28 FISH CULTUEE. 



when full grown it is tlie prey of the grampus and 

 the seal; hut these dangers from aquatic animals 

 are comparatively few, for it soon becomes swift and 

 powerful, and to a certain extent is able to take care 

 of itself. In spite, however, of all this destruction, 

 such is the amazing fecundity of the salmon, that 

 were it not for the machinations of man — ^his worst 

 enemy — suf&cient of the species would still remain 

 to fill our rivers almost to teeming. 



The most dangerous and helpless part of the sal- 

 mon's existence, therefore, occurs while in the ova 

 state and until arrived at the smolt state. Fortu- 

 nately here man has the power to protect it from 

 most of the perils it endures when left to itself in 

 the river, and at this particular point artificial pro- 

 pagation is a most valuable assistant. 



In this country the piscicultural undertakings 

 which are the best known and of most importance 

 are those carried out at Stormontfield, on the Tay ; 

 at Messrs. Ashworth's fishery on the Galway river, in 

 both of which improvement of the fisheries was the 

 object; at Mr. Cooper's fishery at Markree, near 

 SHgo; and at DoohuUah, in Connemara. In these 

 two last instances fisheries were altogether created ; 

 and on the Clyde, where a new fish (the greyhng) 

 was iutroduced and naturalized, A fuller account 



