Cxii ARTIFICIAL HATCHING OF MARINE FISHES. 



one near Queensferry ; Buckland one at Port Logan in Wigtonshire, 

 &c. Mr. Bland of Derriquin Castle, Kenrnare Bay, had in an inlet 

 of Sneem harbour, protected by reefs of rocks, a strong barrier of stones 

 formed across the entrance but through which every tide flowed and 

 ebbed, but leaving a sufficiency of water within. Here mullet, whiting, sea 

 bream, soles and plaice succeeded best, haddock also did well, but gurnards 

 became pale in colour. Whiting became so tame as to feed out of the hand, 

 and all assembled at the feeding-time on the appearance of the tray. While 

 marine fishes have been acclimatized to fresh water (page lxxxiii, and vol. i, 

 page 229, and vol. ii, page 123). 



ARTIFICIAL HATCHING OF MARINE FISHES. 



I have already remarked how depeopled fresh-water fisheries have 

 been restocked by artificial means, and must now briefly record how in the 

 United States this procedure has also been turned to practical account with 

 salt-water fisheries. The Government Fishery Commissioners finding a 

 difficulty in regulating the modes of capture in the sea*, but observing that 

 the fisheries were becoming impoverished from over-fishing, conceived the 

 idea of propagating marine forms, as they considered that it would be useless 

 to expect fishermen to stock public waters at their own expense, especially 

 as everyone would subsequently be at liberty to catch the fish. Acting 

 upon this principle the United States Fishery Department have wisely 

 investigated their seas, repopulating their waters where the necessity exists, 

 and thus counteracting the waste which is being occasioned wherever man 

 has liberty or licence to capture the finny tribes however he pleases, 

 irrespective of season and regardless of their condition. 



