20 



discovery. The Artificial process is carried on in the 

 United Kingdom with the naost astonishing success. Mil- 

 lions of impregnated ova are annually brought to life ; 

 and thus those rivers which were almost entirely destroyed, 

 are now becoming of great value. 



So simple is the proces? and so wonderful the results, 

 that I am persuaded the Artificial process will come into 

 general use in a few years, especially as there is no vague 

 uncertainty as to the results. They can be counted on 

 with great precision, — even more so than on many agricul- 

 tural production?, requiring no such care as grains or 

 esculents receive at our hands. All that the fish demand to 

 have restored to them is the right of way, and permission 

 to deposit their stores of wealth on our shores. We have 

 much to be thankful for, that, in the midst of the destruc- 

 tion brought upon the Fisheries, we have providentially 

 the means afforded us of re-stocking our rivers and lakes 

 with that food which the faculty have ever considered as 

 an essential to the sanatory condition of the system. 



CHAPTER IV. 



" To be, or not to be, that Is the question." 



I HAVE deemed it necessary to give a hasty sketch of 

 the Salmon and Trout fisheries of England and France, 

 prior to the important discoveries of the two fishermen. 

 I have shown that in fornier years the fish wei'e most 

 abundant, that they were within the reach of the poorer 

 classes. I have shown also the havoc perpetrated, and 

 the destruction brought upon the fisheries by the perni- 



