Section IV., 1892. [ 17 ] Trans. Eot. Soc Canada. 



II. — The Artificial Propagation of Marine Food Fiahes and Edible Crustaceans. 



By Rev. Moses Harvey, LL.D. 



(Read June 1st, 1892.) 



The art of pisciculture, in its modern restricted sense, commenced a century and a 

 half ago with the discovery of an artificial method of fecundating and hatching the ova of 

 fish. Fish cultuie of a simple elementary character, had been known and practised long 

 before, indeed from a remote antiquity. This, however, does not appear to have gone 

 further than the inclosing of fish in artificial aquariums, or in ponds where they were 

 fed and tended till required for use. The art of acclimatization as regards fish, was 

 understood to a limited extent. Favourite breeds of diiFerent kinds of fishes were fattened 

 and flavoured in order to gratify the palates of epicures. The luxurious Romans spent 

 enormous sums on their fish-ponds and oyster-beds. The ancient Egyptians are known 

 to have reared fish in artificial inclosures on an extensive scale If we may belierewhat 

 is told us of the Chinese, it would appear that for many centuries fish-culture of an 

 ingenious kind has been carried on in China by collecting fructified fish eggs from lakes 

 and rivers, carrying them to the interior, and selling them to proprietors of canals or ponds 

 in which they are hatched and grow to maturity. The resu.lt is stated to be an abundant 

 supply of fresh water food fishes in many portions of China. 



With the discovery of the process of artificial fecundation of fish ova, pisciculture 

 took a new departure, and by slow and painful steps has reached its present stage, 

 which renders it an art of high national importance and gives promise of its becoming 

 a potent factor in the future for securing sustenance for the teeming populations of the 

 world. 



As in the case of many other valuable discoveries, some doubt exists as to who is to 

 be credited with the honour of this discoA^ery. The French claim that Joseph Remy, a 

 peasant of the Vosges, was the discoverer about the year 1842 ; and that with him 

 originated that artificial system offish-breeding which extended over their chief rivers, and 

 at length culminated in the celebrated establishment of Huningue, near Bale, for the 

 collection, hatching and distribution of fish ova. 



There can be little doubt that Remy's was an independent rediscovery, and that he 

 carried it into a practical application which proved fruitful in results. He had been 

 anticipated, however, by almost a century, by Lud wig Jacobi of Westphalia, in Germany, 

 who, about the year 1748, carried out successful experiments in breeding salmon and 

 trout. For eighty years he and his sons carried on the enterprise, on his own estate, as a 

 commercial speculation, with great siiccess. He also wrote an elaborate essay on the art 

 offish-culture whioh attracted the attention of many scientific men. His discovery was 

 the result of keen observation. He found that the fecundation of salmon ova was an 

 external act that could be readily imitated by careful manipulation, and that by this 



Sec IV., 1892._3. 



