128 
THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
cause its waters to overflow into its natural outlet in tlie 
Barwon river. Hitherto the evaporation over its large 
surface has balanced the drainage flowing into it, so that 
no overflow has occurred, but should its waters rise so as 
to overflow every season, the amount of salt carried away 
would necessarily cause the water of the lake to become 
fresher every year, and it would be interesting to know 
whether the sea-fish introduced there, could adapt them- 
selves to the gradual change from salt to fresh water, 
which would then take place. 
Our oyster-fisheries, that were once productive, have now 
failed almost entirely, and we are dependent upon other 
colonies for supplies of that delicious bivalve. Why should 
not scientific culture restore the productiveness of our old 
oyster-beds, and, with the knowledge so easily attainable, 
by the aid of tiles and fascines, establish fresh beds on 
suitable parts of the bays and indentations of our coast 
line ? 
The more careful protection of small and immature fish 
and a close time, rigorously enforced, to protect migratory 
fish during the spawning season, would save valuable kinds, 
such as the delicious fresh water herring or grayling 
(prototroctes marcena^ Gunther), now threatened with ex- 
tinction, and would allow of the natural increase, which 
is now prevented to a great extent by a wasteful system of 
killing small fish, and of netting breeding fish on the way 
to their spawning grounds. 
In France great efforts have been made to cultivate the 
waters, and a department was created, with an establish- 
ment at Huningue, under the care of M. Coste, which has 
greatly increased the value of the fisheries of the country. 
An attempt made in 1877 to introduce the Californian 
salmon into France proved unsuccessful. Two hundred 
thousand ova were sent from America, but on their arrival 
