1897. SOME NEW BOOKS. 4^9 



the Artificial Propagation of Marine Fishes, which cannot fail to be 

 understood by any educated layman, and which, on the other hand, 

 has points of interest for the ichthyologist. 



Starting at Gloucester, Mass., the pioneer station of the move- 

 ment, the author takes his readers a tour of inspection through the 

 "hatcheries" of Wood's HoU (Mass.), Dildo (Newfoundland), 

 Floedevig (Norway), and Dunbar (Scotland). Each of these institu- 

 tions in turn is graphically illustrated by views, bird's-eye-views, and 

 plans, and their special work is alluded to. 



There is one statement in the account of the Gloucester station 

 (p. 12), upon which we would have desired more light. " Des 1879 

 et 1880, on pechait deja, dit-on, dans la bale, des alevins de morue, 

 qu'on reconnut a certains signes pour etre nes au laboratoire en 1878 

 et les marins du pays leur donnerent aussitot la denomination carac- 

 teristique et tres honorifique de ' Morues de la Commission.' " The 

 seafaring man is so often instinctively right that statements like 

 these should be carefully investigated. 



Perhaps the point which is best brought out, in this Httle report, 

 is the comparative ease, combined with small pecuniary outlay, with 

 which it is possible to hatch, and place in the sea, hundreds of millions 

 of larval food-fishes, a fact of prime economical importance. Dr. 

 Baudouin quotes the authority of such specialists as Mr. Dannevig 

 and Mr. Nielsen to show that the 'hatcheries' are justifying the 

 labour spent upon them, by a marked improvement in "the harvest 

 of the sea." The author is an enthusiast, and, whilst more or less 

 reconciled to the progressive strides of America,, he would like to see 

 his country abreast of Norway and Scotland, in an official attempt to 

 recuperate the home fisheries. 



If Dr. Baudouin's Report does not go far to bring about the 

 desired result, it will not be due to the doubtful nature of its con- 

 clusions or the want of graphic exposition of the whole subject. 



We have also received the Scientific Report of the Northumber- 

 land Sea Fisheries Committee, a little volume which is full of promise 

 for the future. After a short account of the local fisheries, the results 

 of trawling excursions are given. The most useful and interesting part 

 of this is undoubtedly that deaUng with the food of the fisheries, 

 especially the local weakness of plaice for Donax truncnlns. We 

 would warn the author against a habit which is unfortunately only 

 too prevalent with labourers amongst the eggs and larvae of fishes. 

 We refer to the issuing of plates illustrating the development of types 

 which have already been fully worked out by others. The waste of 

 money is not so important as the multiplication of literature involved. 

 Mr. Meek is to be congratulated on the results of his labours, and we 

 hope soon to hear of the successful establishment in his district of a 

 marine laboratory with its attendant facilities for research. 



We cannot pass from this subject without quoting the following 

 deUcious paragraph from the Scientific American, which, we hasten to 

 add, disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy : 



" In China the hen is kept constantly busy. When not engaged 

 in hatching her own brood, she is compelled to hatch fish eggs. The 

 spawn of fish are placed in an eggshell, which is hermetically sealed 

 and placed under the unsuspecting hen. After some days the egg- 

 shell is removed and carefully broken, and the spawn, which has been 

 warmed into life, is emptied into a shallow pool, well warmed by the 

 sun. Here the minnows that soon develop are nursed until strong 

 enough to be turned into a lake or stream." 



