. hiicriiiiii /■'islirrirs Society. 49 



version, by protecting the germs during the germ period, con- 

 stitutes what is known as artiticial propagation — an artificial 

 gain that repays both artificial and natural losses. 



And what, it might be asked, has all this to do with laws 

 that prohibit fishing during the spawning season? Of course, 

 this cjuestion will not be asked by those who can read words 

 of two and three letters in a fish-cultural primer, for the deduc- 

 tions are obvious, and the application of the general principles 

 laid down, clear and unmistakable. 



But right here I wish to digress for a moment and register 

 a vigorous protest, make an emphatic kick, against the further 

 use of the term "artificial propagation," as applied to this 

 method of producing fish. While technically correct, its use 

 is undoubtedly responsible for most of the unwarranted preju- 

 dice that exists against this plan of reproduction. To the unin- 

 formed the word "artificial" is associated with something wholly 

 at variance with the natural ; it suggests the idea that the fish 

 produced in this way are an unnatural substitute, something in- 

 ferior to, or different from the strictly wild or uncultivated pro- 

 duct. 



As a matter of fact, there is no more artificiality in the so- 

 called artificial propagation of fish than in a thousand and one 

 other forms of human activity or intervention, or in all forms 

 of production in which the hand and brain of man are a factor 

 in influencing or shaping results. For example, we might, with 

 e(|ual propriety, refer to the ordinary method of raising wheat 

 as the "artificial propagation of wheat" and it would be techni- 

 cally correct to do so. 



In tiie popular mind, fish-culture has too long been discred- 

 ited and regarded with suspicion through the pernicious influ- 

 ence of this world. We should drop it. throw it off as an incu- 

 bus, an old man of the sea, that the popular mind may be unde- 

 ceived and freed from error and prejudice. I earnestly urge all 

 fisli-cnlturists to Ijlacklist it. to strike it from their fish-cultural 

 vocabulary. For myself. T have issued a declaration of inde- 

 pendence, turned over a new leaf, sworn ofif. From now on 

 protected ])ropogation is the motto inscribed on my fish-cultural 

 banner. 



And now let us return to our fish-cultural kindergarten for 

 a while and try to learn that two and two make four. 



In order to propagate fish by protecting their ova. the adult^^ 

 miist be caught by fishing in public or private waters dining 

 their spawning season. If exposure of the ova in nature's wilds 



