14 REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 



How old they get to be ? 



Are they subject to vicissitudes when absent ? 



What nature ? 



What becomes of all the old fish ? 



With such immense numbers the natural mortality must be very 

 large. Why do we not see some trace of them? 



Do predateous fish live on others when absent from us ? 



Do menhaden live on the spawn of other fish ? 



Do mackerel devour the spawn of lobsters ? 



Do menhaden ? 



If so, what eflect does it have upon the stock in the waters ? 



Do small fish or crustaceans affect the number of large ones by 

 destroying their spawn ? 



If bluefish destroy menhaden, mackerel, herring and scup, may 

 not these fish compensate by devouring the spawn or young of 

 the bJuefish, and in that way retaliate upon their enemies? 



If anyone can answer these questions, them would we vote wise 

 enough to have a hand in the government of the fishes. 



God alone rules the universe and to his infinite wisdom we must 

 leave this, until we have learned at least something more than we 

 yet know, then it will be quite time to try to assist Him in the 

 government of the fishes of the sea. 



\Ye think that there will be found here some difficulty in gov- 

 erning the fisheries suggested ; just which to foster, and protect, 

 and which to destroy in order to preserve the most desirable and 

 have a favorable result. 



Who is there wise enough to know how to do this ? 



Who is there that can say that any i3lan to govern is more than 

 an experiment and if apparent success comes he is by no means 

 sure it is through any means he has applied ? 



HIGH TRICES DO NOT INDICATE SCARCITY OF FISH. 



Prof. Baird in report for 1886, page 23 : 



" One supposed evidence of our increasing scarcity of fish is the 



