104 
wholesale capture, whether fixed or floating, in land or 
off shore waters within three miles of the coast. Only 
by the removal of all opportunity of individual enrich-. 
ment at its expense can the community adequately 
protect itself, and the administration of its resources 
must therefore be in its own hands. With the careful 
and provident conduct of our fisheries, by intelligent 
and responsible agents, supply will be better adapted 
to demand, the terrible destruction of immature fish 
will cease, and a sufficiency of spawners be permitted 
access to their breeding places. No longer controlled 
by the ignorant and reckless, thoughtful observation 
will constantly tend to a wiser and more judicious 
cultivation and to the ultimate adoption of methods of 
scientific intercrossing and breeding. 
Sustained by as keen an observation and discrimin- 
ation of varieties of developement, and with the 
possession of the requisite means and appliances, the 
successful breeding of fish ought to be of speedier 
accomplishment than has been that of our domestic 
animals. For the greater fecundity of fish gives a far 
larger range of selection, and their early maturity a more 
frequent means of its exercise. These advantages may 
possibly be offset by deficient opportunity of observa- 
tion and comparison that fish afford even in confine- 
ment. But with due facilities, there can be no question 
as to the attainment of results amply justifying 
whatever of time, labor or care the effort may involve. 
Among the ancient Romans the breeding of fish was 
a pastime as well as a useful occupation, and with the 
wealthy a costly indulgence, initiated at an equivalent 
of hundreds of thousands of dollars of our money. 
Their vivaria were a great advance upon the piscina 
or ordinary fish ponds, being walled with marble tiles, 

III. The Inca system of state ownership and administration of useful fere@ nature 
seems with due modification to be the only one adapted to the proper conservation of 
our fisheries. 
