THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
123 
M. Simon, in describing the manner in which the waters 
of China are utilised, states that their fertility is so great 
that “ the streams and rivers, the lakes and canals, with 
which two-thirds of China is covered, literally swarm with 
fish, butchers’ meat being no more indispensable. It is 
impossible to form an idea of this fecundity. It is not 
only in the watercourses that they fish, but in the rice- 
fields, and in ponds which retain water for a time after 
heavy rains ; and if we add, that there are varieties of fish 
which increase so prodigiously that they spawn twice in 
one month, you would not be surprised that fish is sold for 
one penny per pound, and the most costly at fivepence or 
sixpence. They fish with nets of all sizes and dimensions, 
with ground-lines, with tridents, and with cormorants. 
Fish is the habitual nourishment of about 350 millions of 
inhabitants, and remains always abundant.” 
Many of the curious and valuable fish found in China 
would, no doubt, be worthy of introduction here. In a 
recent number of Nature , reference is made to “ M. Darby 
de Thiersant, a French charge d y affaires , who has been 
instrumental in introducing a number of Chinese plants 
and animals into his native country, and has made arrange- 
ments for the importation in quantities of the Sitz, one of 
the most valued fish found in Chinese waters. The fish 
belongs to the carp family, and when fed on sea plants in 
ponds attains with great rapidity a weight of about 40lb. 
During the past three years experiments which were made 
on the fish in the Jardin d y Acclimatation , have shown it to 
be well adapted to a European climate ; and, as it increases 
rapidly, it is to be hoped that within a few years it can be 
introduced extensively throughout Europe.” Let us hope 
that Australia also may soon obtain this valuable fish. 
We have at command however, many useful varieties, 
which, by a little care and attention, might be multiplied 
immensely, such as the carp, tench, perch, and trout. 
