NEW MODE OF SALMON PROPAGA-TlON.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 124, 22 September 1853, Page 4

NEW MODE OF SALMON PROPAGATION.

We lately extracted an article from a metropolitan journal, on the new mode of propagating salmon, or at all events, extensively and systematically practised by two ingenious Frenchmen, of tlie Vozges, wliicli had been made the subject or a spcrinl report to the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce in August last. We have since received a copy of the report itself, which is interesting, both from the details it contains of the process followed, and from the evidence it affords of the attention which the French Government bestows on every scheme connected with the advancement of the national interests. Under the patronage of the latter, a sum of 30,000 francs 1250/. was voted to the engineers of the canal which connects the Rhone with the Rhine, to form from its snpperfluous waters an artificial pond, with the requisite works for carrying out the new scheme on a large scale, where, within the first six months of its establishmnet, they had impregnated upwards of three millions of ova of different species, which had produced 1,085,200 living fish. On this fact being reported to the Minister of the Interior, M. Cosle, a member or the Institute, and an experienced naturalist, was appointed to visit the different establishments of the same nature situated in the Lagoons of the Adriatic, near the mouths of the Po, Adigc, and Drenta, as well as the Camachio, where large conserves of delicious fish have existed for a long per- - iod—with the view or a general introduction of the system in to all the suitable rivers of France. The substance of M. Cosle's report is, (hat not only the ova of the salmon, although carried front their native beds to great distances, preserve all llicirqualities entire, but that the artificial means of incubation provided under the new system completes the process more quickly and more surely than when left to their natural course. In fact, two growths arc obtained within the space of one ordinary breeding season. This double result enabled the Government to make the scheme self-supporting, because the proprietors are ready to pay for the choice sorts of fish put at their disposal. The locality of the establishment at Huningue upon the canal above-mentioned, is then described with the process of decomposing the ova. A spring of remarkably clear water flows through commonily of a few acres extent. In its course it divides itself into several smaller streams, into which the boxes arc placed, with wire cloth ends through which the water flows, leaving the ova and young

I lish in a constant running stream. This work M. Coslo purposes to enlarge; substituting plunks of wood laid lengthways in parailed divisions, for the wire-clolh boxes, liable to choak up—enclosing the spring with :i series of straight furrows, along which the water will precipitate itself. Certain obstructions, like sluices, are placed al intervals in these furrows to regulate the eiirrenl and to keep the water in proper condition for tin; object in view. These furrows extend along tlie meadow, and empty themselves into a spacious basin where the young spawn will bo first received. Over this basin someIhiug like a greenhouse is to be erected, with shifting glass windows to admit the, sun and air. A ((ached to this will be an out house, ''or laboraloire," where a register of the wealher, mid observations on the natural history of (he fish during their incubation and childhood may be preserved. When the period of infancy is passed the next object is to provide ponds whore the different species may have (he means of attaining mature growth, or where experiments in crossing the breeds may be carried on. M. (*ostc proposes thai a chain offish ponds should be dug along the banks of the canal, thn land of which for about 15 moires on each side, belongs to Government. These ponds may be extended to any length, and communicate with each other by means ofgatesof wire or iron work. When of sufficient growth to slaud transportation, the canal with which these ponds communicate, will be the natural channel through which the lish would be carried lo the different rivers in France. This is lo be effected by boxes attached by rings to rafts, the boxes to contain a sufficient quantity of water plants to prevent the young lish being injured. These boxes can bo detached from ihc raft al (he opening of the lish ponds jusi as a wagon is left on a siding on a railway, The details of these operations wo need not give, as ihey could not be well understood without diagrams. Suffice it that the persnnel of the bridges, and roads arc to do the whole work of the transmission of the fry from pond to pond, and along the canal; and that the yearly expense is calculated at no greater sum than B,ooof. —335/. alter the hist year The report concludes with the result of Mr. Coste's experiments on the propagation of shell lish, equally successful with lhai of freshwater lish. Thcsiibject is far from entirely new in this country ; for Mr. Young who has charge of the Duke of Sutherland's rivers in the north, has successfully bred salmon, taken alter spawning, from one river to another ; and the same has been done in other places. Hut wluil strikes us as noticeable in (he above report is the evidence it affords of the readiness with which the Government of France, however constituted, applies itself lo the encouragement of domestic industry upon the announcement of any discovery of science or the arts, which in ouv country would be left to private enterprise. In one "salmonseminary"in a central province in France, lasl year, two engineers, from their own resources, raised 1,000,000 trouis, salmon and mi\cd breed ; what then might not be done by the wealthy proprietors of salmon fisheries in (ho Tay, in the way of increased production of the finest species of that lish which frequent that river? Little can be done with combination; and the history of the Tay fishing affords proof lhat " coalitious"areas little relished on its banks, in (hat branch of productive industry, as in politics.