174 THE NEW AET OF BEEEDINS FISH. 



Upon this senseless project Mr. Stoddart sensibly 

 remarks : — 



" As to the hand-feeding proposed, it may be all 

 very well to apply it to the bringing up of such fish 

 as carp and tench, but to carry it into successful 

 operation with young salmon, will, I fear, turn out a 

 work of impracticability; An expensive one, at any 

 rate, it is acknowledged to be — the most costly item 

 in the whole series of experiments. Why, therefore, 

 pursue it at all ? Why not rest content with the 

 hatching process, and allow the infant fry, after its 

 full development, convenient access to the river ? 

 A sluice or run in communication with the boxes to- 

 wards the Tay will effect this object. In that case 

 — were the experiment allowed to rest at this junc- 

 ture, the object of it may possibly to some extent 

 become attained. It never can, by prosecuting it 

 farther in the way proposed — that is by cooping up 

 the fry in mere tanks or ponds of very limited di- 

 mensions, and by hand-feeding them with such un- 

 natural aliment as chopped liver." 



If the fry hatched at Stormontfield are confined 

 in nurseries for a year, or until the migratory period, 

 the experiment will be a failure. When a month 

 old they should be turned into the river, and they 

 will take care of themselves, migrate naturally, and 

 all that escape destruction return as grilse. I am 

 of opinion that confined and hand-fed fry, if confined 

 and fed for the space of a year, will not return, if 

 they do migrate to sea, from it. 



