FISH CULTURE. 303 
from Scotland to Australia, in 1865; were successfully 
hatched in the River Plenty ; and, having returned from 
their first migration to the sea, may now be considered as 
established there. In a similar manner the Merrimac 
River has been sown with salmon-eggs brought from New 
Brunswick, and a harvest may be expected therefrom. 
The rearing of fish in artificial ponds and reservoirs, 
and then bringing them into marketable and eatable 
condition by regular and systematic feeding, has been 
successfully carried out, and it is found to be quite prac- 
ticable as an industrial occupation, bringing better re- 
turns, when trout are reared, than the growing of any 
other kind of animal food. Yet to determine with cer- 
tainty what are the conditions of success in this branch of 
Pisciculture requires further experiment. 
Pisciculture is not a new art. Jt was practised among 
the ancient Romans ; yet not as an industrial pursuit, but 
as a source of amusement to men of wealth and. leisure, 
or to supply with delicacies the tables of a gluttonous no- 
ility. In Catholic countries, since the establishment of 
‘Monasteries, fish preserves have been commonly attached 
to those institutions, to supply the devotees with food 
during their frequent religious fasts. There is no reason, 
however, to suppose that they had any knowledge of 
artificial impregnation. In China, it has long been an 
important branch of industry, and although we know very 
little of. the process that they employ, it is certain that 
they succeed in making fish an abundant and cheap article 
of food. 
Since the pee æ of the public mind to this subject 
in Europe, government establishments have been put in 
Operation in France and Germany, and private opera- 
tions of great importance have been carried on in the 
