466 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



calculated that there are 9,000,000 iu a tiirbot of 50 centimeters, (19i 

 inches,) and as many as 13,000,000 in a thick-lipped mullet. 



If only the tenth part of the germs inclosed in the body of each fish 

 arrived at maturity, there must be little to fear from the devastation 

 of our coasts, or the depopulation of our fresh waters ; but numerous 

 causes of destruction tend to reduce considerably the multiplication thus 

 richly provided for. These arise partly from natural causes, but in great 

 part also from the act of man. We are to point them all out, if possible, 

 and weigh them successively before discussing the means of preventing 

 their action, which will form the chief object of this article. 



In the first place, we must not forget that, in the general harmony of 

 nature, as Mr. Milne-Edwards has justly remarked, the productiveness 

 of animals is regulated with a view not only to the dangers to which the 

 young are exposed before ariving at the age of reproduction themselves, 

 but also to the uncertainty of fecundation of the eggs. It is well known 

 that the immense majority of fishes are oviparous, andthat the fecundation 

 is effected by the operation of the male element upon the female element 

 separate from the body of the animals, and in the midst of the waters 

 where they live. This action is the condition necessary to the develop- 

 ment of the embryo, and all the eggs which have not experienced the 

 contact with the animalcules of the milt change and soon decay. Now, 

 it is never the case that all the spawn receives this action, and from this 

 cause alone a portion, more or less considerable, is always lost. The 

 portion which remains is in turn exposed to a host of pernicious influ- 

 ences. It may be left dry by a decline in the level of the water, or spoiled 

 by the slimy substances which a rise of the water always causes and car- 

 ries with it. The spawn has alse numerous enemies; many fishdevour 

 it, manj' Crustacea, many insects attack it in like manner ; it liiay be 

 carried off by sea- weeds and byssus, and almost all aquatic birds .are 

 very fond of it. 



All these chances of mortality and destruction prevent the fish from 

 increasing as fast as the great number of eggs would at first lead us to 

 suppose, but they are still in a measure subject to the laws of the animal 

 creation, and would seldom suflice for the depopulation of the waters, 

 unless supported by causes of another nature. Among these should be 

 mentioned, first of all, the inadequacy of the legislation on the fisheries, 

 and the violation with impunity of all the protecting ordinances which 

 it has provided. 



At the end of the last century Duhamel pointed out the depredations 

 of the fishermen, who cast their lines, with impunity, at all seasons of 

 the year, and daily suffer numbers of fishes, too small to be sold, to 

 perish upon the banks. He saw, with natural indignation, the inhabit- 

 ants of the coasts fill baskets with the spawn to manure their land or 

 feed their swine. This culpable improvidence has still further increased, 

 and we can almost say that, at the present time, all injuries are autho 

 rized and all abuses are ijracticed without limit. In vain the best- 



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