REPOPULATION 133 



released weighed 14 to 16 and 17 ounces, or an increase 

 of 330 to 360 per cent." Supposing that a similar experi- 

 ment were carried out with like success with 1,000,000 

 individuals, Mr. Garstang arrives at the following con- 

 clusions : " Supposing the transplantation were made in 

 April and May, the following figures would hold good : 

 the spring fisheries would at once destroy a fourth of 

 the contingent without any profit ; from June to Septem- 

 ber 90,000 plaice would be taken (12 per cent), weighing 

 130 cwt., at 263. per cwt., the total value being 172 ; 

 between October and February 105,600 plaice would be 

 taken (16 per cent), weighing 20 tons, at 515. 3d. per cwt., 

 or of a total value of ^992. Thus the operation would 

 give a gross profit of ^1,164 a sum very greatly in 

 excess of the cost of the experiment and would leave in 

 the North Sea 554,000 plaice, which would then be worth 

 at least -4,800. Supposing the transplantation were 

 effected in June, after the spring catches, the waste of 

 these latter would be avoided ; the operation would then 

 yield a gross profit of some ^1,360, leaving in the North 

 Sea 740,000 plaice, which would be worth at least ^6,000." 

 I need not remark that the quantity of fish capable of 

 being transplanted upon any particular ground would be 

 limited by the conditions of the struggle for life. This 

 is a problem for the oceanographers ; but it is already 

 obvious that those desiring to transplant any species 

 should go to the overstocked nursery grounds, where the 

 struggle for existence is most intense. The operation of 

 transplantation will then be equally beneficial to the 

 nursery and to the ground to which the fish are trans- 

 ported ; to which the superfluity of life which was 

 formerly a factor of destruction will bring fertility and 

 wealth. The fisherman will lose nothing. It is some- 

 times necessary to protect fish against themselves. 



