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of the latter were considered to entitle them to receive equal attention with the former, an abundant supply of Californian ova could easily be obtained. I have the honor to suggest that the Government should refer to the Canadian Fisheries Commissioner's report; it no doubt contains much valuable information. I have, &c, J. A. it. Munzies, Chairman, Southland Salmon Commissioners,

Extract from Edinburgh newspaper. Fish-culture in Canada. The advantages which may be derived from the artificial breeding of salmon and trout have been generally recognized for a good many years past, and establishments have been fitted up for the purpose of fish-hatching in various parts of the country. The terrible risks which the young fry bred in the natural way in our rivers run from their numerous enemies are in a great measure avoided by the artificial method, and we can succeed in rearing smolts from at least three-quarters of the vitalized eggs placed in the breeding-troughs ; whereas if these eggs had been exposed to the dangers of the river probably at least three-quarters of the fry produced from them would never have reached the smolt stage. There seems little reason to doubt that the productiveness of the Tay has been increased by the smolts from the Stormont Field Ponds, and that the late successful season on Lochlcven was in some measure owing to the number of young trout fry put into it by Sir James E. S. Maitland, who has established extensive and admirably-managed breeding-houses and fishponds at Craigend, near Stirling. The Canadians, however, seem to appreciate much more strongly than we do the great benefits which may accrue to the fisheries by the breeding of salmon, trout, and various other fish by artificial means ; for we find from the elaborate report by the Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending December, 1877, and its various appendices, that the Canadian Government has seven breeding establishments in the different provinces of the Dominion, upon which about £5,000 were expended during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1877. It has likewise a staff of (iOl fishery officers of various grades, and a steamer for the protection of the fisheries in the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The fish-breeding establishments in the Dominion of Canada are at Tadoussac, Gaspe, and Bestigouche, in the Province of Quebec; at Bedford Basin, in the Province of Nova Scotia; at Miramichi, in the Province of New Brunswick ; and at Sandwich and Newcastle, in the Province of Ontario. Mr. Wilmot, the superintendent of these establishments, informs us, in his interesting and valuable report, that the number of vitalized eggs contained in them in 1877 amounted to no less a number than 36,694,000, to which may be added the number of salmon fry distributed to different rivers and waters from them in former years, amounting to 28,515,000, making a grand total of eggs and fry, up to the end of 1877, of 59,209,000. In the spring of 1877 5,451,000 fry of the Salmo salar were distribut ed from these establishments, 7,000 fry of the Californian salmon, 99,000 fry of speckled trout, 7,000,000 fry of whitefish. Besides this the number of eggs laid down in the autumn of 1877 was as follows : Salmo salar, "G,004,000; Californian salmon, 40,000; salmon trout, 1,000,000; speckled trout, 150,000; whitefish, 2)3,500,000. This whitefish, wo are told, is being bred so extensively in order to supply the great falling-off in its take in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. The Californian salmon {Salmo gitinnat) which Sir Samuel Wilson has succeeded in introducing into Australia, and which we believe has also been introduced into New Zealand, has been successfully acclimatized in some of the Canadian streams and lakes connected with the Atlantic. It was first brought across the continent from the Pacific coast in 1873. In July, 1877, several of these salmon were netted in Lake Ontario, near the estuary of Wilrnot's Creek. Mr. Wilmot makes the following remarks with regard to the way in which these salmon thrive in fresh water, which will scarcely meet with the approval of those who consider that a residence in the salt water for at least part of each year is essential to the proper growth and development of the salmon : " These salmon," he says, " give interesting data for the naturalist and the study of physiology. They, furthermore, practically prove statements hitherto advanced by myself, that the salmon of the sea can be acclimatized and made natives of the fresh-water lakes, and that it is not indispensably necessary for salmon to go to the salt water ; large bodies of either fresh or salt water, with an abundant supply of food, is all that is requisite to give them growth and reproducing powers; and that the procreative powers of the male salmon are usually developed at an earlier stage than the female, the former invariably commencing their emigration up the rivers for spawning one year in advance of the latter; hence the indisputable fact of grilse taken in rivers being always males." There seems to be at present no annual " close-time " applicable to the rivers in British Columbia, which, in 1877, yielded about 3,500,0001b. of tinned and pickled salmon ; and there appears a probability that wasteful and improvident modes of fishing may exhaust tiie resources of even these richly-stocked waters. We are glad to see, therefore, that Mr. Wilmot, in his report on the Government breedingestablishments, strongly recommends the institution of an annual close-time, and its stringent enforcement in British Columbia. The following are his remarks on the subject, and on fish-culture generally: "The general progress of the science of fish-culture is extending very widely throughout the world. On the continent of America the interest shown is perhaps greater than elsewhere. Nearly every State in the adjoining Eepublic is now aiding the work by public grants, and by the appointment of Fishery Commissioners, &c. Very pleasant rivalry exists among the several States as to which shall be most successful in redeeming the waters from previous barrenness, and supplying their populations with an edible food which is so generally prized by the people for its delicacy and wholesomeness. Nor is the Dominion of Canada behind in advancing this important industry of propagating fish by artificial means. This is evidenced by the many establishments now in full operation, which, for numbers, capacity, and completeness are not equalled in any other country. This desire to increase and multiply a valuable article of food and commerce is further evinced in the efforts which are being put forth by one of the most distant provinces of this Dominion, where hitherto it had been considered, from the vast number of salmon that migrated up its rivers, that the supply could never be exhausted. With the unlimited demand, and the very great efforts that have been put forth to supply it, the unrestricted slaughter of the salmon in the Eraser River, in British Columbia,