82 THE SEA FISHERIES 



exactness the relative destruction that takes place in the egg stage 

 and in the larval stage, or in the later stages." 



" It would be of value in this connection if a large body of accurate 

 information existed to show the relative proportions of the eggs, 

 larvae and post-larvae of the food-fishes existing under natural 

 conditions in the sea." 



Sea fish hatching is attended with difficulties not present in the 

 case of fresh water or anadromous species. No one doubts that in 

 areas of water under more or less complete control, piscicultural 

 operations may be beneficial and profitable. Carp and oyster 

 culture are instances. But where the areas are extensive, as m the 

 open sea or the great lakes of North America, or where rivers are 

 concerned, as in the culture of salmon, the conditions cannot be 

 controlled, and indisputable evidence of success is most difficult 

 to obtain. An increase following hatching operations may be due to 

 natural causes or even to other kinds of artificial interference such 

 as fishery regulations. 



In spite of the absence of definite statistical evidence of the 

 success of fish hatcheries it is to be noted that certain fishery 

 authorities are extending their operations in this direction from year 

 to year. A notable instance is that of the United States of America, 

 to whose work reference is made in the last chapter. Although a 

 large part of the fish culture of the United States is devoted to 

 fresh water and anadromous forms, the Commissioner of Fisheries 

 is evidently not discouraged with the results of their marine work. 

 In a recent report^ he says, with reference to the marine species, 

 " Unusual numbers of cod are reported all along the coast, and 

 surprising catches have been made on inshore grounds. In spite of 

 the growing scarcity of adult lobsters and the ruthless destruction 

 of young and eggs during the last ten years, fishermen on the New 

 England coast have been findbg in their traps many more young 

 lobsters than formerly ; flat-fish are much more numerous, especially 

 small flat-fish, in the shallow waters along shore." 



In Canada, Professor Prince,^ the Commissioner and General 

 Inspector of Fisheries for the Dominion, reports, " Public opinion 

 is indeed favourable in the highest degree to the expansion of 

 artificial fish breeding in its various branches, and the Federal 

 Government has not been slow to recognise the desirability of 

 extending hatching operations." 



It is only fair to mention that in the United States and Norway the 

 fishermen in the neighbourhood where the fry have been liberated 



» " Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries " for the Fiscal year ending 30th 

 June, 1906, p. 5. 



2 40th Annual Report 0} the Department oj Marine and Fisheries, 1907, p. 232- 



