u 



into the details of such proposed additional work until the 

 scheme for the formation of the pond lias heen approved 

 of. The primary ohject of the pond is the provision of an 

 abundant supply of healthy fish spavi^n for tlie hatchery, 

 but its use will be by no means restricted to that object. 

 A spawning pond in which the eggs can be produced 

 naturally from healthy parents is essential to successful 

 hatching on a sufficiently large scale. 



The special parts of this Report which follow consist 

 of: — my remarks upon the Oyster Bill, and a discussion of 

 Fisheries Conferences and the need of a " Census " of our 

 territorial waters ; Mr. Scott's account of the hatching 

 operations at Piel ; notes by Mr. Ascroft on the American 

 Shad and the White Fluke ; and finally, Mr. Johnstone's 

 detailed account of the structure of the edible Cockle, 

 with an Appendix on the Cockling Statistics of our District. 

 This section on the Cockle is illustrated by six plates, and a 

 map showing the distribution of the cockle beds. 



I desire, in conclusion, to ask for a very careful considera- 

 tion by the Committee of my remarks and recommendations 

 on pages 14 to 18 in regard to a scheme for obtaining an 

 approximate " Census " of our fisheries district. 



W. A. Herdman. 



Univehsity College, LmiiirooL, 

 December, 1S99. 



