SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 225 



influencing the number of littoral fry by means of 

 liberating artificially batched cod larvae. 



An exact proof is, of course, impossible to give, as it 

 is impossible to follow and recognise the different 

 individuals during development. A circumstantial proof 

 or a calculation of possibilities is all we are able to 

 attain. And our opinion of the matter must be formed 

 on such judgment. 



As I have mentioned before, my investigations have 

 proved that the fiords themselves produce such quantities 

 of cod eggs and larvae that the numbers which we can 

 produce from the hatchery at a reasonable price are small 

 in proportion to the natural production. The liberated 

 larvae are distributed by the current and mixed with the 

 stock of fry belonging to far greater areas. In this way 

 its importance to the naturally existing fry is still further 

 lowered. Our investigations of the occurrence of the 

 littoral fry give a clear impression of this. As far as I 

 can see the present proofs all point to the conclusion, 

 that the natural laws and causes which determine the 

 growth and distribution of the cod fry along the coast 

 seem to be so powerful that the influence of the small 

 and limited numbers of larvae which we possess the 

 power of liberating, cannot be traced. Evidently these 

 larvae disappear as an insignificant and unrecognisable 

 part of the great mass of fry belonging to a larger area. 



