20 HEV. MOSES HARVEY OK 



waters many millions of young fry. But for this artificial supply, the enormous drafts on 

 this fish, by the Hshermen of both countries, would long since have caused a decline 

 which must ultimately lead to the extinction of an industry now employing thousands, of 

 men and a large fixed capital, and furnishing immense supplies of wholesome and agree- 

 able food to an increasing population. 



While the culture of fresh water fishes has thus been increasing in importance, a very 

 striking advance in the art hus been made in recent years, by extending its operations so 

 as to embrace marine food fishes. It is needless to say that this enormously w^idens its 

 field of operations and increases its prospects of usefulness loan unlimited extent. If the 

 food fishes of the sea and edible crustaceans can be multiplied artificially, then we can 

 imajrine a time when the coastal waters will become great sea-farms, yieldinar enormous 

 supplies of food for mian, and even in the end approaching those of the land in value, and 

 when salt and fresh waters everywhere will be cultivated with as much assiduity and 

 skill as are now the continents and islands of the globe. 



This is no mere flight of fancy. Keen-eyed science has taken the matter in hand, and 

 is subjecting to her scrutiny the entire life-history of those finny tribes which can be made 

 subservient to human necessities. Nothing escapes her observation. The minute eggs, 

 transparent as crystal, and hardly discernible by the naked eye, which are cast into the 

 waters in countless myriads, are patiently studied from the moment when the first move- 

 ments of the mysterious principle of life begin, on through their phases of development 

 till they reach the stage when they are able to " repeat the story of their birth." Science 

 will not rest satisfied till the full biography of these nurslings of the sea is completed. 

 Her investigations include not only their embryology, but their whole surroundings — their 

 food, habits, migrations, their rate of growth, their friends and enemies, their birth and 

 death-rates, as well as the physical condition of the waters in which they have their 

 being. All the knowledge thus acquired is then to be applied practicall3^ so as to guard 

 them from injurious influences and destructive modes of capture ; and above all, to the 

 multiplication of their numbers and the restocking of exhausted waters, in cases where 

 fisheries have ceased to be remunerative. Even the planting of maiden Waters with new 

 life-germs, and the improvement of breeds by crossing are within the scope of this new 

 art. 



Fish-culture has thus a wide range, and it is not unworthy the attention of the 

 keenest scientific intellects. Its aim is noble — an extension of man's dominion over 

 nature with a view to the increase of human resources and the food supplies of nations. 

 As yet it is but in its infancy ; but it gives promise of a vigorous growth. What it has 

 achieved is a pledge of what it is destined to accomplish. Of course it has its limitations, 

 just as farming and stock-raising; and there are many difficulties and obstacles yet to be 

 overcome. Now, however, that it has given proof that it can deal successfully with the 

 great sea fisheries — such as those of the cod, herring, mackerel, haddock, as well as with 

 the anadromous fishes and the more valuable crustaceans, it is difficult to set bounds to 

 its possible achievements. Certainly no other art gives promise of such beneficial results, 

 of a practical character, as fish-culture. 



The honour of carrying fish-culture into this new domain must be awarded to the 

 late Professor Baird, though experiments with the same object in view were com- 

 menced about the same time at Flodevig, Norway, as in the United States. Professor 



