ART OF BREEDING FISH. 173 



will produce 300,000 fry— a very high calculation 

 indeed — and he then says : 



" The artificial nurseries or rearing grounds in 

 process of construction are, I fear, much too limited 

 in size to afford accommodation to the number of 

 fry- anticipated from the boxes. I shall assume that 

 they occupy an area of five acres, although I have 

 reason for believing that not one fourth of that ex- 

 tent of surface is intended to be put into requisition. 

 Five acres of ground converted into ponds or reser- 

 voirs for the reception of 300,000 fry ! -Five acres, 

 in a state of artificiality, subjected, possibly enough, 

 to the influence of a stream or diversion of water 

 passing through their several divisions, and so pre- 

 venting them from becoming stagnant, but totally 

 devoid of the advantages possessed by the natural 

 rearing grounds of Tay, in the shape of shelter and 

 sustenance ! Are we justified in taking it for granted 

 that so limited an extent of nursery will suffice for 

 the wants, assist the growth, and do justice to the 

 condition of 300,000 young salmon, during the space 

 of an entire twelvemonth ? — in other words, that a 

 single square yard of artificial rearing ground, be the 

 depth of water what it may, affords ample enough 

 accommodation for twelve smelts and the fractional 

 part of a thirteenth, throughout the whole period ? 

 I certainly think not." 



It seems that the fry artificially produced near 

 Perth are to be artificially fed for one whole year. 



