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will probably be more powerful than anything that man 
can do; but whether under favourable or adverse circum- 
stances man’s little effort should also be made to restore 
the balance of nature by returning to the sea some 
proportion of what he takes from it. 
This is hkewise true of Lobster hatching, and it is 
important to note that the greater number of the eggs 
from which young Lobsters are hatched in American 
hatcheries are taken from parent Lobsters which are on 
their way to the tinning factories ; and, therefore, it may 
fairly be claimed that millions of embryo Lobsters are 
saved from certain destruction, and given a chance at 
least of prolonged life and of reaching adult size. 
There are a couple of Mr. Fryer’s general observations 
in regard to which I would make a remark, because I 
believe he has pointed out difficulties in the artificial 
operations which it is important to guard against. He 
remarks that ‘‘the tendency under the artificial conditions 
of a hatchery is towards an increased temperature, which 
hastens development of both ova and embryo, and causes 
them to anticipate the natural period for hatching, regard- 
less of the general climatic conditions of the season.”’ 
Well, this must be prevented, and it is not difficult in 
early spring—the usual hatching season—to keep the 
water in the tanks as cool as that in the sea. In the 
height of summer it is different, but at that time the sea 
itself 1s probably sufficiently warm to prevent there being 
any ill results from a few days anticipation of the period 
at which the hatching would take place in nature. 
Mr. Fryer says further :—‘‘ Then—as to the circum- 
stance under which the young fry are ‘ planted ’—while 
they would be hatched naturally in deep open water, of a 
high density and comparatively low temperature, they 
are almost of necessity liberated in shallow water, of 
