MAEINE FOOD FISHES. 25 



inauguratiou of a Fishery Board for Scotland a few years ago, marked the commeucement 

 of a new era. Under such eminent naturalists as Dr. Wemyss Fulton, Secretary for 

 scientific investigations. Professor Mcintosh, LL.D., Mr. J. H. FuUerton and D. J. Beard, 

 excellent work is done in the investigations of the life-history of the various food fishes, 

 from which important results will follow. The Annual Reports of the Scottish Fisheries 

 Board contain matter of profound interest to the scientific fish-culturist. 



Last year, this Board decided on adopting the artificial breeding of valuable sea-fishes 

 with a view to the improvement of the Scottish fisheries. They had been for some time 

 closely observing the work carried on at Flodevig, Norway, in cod-hatching, and had 

 received official reports from time to time. The issue was a resolution to take up the 

 same enterprise. By an arrangement with Mr. Dannevig, manager of the Flodevig 

 hatchery, a wooden building with a complete hatching apparatus, was constructed at 

 Areudal, Norway, and has recently been shipped to Scotland, where it will be in operation 

 before the end of the present year. The Governments of France, Russia, Italy and 

 Belgium, have been in communication with Mr. Dannevig, with the view of procuring 

 from him plans and directions for fitting up and working similar establishments ; and it 

 is possible that these countries will shortly have marine hatcheries in active operation. 



England is at last moving in the same direction. At a conference held in the Fish- 

 mongers' Hall, Loudon, in March last, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : 

 "That this conference, in view of the diminution of food fishes, is of opinion that sea- 

 fish hatcheries should be established, as in Norway, the United States, Canada and New- 

 foundland, for the purpose of increasing the fish supply; and that it is of the greatest 

 importance to the fishing industry that marine laboratories should be established at 

 suitable points round the coast of the United Kingdom, with a view of affording infor- 

 mation to practical fishermen and others, regarding the habits and life-history of food 

 fishes." At Liverpool a marine laboratory has been established, and another at Plymouth. 

 Sir Edward Clarke, M.P., said, at this conference, that the Plymouth Institution had 

 shown that fish could be hatched in large numbers ; and he thought that the Government 

 would be doing a great public service if it assisted in establishing hatcheries, so as to 

 prodirce results similar to those produced in America. 



In France, M. Gobin, Minister of Fisheries, has recently expressed strong opinions as 

 to the diminution of fish around the shores, brought about chiefly by the increase of 

 populations, the larger and better equipped boats and the application of steam and trawls. 

 He looks upon the artificial hatching of sea-fish as the best remedy, combined with the 

 protection of areas as nurseries. The State alone, he thinks, can undertake such work, 

 and he urges the establishment of hatcheries in which the propagation of sea-fish can be 

 systematically carried on upon an extensive scale. Physical research, respecting marine 

 and inland waters, is now extensively carried out in France, with a view to its practical 

 application in the increase of fish by culture. 



It is thus evident that the culture of sea-fish is established on a solid scientific foun- 

 dation. The day is gone by for assailing it as insanity, and its advocates as wild, sf)ecu- 

 lative enthusiasts. In all civilized countries having an interest in fisheries, scientific 

 investigations are in progress; and the improvement, regulation and extension of these 

 great industries are becoming more and more objects of national importance. England's 

 colonies, one after another, are entering on the work. 



Sec. IV., 1892. 4. 



