A. Mill-race. B. Filtering-pond. C. Hatching-boxes. D. Rearing-pond. E. Upper canal. F. Lower canal. G. Connecting stream of C and D. H. By-run to river. K. Pipe from mill-race to pond. L. Pipe to empty pond. M. Pipe from mill-race to filtering-pond. n n. Discharge-pipes from do. O. Do. do. to lower canal. P. Sluices from pond. R. Marking-box. S. Keeper’s house. T V. Sluices from lower canal.

For the purpose of showing the level of the pond at Stormontfield I beg to introduce what the French people call “a profile.”

PROFILE OF STORMONTFIELD SALMON-BREEDING PONDS.

A. Source of water-supply. B. Pond from which to filter water on boxes. C. Egg-boxes. D. Pond for young fish. E. River Tay.

The salmon-breeding operations at Stormontfield originated at a meeting of the proprietors of the river Tay held in July 1852, when a communication by Dr. Eisdale was read on the subject of artificial propagation; and Mr. Thomas Ashworth of Poynton detailed the experiments which had been conducted at his Irish fisheries. This gentleman, who takes a great and practical interest in all matters relating to fisheries and the breeding of fish—and to whom I am greatly indebted for practical information—said that he had long entertained the opinion that it would be quite as easy to propagate salmon artificially in our rivers as it is to raise silkworms on mulberry leaves, though the former were under water and the latter in the open air; “indeed it has become an established fact,” said Mr. Ashworth, “that salmon and other fish may be propagated artificially in ponds in numbers amounting to millions, at a small cost, and thus be protected from their natural enemies for the first year or two of their existence, after which they will be much more able, comparatively speaking, to take care of themselves, than can be the case in the earlier stages of their existence.” Mr. Ashworth estimates the expense of artificial propagation as about one pound for each thousand fish, or one farthing per salmon. On the suggestion of Mr. Ashworth, a practical pisciculturist was engaged to inaugurate the breeding operations at Stormontfield, and to teach a local fisherman the art of artificial spawning. The operation of preparing the spawn for the boxes was commenced on the 23d of November 1853, and in the course of a month 300,000 ova were deposited in the 300 boxes, which had been carefully filled with prepared gravel, and made all ready for their reception. Mr. Ramsbottom, who conducted the manipulation, says the river Tay is one of the finest breeding streams in the world, and thinks that it would be presumptuous to limit the numbers of salmon that might be bred in it were the river cultivated to the full extent of its capabilities.