26 EBV. MOSES HARVEY ON 



Newfoiiudland, Britain's oldest colony, has been tardy in entering on the work of 

 organizing and regulating its fisheries and employing artificial propagation for their 

 improvement. This work, however, was at length commenced three years ago, by the 

 appointment of a Fisheries Commission, who have already achieved a A'ery gratifying- 

 measure of success, and are engaged in organizing a system which, in the future, cannot 

 fail to secure beneficial results. Indeed, the work of the Newfoundland Fisheries Com- 

 mission, as described in their annual reports, has already attracted attention on both sides 

 of the Atlantic, and won the commendation of some of the foremost men who are engaged 

 in similar work elsewhere. In one branch — the artificial propagation of lobsters — New- 

 foundland is ahead of all other countries. The method introduced by Mr. Adolph 

 Nielsen — the able Superintendent of Fisheries — is likely to be adopted generally wherever 

 it is found practicable. Cod-hatching too, though only two seasons in active operation, 

 has made good progress, and gives promise of valuable results in restocking the partially 

 exhausted bays and fishing grounds around the coast. It m.ay also be mentioned that a 

 pamphlet on " The cure of codfish and herrings," drawn up by Mr. Nielsen and published 

 by the commission, has been reprinted by permission by the Fisheries Department of 

 Ireland, and widely circulated among Irish fishei-meu. The same work has been trans- 

 lated into French and circulated at St. Pierre and elsewhere. 



Previously to the organization of a Fisheries Commission in Newfoundland, the 

 fisheries had been left to take care of themselves. Naturally, these fisheries rank among 

 the finest in the world; but reckless and destructive modes of fishing piirsued by succes- 

 sive generations ; the want of intelligent guardianship and legal protection ; the absence 

 of any definite knowledge of the fish and fisheries, based on scientific observations ; and 

 the utter neglect of any means of organizing and directing these great industries, at length 

 resulted in an alarming decline of the cod-fishery, especially in the great bays and inshore 

 fishing grounds, and a marked deterioration of the herring, salmon and lobster fisheries. 



The present writer may mention, without egotism, that he took an active part, year 

 after year, in pressing these matters on public attention, and urging the necessity of 

 appointing a Fisheries Commission, under whose care the fisheries might be placed. The 

 appointment took place in 1888, and he has acted as secretary up to the present time. 

 Fortunately the services of an able Superintendent of Fisheries were secured in the person 

 of Mr. Adolph Nielsen, formerly an inspector of Norwegian fisheries, a man of high 

 character, and possessing a thorough scientific and i^ractical acquaintance with all depart- 

 ments of fisheries. A brief account of the work done by this commission in the artificial 

 propagation of codfish and lobsters may prove interesting as a further illustration of the 

 topic under consideration. 



As the outset, it may be well to notice an objection to the culture of sea-fishes which 

 is often repeated. It is alleged that the most valuable of the sea-fish — such as the cod — 

 are so prolific that even the most destructive operations of man can make little or no 

 impression on their numbers. The female cod, for example, according to size, yields from 

 two to nine millions of eggs each season. The salmon deposits a thousand eggs for every 

 pound of its live weight. The sole gives a million of ovaaunually ; the flounder a million 

 and a quarter ; the mackerel half a million ; the herring thirty-five thousand ; the turbot 

 fourteen millions, and a conger eel 28 lbs. in weight yields fifteen millions of eggs each 

 season. The crustaceans are hardly less prolific than the finny tribes. An oyster gives 



