1902 - 3 .] Mr Wm. Murray on Salmon in American Rivers. 483 
merits may have led to the abandonment of experiments before re- 
sults could be expected. But these considerations do not alter the 
conclusion that salmon fishery administration in America, relying 
mainly upon artificial propagation for its results, has achieved the 
banishment of the fish from all but one of as splendid a group of 
salmon rivers as can be found in either hemisphere. Mention 
should here be made of the Hudson, a river to which, it seems to 
be agreed, salmon did not naturally belong. This river has often 
been put forward as a salmon cultural success, on the ground that, 
following on the plantation of fry in its upper waters, which began 
in 1882, salmon in varying numbers have been caught in the 
neighbourhood of the estuary. It has also been asserted that all 
fish caught in these waters must have been produced artificially. 
As regards the last claim, it is impossible in this country, so far 
removed from all knowledge of the circumstances of the river, to 
decide whether a case has been made out or not, but it is clear 
that the fish caught upon the Hudson were all caught contrary to 
law, in nets set ostensibly for other species. Their numbers have 
therefore never been accurately ascertained. Even granting that 
some three hundred fish were actually caught in the Hudson waters 
in one year (this was ten years ago), the catch has fallen off since. 
In 1895 only 34 fish are recorded to have been captured; no 
commercial fishery has been established, and now it is said the 
experiment has been, or will be, abandoned. 
Two more examples of the propagation of salmonoidsin America 
may be added, as illustrating the problems which surround their 
culture. 
In 1892 Mr J. C. Callbreath determined to take a salmon stream 
in Alaska, which, under normal conditions, carried a few thousand 
red fish, and by artificial propagation to increase the production 
to hundreds of thousands. This stream was not fished by the 
canneries, the yield being too small, and arrangements were made 
with the Indians claiming it. To begin with, a dam was built 
across the river about 100 yards above salt water, over which all 
fish attempting to reach the upper waters were lifted with dip nets, 
and the upper waters and lake were cleared of all enemies to fry. 
During the years 1892-9 an average of (ca.) 4300 adult fish have 
been passed over the dam, and an average of (ca.) 3,000,000 fry 
