Dublin Natural History Society. 4219 



force to progression, while the muscular powers of the tail in some and of the pectoral 

 fins in others are admirably adapted to rapid movements of progression and of eleva- 

 tion. Fishes, of all vertebrated animals, are said to be the least sensitive of emotions 

 of pain or pleasure — their organs of sensation awaken no impressions — rigid in counte- 

 nance, and eyes almost immovable, and which no tears dim, nor eyelids protect, they 

 seem, with all their beauty of form and brilliancy of colour, mere automata in sensi- 

 bility, and mute as the silent depths they inhabit This in the fullest extent is not 

 strictly accurate, for they recognize the hand that feeds them, and follow apparently 

 with joy and sportive liveliness the movements of those who protect them.'' Mr. 

 Andrews then alluded to the great interest of the vivarium which some years since 

 had been formed and kept up by Mr. Bland, of Derriquin Castle, Kenmare Bay. In 

 an inlet, guarded by reefs of rocks in Sneem harbour, a strong barrier of stones had 

 been closely formed across the entrance, but through which every tide flowed and 

 ebbed, leaving a sufficiency of water within. In this, mullet, whiting, bream, soles, 

 and plaice succeeded best — haddock also did well, but gurnards became paler in 

 colour. Whiting became so tame as to feed out of the hand, and all assembled at the 

 feeding time at the appearance of the tray — all seemed fond of potatoes. This singu- 

 lar character is strikingly shown in the Natatores, particularly in the mergansers and 

 sheldrakes, birds whose formation of bill appears only adapted to feed on the shell- 

 fish and soft Mollusca, their habitual diet. When tamed or domesticated they 

 greedily eat potatoes, altogether rejecting the food of their wild habits. Many admira- 

 ble positions existed on the west coast for the formation of extensive marine store 

 ponds, and where turbot, soles, haddock, cod, and lobsters, could be securely stored and 

 made available in times of scarcity and boisterous weather. Under such circumstances 

 the artificial propagation of the turbot, the sole, and the cod-fish and haddock, could, 

 with the same results, be accomplished from the spawn, as the propagation of the ova 

 from the salmon or trout. 



The Chairman considered the subject brought forward was one of great value, not 

 alone to the scientific man, but in a practical and economical point of view. He would 

 confirm, with regard to the fisheries, how useful the formation of those store ponds 

 would be. At the island of Inishtrahull, about six miles from Malin Head, off the 

 coast of Deny, he had observed the islanders were prepared to bring fish to vessels 

 passing the island. The fishermen of that island had very fine whale-boats, which 

 were sheltered and drawn up in a sandy creek. In a store-pond, naturally formed in 

 the island, the fish taken by them, such as turbot and other prime fish, were deposited, 

 and they were always prepared to put fish on board the steamer passing from Sligo to 

 Glasgow, or to Liverpool. 



Mr. Ffennell, Commissioner of Fisheries, observed that the concluding part of 

 Mr. Andrews' statement was one of great importance, and as it bore upon the artificial 

 propagation of fish, he would take the opportunity of saying a few words as to what 

 was doing in the salmon fisheries of this country. He would first read a report that 

 had been made to the Commissioners of Irish Fisheries, by Mr. Buist, of Perth. 

 Operations were extensively carried on in December last in a small ford of the Tay, 

 under the direction of Mr. Ramsbottom, of Clitheroe, who has conducted very exten- 

 sive experiments in pisciculture, both in England and Ireland. The boxes for hatch- 

 ing are about 300 in number, which will contain upwards of 400,000 ova. In the 

 management of the experiments none of the ova are lost, and the old salmon are not 

 in the least hurt by the operation. Mr. Ramsbottom conducted the experiments for 



