XIII. 
LHE DEPOPULATION AND RE- 
STOCKING OF TROUT-STREAMS. 
Durinc the past twenty years the trout-streams of 
this country have been depopulated to the extent 
of from fifty to a hundred per cent. The more 
fortunate rivers are in the former case; whilst 
many famous trout-streams that once were, have 
become too poisonous for fish to live in at all. 
The causes which have contributed to this. 
state of things are few, but are alarmingly on the 
increase. Chief among them is pollution by town 
sewage and mill refuse ; and those who, in the first 
case, are alone competent to set the legal ma- 
chinery at work are usually the greatest offenders. 
These are the Corporations of towns. Ina case 
of summary proceedings for pollution* the pro- 
secution must prove “dead fish.” But direct 
proof of this kind is often unobtainable. 
* Under 24 & 25 Vict., Cap. 109, Sec. 5. 
