146 BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



that definite ideas could have been formed of what might be accom 

 plished by using them. I am satisfied, however, that, so far as the 

 prosperity of the fisheries is concerned, little could have been gained of 

 practical value. The fact that red suappers are gregarious in a marked 

 degree, congregating in schools of limited extent on small patches of 

 bottom, and the additional fact that they bite a hook with the utmost 

 eagerness, makes it possible to capture them more readily and easily 

 with hand-lines than in any other way. And when we consider how 

 trifling is the expense of fitting with hand-lines compared with other 

 forms of apparatus, it will be seen that there is little probability of the 

 old methods being superseded, particularly wheu enough are caught 

 now to make a serious drain on the resources of the fishing grounds. 

 Key West, Fla., March 20, 1885. 



:tl. -OPINIONS CONCERNING THE DESIRABILITY OF A HATCHERY 

 FOR SALT-WATER FISH IN NORWAY.* 



By H. RASCH, A. LANDMARK, and G. O. SAKS. 



OPINION OF PROF. H. RASCH. 



The cause of the steady decrease of fish on the coast of Arendal, which 

 has been noticed during the last few years, is undoubtedly excessive 

 lishing. It will appear improbable to most persons that fisheries such 

 as have been carried on in the Arendal district should have had an 

 injurious influence on so fertile a fish as the cod, each healthy female 

 of which contains several millions of eggs ; but since the investigations 

 of Professor Sars have taught us the conditions necessary for impreg- 

 nating the roe of the cod, we can easily understand that if there are 

 not a large number of male fish on the spot when the female fish eject 

 the roe, the greater portion will not become impregnated. 



The best remedy for this lack of spawning fish is, as far as I can see, 

 artificial impregnation, by which all the roe becomes impregnated, 

 whilst at the same time one can transfer the roe to localities where it 

 and the newly hatched fish are protected against their enemies. 



There is no doubt that in this way young fish can be produced by 

 the million ; but this is not sufficient. The growing fish must not be 

 caught before they become fit for food. I therefore entirely approve of 

 the measures proposed by Captain Danuevig for the Areudal district. 



Christiania, October 31, 1882. 



OPINION OF MR. A. LANDMARK. 



Owing to the steady decrease which has been generally noticed of 

 the common salt-water fish in many places on our coasts, and especially 



* From a pamphlet entitled Iudbydelse til Tegniug af Bidrag til en Udkliekningsan- 

 stalt af Saltvandsfisk efter arnerikansk Monster, eamt Erklajringer i Auleduing af 

 samme. Arendal, Idol. Translated from the Danish by Herman Jacobson. 



