OUK. INLAND FISHERIES. 21 



back to the river weighing from lOlbs. to 161bs. — 

 from 21bs. to 31bs. a month being a common rate of 

 increase. This is a well-ascertained fact. 



Salmon can be kept altogether in fresh water 

 for many years, but they grow slowly under these 

 conditions, and it is believed do not spawn, the 

 absence of sufficient food of the right quality being, 

 no doubt, in some measure one reason of this. I 

 have known them grow up to about 21bs. or 31bs. 

 weight, and have heard of their growing stOl larger, 

 but they have more the appearance of huge over- 

 grown smolts than sahnon. I should like to see 

 the experiment tried upon a more extended scale, 

 as they make by no means bad fish, and are fre- 

 quently much better than the trout contained ia 

 the same water. There is said to be a salmon in 

 some of the great American lakes very similar to 

 ours, and these lakes being above the Niagara Falls, 

 of course the fish cannot migrate to and from the 

 sea. But we are also told that in these vast lakes, 

 or inland seas, there are considerable tracts of water, 

 which, from the prevalence of salt springs, become 

 strongly impregnated; and it is further stated that 

 the salmon, in obedience to its instinct, migrates to 

 these tracts. If this be so, the fact is both singular 

 and valuable ; but I should much like to get some 



