ABSTRACTION OF OVA FROM A PISfiERY. 2l)9 



CHAPTEE XII, 



DOES THE ABSTRACTION OF OVA FROM A FISHERY 

 INJURE IT? 



Before closing our consideration of the fresh-water 

 fisheries, I find it necessary to add a short chapter for 

 the purpose of comhatting an erroneous notion which 

 is Kkely to interfere with the working of artificial 

 fish-breeding if it be not removed. On applying to 

 many gentlemen for permission to take spawn from 

 their waters, there is often a prevailing belief in their 

 minds, and stOl more so in those of their keepers, 

 that the abstraction of the ova is a serious loss to 

 their fishery, and that the disturbance of the fish at 

 spawning time is injurious to their interests ; whereas 

 I am fuUy convinced that nothing can be further 

 from the actual facts than these conclusions. First, 

 I wiU supply instances to show that the process 

 is not at all injurious, but the reverse ; and then 

 I will endeavour to explain the reasons why this is 

 so. Mr. Samuel Gurney, M.P., has for many years 

 been following up the subject of pisciculture. He 



