THE ACCLIMATISATION OF THE SALMON.

Southland Times, Issue 1248, 10 May 1870, Page 3

THE ACCLIMATISATION OF THE SALMON.

(Launceston Examiner.) The following interesting letter was received by last mail from Mr E. Eamsbottom, the father of the late Mr H. Earnsbottom, who devoted so much time and trouble to the acclimatisation of salmon in our rivers. It will be seen that he has full faith in the ultimate success of his son's exertions: — " Clitbjbroe, Dec. 28th, 1869. "Deab Sir, — Last night I received your letters, and this morning all the papers quite safe, for which I am greatly obliged. I cannot express how 'truly thankful I am for your kindness in sending me all this glorious news, and cannot but think that the news is more gratifying to me than to any being in the world, now that my son is gone ; yet, from the very moment the smolfcs were turned out of the pond I knew the thing would be a success ; and knowing the time it takes to establish a salmon river, I knew it would dishearten hundreds of people in having to wait so long for the result, and there is no doubt that unbelief will not yet cease, as there is one thing in the natural histfdry of the salmon yet unknown to our great naturalists, but I should not say one thing, but several things that are necessary for them to know, and if they had known these things many would have waited with greater patience for the result of this great and useful experiment. Let me here give you one of these things in the natural history of the salmon that is yet unknown to the world, as I have been proving it for the last four years by experiment, and this November I have settled the question to the fullest satisfaction, that is not only do the smolts stay 12 months at sea before they return to the river, as grilse, but the adult fish do the same. We have two crops of salmon in every river coming alternately, so that salmon only come to the river and spawn every second year. Now it is no wonder that the patience of the public should give way in waiting so long. Could you have told- the people at first that it would take 7i. years before a native-bred grilse would return to the river, and that their natural habits took so long a time before the first fruits of this great labor would be seen, then I say the public might hare had a little more patience ; and as I have said before, 1 have no doubt that their unbelief is not at an end, as there are other "twelve or fifteen months to wait before you have a native bred grilse in the river ; there might be a few smolts leave

the river for the sea at fifteen months old, and return the third year as grilse. I hope it is so, but when I established a salmon river on the west coast of Ireland, although I had a few fry that became suiolts at fifteen months old, yet I had no grilse before the fourth year, but according to Mr Smith's report in the Mercury of October 20th, where he said he saw a salmon rise about two feet long, if his statement be accurate as to the length of the fish, it must have been a grilse, and in that case, there must have been a few s molts gone to sea at fifteen months old, and returned in their third year. I only hope it is the case, but you must depend upon it, there will be only a few ; you will have to wait another twelve months before you finally set the unbelievers at rest, when you will^ then have hundreds of native-bred grilse in the river, and every year after you will see them multiply in thousands; and my opinion is that your rivers are so well calculated in richness, and the climate so good for the fish, that you will have 201 b salmon two years sooner than any river in Great Britain can grow them. If your trout could have lived in the Ribble for a hundred years, they would never have been half the size that you have them at present ; so you have only to laugh at I the discontented another year, or two at j the most, and by that time you will have work enough for your rod both in salmon and trout. I have just returned from i Ireland, where I have put down one ! million salmon ova for hatching. I have never put down so many in one season before. The fishery in the Screech (?) I have been improving it for six years* j At first we could kill from a dozen to twenty fish in a season ; but this last summer we have killed just 500 salmon with the rod. I wish you to remember that your greatest success with the rod will be high up the river. You should go as far as the mouth of the River Ouse. Above and below is the place where you will find the best salmon-fishing, and you would also be sure to get some salmon fry, if you would " fish the thin streams, and flats that are not so deep, and wherever you will find the salmon fry you are sure to have salmon in the pools below. I will enclose you a line and flies ; for the fry for your kindness ; not that I want you to kill the fry, but to find where they are ; first look out for a good gravel stream, where it is likely for salmon to spawn ; then put on your flies, and try every easy part of the stream. If I were up that river I could pick out a stream where I could kill a salmon fry in five minutes, though I had never seen the place in my life before ; but then it is different with me to a stranger to it ; it has been my work for forty years. The salmon fry are the best feeding fish in the river, and before many years you will have to make a law to stop it, the same as with us. You think the spoon bait is prohibited in England ; but it is not so ; all baits are lawful in England except fish ova, particularly salmon ova, which are not allowed to be in anyone's possession. " I am greatly obliged to you for the order, which shall be sent off by the next mail or before, and I promise you shall have everything good and suitable for j the work. I have killed about 32 salmon this last season at different places ; but one of my sons had the. best sport in the Ribbie in October ; he killed 21 salmon, and nearly all large fish, only three below the teens, and the largest fish 301bs. < * * The house stands by the river, and near to one of the best salmon pools in the world ; it is called the " Froth Pot," so when you kill your first salmon you must christen the pool — * Froth Pot.' I am, dear sir, yours truly, R. Ramsbottom." P.S. — I have just been reading Mr Allport's report . I consider it a splendid article. It came while I was in Ireland, and having been at home only three days, I had not read it before. There is not a fishery in Europe or in the world where j net fishing does not fail to ruin them all ; and not only for the whole public, but ! for the net fishers themselves ; and if you attempt to stop them by law, there is a | cry raised that you are going to ruin the poor fishermen, while at the same time they are not only ruining themselves, but are gradually destroying the salmon food j of the public. It is the case in every j nation. I would see them far enough ! before I would see them killing fry of every description that have never deposited a single ova for another race. There is one golden rule for every government to conduct their fisheries ; that is, that no fish of any kind shall be killed by a net before it has once deposited its spawn, nor be in man's possession at a £10 penalty for every fish bo found, and one-half to go to the informer. This would keep up the race of every kind of fish, and enhance the wealth of every nation. — Yours, R. R.