THE SEA FISHERIES OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 205 



Q. Do you refer to any term of years ? I suppose that you mean a period of 10, 12 

 or 14 years. — A. It might be more. The time of course depends on the expenditure 

 involved.and the concurrence of suitable legislation to protect the fish, and many other 

 points. 



Q. How many fish-breeding establishments have you in the States ? — A. Nearly 

 every State in the Union has now a series of fish commissioners, whose business it is 

 to propagate fish within their borders. 



Q. There is only one in each State ? — A. There is one State establishment ; and a 

 certain number of private establishments in each, founded for the purpose of gain. 



Q. Do you know how many there are in Canada? — A. I know there are a great 

 many. Canada is doing most admirably in this respect. 



Q. And very much more in proportion than the United States ? — A. No ; I think 

 not. I think by far less in proportion. 



Q. In proportion ? — A. Yes. 



Q. To population? — A. I do not say according to population. I shall qualify that 

 statement by saying that what is done in Canada is done on a much less scale of mag- 

 nitude than is the case in the United States. I mean that the aggregate of artificial 

 propagation in the United States is much greater than the aggregate in Canada ; but 

 I would not take a ratio. I think that both Canada and the United States are doing 

 as much as they can in this regard, in the time that has been allowed for the purpose. 



Q. I suppose that Canada is doing a very large work in this connection ? — A. She 

 is doing most admirably — yes. 



Q. She is expending large sums of money on it ? — A. Certainly. She is doing most 

 admirably. I am very happy to say that Canada and the United States are working 

 concurrently in a great many directions in the line of artificial fish-culture. 



Q. Do you know the Canadian establishment on Detroit River ? — A. Yes. 



Q. Is it doing a large business? — A. I don't know what it is doing this year ; but 

 last year I understand that it did a very large business. 



Q. It then hatched 10,000,000 eggs?— A. Yes, very likely. 



Q. You say that cod cannot live except in cold water ?— A. The cod is an inhabit- 

 ant of the colder waters. 



Q. Are you aware whether or not the Gulf Stream during the summer mouths 

 swings in at all more toward the American coast ? — A. It does. 



Q. For how many miles ? — A. I cannot say. 



Q. Would that have any effect in driving the cod away from the American shores ? 

 — A. No ; not the slightest. 



Q. You think not? — A. Yes; it has not the slightest effect on them. If you go 

 down to a certain depth in the ocean, in the tropics or any wh ere else, you will find 

 the water cold enough for cod ; and there is nothing to prevent the cod being as 

 abundant in tropical waters — say off Brazil or the West Indies — as anywhere else; 

 as far as temperature is concerned, it is cold enough therefor them at a certain depth. 



Q. Have they ever been caught there ? — A. Not that I know of; but the water 

 there is cold enough for them. 



Q. Is it not very venturesome to state that there is nothing to prevent them staying 

 there? — A. They may be there, but they have not been caught there. Nobody has 

 fished at those great depths, for you have got to go down from (»,000 to 15,000 and 

 20,000 feet to find that temperature in tropical seas. 



Q. Have you the slightest idea as to what sort of animals reside down there ? — A. 

 Yes. We have a very good knowledge of such species as can bo taken up by the 

 trawling line and dredge from those depths; and we know that an ample supply of 

 food suitable for cod is to be found there. 



Q. Has any beam-trawl or dredge ever taken cod in those regions ? — A. No ; you do 

 not catch cod with small trawls any more than you can so catch whales. 

 By Sir Alexander Galt : 



Q. Would not the temperature in those waters interfere with the spawn of the 



