534 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES [10] 



B.— SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS UPON THE FISHES PROF- 

 ITABLE TO THE FISHERIES. 



How can we explain the circumstance that our knowledge of the many 

 salt-water fishes which form the chief support of our fishermen on the 

 coasts of the Baltic and the North Sea is exceedingly limited, in spite 

 of the fact that for several centuries millions of these fish have been 

 caught by experienced fishermen, and that one generation of fishermen 

 has transmitted to the other all they had either heard concerning these 

 fish or had themselves observed ? 



We believe that our fishermen are acquainted with the nature and 

 life of their fish as far as their eyes and instruments, as well as their 

 education and the age in which they live, will permit. 



If we wish to go beyond the very considerable and important knowl- 

 edge of the fishermen, as regards the nature and conditions of life of 

 food-fish, we must use other means. We must investigate fish with all 

 the means which science places at our command. We must not be sat- 

 isfied with observing fish at those seasons when fishermen are catching 

 them for the market, but we should follow them at all seasons, and care- 

 fully examine them at all stages of their life. When the fish no longer 

 congregate for the purpose of spawning, we must, with suitable instru- 

 ments, hunt them up in their retreats. We must find out their spawn- 

 ing places and endeavor to ascertain what peculiarities attract the fish 

 to these places during the spawning season. We must not rest satisfied 

 with knowing various outward characteristics, but we must study the in- 

 ternal structure of every species of fish; we must dissect their stomachs 

 and entrails to see what kind of food they use. 



In order to learn the internal structure of fish it is not sufficient to 

 dissect them with knife and scissors, but every portion of their organism, 

 even their eggs during the time that the young fish develop in them, 

 should be examined under powerful microscopes. 



The use of all these means for entering the mysterious life of fish has 

 to be learned just as much as fishing. Practical fishing and the scien- 

 tific investigation of fish have their own peculiar difficulties, and a special 

 talent is required for each. 



The highest aim of the trained ichthyologist is to learn to know as 

 thoroughly as possible the nature and mode of life of fish. He rejoices 

 whenever his labor is rewarded by an increase of knowledge, and he 

 values these achievements higher than any other result of his observa- 

 tions. By making his observations known to others he gladly increases 

 the pleasure and profits of his fellow-beings. 



The more thorough the knowledge of the ichthyologist, and the farther 

 he advances in it, the greater will be the profit which the practical fish- 

 erman will derive from his teachings. No intelligent fisherman of our 

 day would therefore do without the scientific ichthyologist. 



Experienced fishermen who have recognized the value of scientific 

 investigations for their trade, who appreciate such investigations, and 



