American Fisheries Soeiely. 45 



on practically an even footing- with naturally hatched try. To be 

 conservative, however, we will allow that Init one in 500 of the 

 vigorous, artificially proiluced fry. reaches an adult age. This 

 extreme concession will give the handsome net result of 32 full 

 grown whitefish to compensate the removal of two parent fishes 

 from tiieir spawning bed, and subjected to piscicultural art. 



If properly supported — in the preservation of immature fishes 

 — there is no c|uestion as to the adeciuacy of artificial propaga- 

 tion in the restoration and future maintenance of the fisheries of 

 the Great Lakes. Such support has been denied ; resulting in a 

 steady decline in the productiveness of our fishes. That a remedy 

 for this should be inaugurated is imperative. Of the efficacy of a 

 closed spawning season as such remedy and as a means of re- 

 storation and the jireservation of inmiature specimens, it is prac- 

 tically nil. Xatu.re's methods of replenishment produce infinitesi- 

 mal residts. which are of no conse(|uence when opposed to the 

 enormous drain of connnercial fishermen. 



Young fishes, guided by instinct developed in them l)v suc- 

 cessive stages of gTowth, do not see spawning grounds while yet 

 immature, but instead, infest food producing ranges, where mid- 

 summer fishing with nnirderous. small-meshed pound nets, is re- 

 sponsible for the destruction of untold thousands of this class; 

 from this cause comes the blight upon propagatory efforts. That 

 fishermen have thus so ])ersistently wrought their own undoing 

 seems incredible. 



Instances may be cited where a closed period for the spawn- 

 ing function seems to have produced the good results claimed for 

 it. We will take, for example, the pronounced success of artificial 

 propagation of brook trout. Every one knows that wonders have 

 been accomplished in this direction, but to what success has been 

 due to closed spawning months is, perhaps, not so well known. 

 I cannot but believe that to other existing- conditions should be 

 attributed the accomplishment of a major portion of the good 

 effects in brook trout culture. That a closed time affects the 

 saving of adult fish, for the time being, there is no room for 

 doubt; but the infinitesimal results of natural propagation add 

 very little its ef^ciency as a means of restoration or support. On 

 the other hand, suppose conditions were such as O'btain on the 

 Great Lakes, that is. let the enforcement of six-inch limit regula- 

 tions be discontinued, permitting indiscriminate slaughter, re- 

 gardless of size. Let the open season extend from March ist to 

 September ist. Remove the embargo against the sale of brook 



