BULLETIN OP THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 147 



in the neighborhood of Arendal, Captain Dannovig has requested me 

 to give my opinion whether this deplorable state of affairs can ' e suc- 

 cessfully remedied by means of the artificial hatching of the roe of cod, 

 and possibly of other kinds of fish. He also states that he has selected 

 a place in the neighborhood of Arendal for an establishment of this 

 kind. 



In regard to this matter I take the liberty to state that it appears 

 from the official reports of Prof. Spencer F. Baird, United States Com- 

 missioner of Fish and Fisheries, that the artificial hatching of the roe 

 of cod, and some other salt-water fish, is not only possible, but also 

 entirely practicable, without any very great outlay. How far the ar- 

 tificial hatching of salt-water fish produces a noticeable increase of 

 the quantity of fish in the sea, and especially what it amounts to as 

 compared to the vast scale on which the natural reproduction of fish 

 goes on in the sea, has not yet been shown by experience, and may, 

 therefore, justly be considered a disputed question. If, however, we 

 consider the enormous destruction of roe caused by the many injurious 

 influences to which it is exposed in the sea, and that these injurious 

 influences may almost be entirely removed from the artificially impreg- 

 nated roe, and that, therefore, there can be no doubt that roe of a cer- 

 tain number by being artificially hatched will yield infinitely more young 

 fish than if left to nature; then we may well assume that there is not 

 only a possibility, but even a certain degree of probability, that practi- 

 cal results for the fisheries may be reached. It is provided, of course, 

 that the matter is taken in hand energetically. We must call special 

 attention to the circumstance that Norway, on account of the peculiar 

 character of its coast and coast waters, offers greater chances for favor- 

 able results than almost any other country. Our coast, broken by 

 innumerable fiords and sounds, possesses a very large number of com- 

 paratively sheltered basins, whose stock of fish, as experience seems 

 to show, is stationary, as the fish do not, to any great extent, seem 

 inclined to migrate to the open sea. We must also consider that the 

 deep furrow or trough at the bottom which separates the greater por- 

 tion of our coast from the outer and shallower sea is in all probability 

 the main cause which deters the fish which are born near our coast from 

 migrating to the open sea. These geographical conditions, therefore, 

 seem to justify the belief that the increase in the number of fish which 

 would result from artificial hatching would really benefit our couutry, 

 and not be scattered over all the neighboring seas. And yet it can by 

 no means be considered as settled that artificial hatching will to any 

 noticeable degree increase the yield of our every-day sea-fisheries. This 

 is certain, however, that vast interests are at stake, and that no means 

 should be left untried which, without disproportionate sacrifices, may 

 reasonably be supposed to aid this important industry. It would be 

 difficult to point out any other means which could be employed for 

 reaching the end in view with greater hope of success. 



