REID NATURAL HISTORY AND THE FISHERIES. 131 



Thus of the seven hundred and seventy-four species constituting 

 the Nova Scotian flora, two hundred and forty-nine, or nearly one- 

 third of the whole are common to it and the Coloradian flora. 

 These are collected into one hundred and eighty-three genera, or 

 one-half that of Nova Scotia. 



Comparing these species by their divisions, we find the closest 

 alliance between the flor-exists in the Exogens and Endogens, of 

 which considerably over one-third of each division is fonnd. Of 

 the Acrogenous less than one-fourth are present ; of the Thallogen- 

 ous a little less than one-eight ; this, however, may be owing to 

 deficiency in our collection of Thallogens. 



Art. III. — Natural History and the Fisheries. By A. P. 

 Eeid, M. D., &c. 



(Read before the Institute Jan. 10, 1876.) 



In this Province we have as a people been always so engaged in 

 efforts that tend directly to increase pecuniary gain, that any study 

 or pursuit that did not very clearly point in this direction got quiet- 

 ly shelved, unless by the few, who had an ardent desire to become 

 acquainted with the operations of nature which surround us ; and 

 this is the more to be deplored since all our industries are so closely 

 connected with what is revealed by the study of Natural Science. 



The products of the sea are our main source of wealth, and yet 

 how very very few, have the slightest scientific knowledge of Marine 

 Fauna. The practical man says what use is it, will it teach how 

 to catch cure or sell the fish any better than we now do by following 

 the old rule of thumb, whose maxims are the result of lengthened 

 experience? As to the sale it is of course regulated by the demand, 

 the method of curing a matter of taste, convenience and demand, 

 but as to the catch it is quite a different thing. 



In this a knowledge of the life history of the different species of 

 fish, would not only lend more certainty to the present pursuit, but 

 also continue in coming years an undiminished abundance of this 

 our prime necessity.. 



