SEA FISHERIES LABORATORY. 131 
following sentence expressing the opinion of the Fishery 
Board for Scotland :—* “ From this review of contempor- 
ary Sea Fisheries in other countries it appears that there 
is a general complaint as to the diminution of fish in the 
inshore waters; that measures for the prohibition of the 
landing or sale of immature fish have been adopted or are 
being considered in many countries; that the artificial 
propagation of sea fish is now being prosecuted with vigour 
by the fishery departments of several states; and that 
scientific investigations into the fisheries, by means of 
surveying expeditions, marine laboratories, &c., are being 
ereatly developed and extended.”’ 
HDIBLE CRUSTACEA—THE SHRIMP. 
The only edible Crustacea which are at present of 
economic importance from the fishery point of view in 
this district are the Shrimp (Crangon vulgaris), the 
Prawn, (Palemon serratus), and the Shank (Pandalus 
annulicornis); but if a hatchery were established at Port 
Erin, it would probably be worth while to hatch and rear 
there in the rocky creeks, the Lobster (Homarus vulgaris), 
Crab (Cancer pagurus), and the Norway Lobster (Nephrops 
norvegicus), which latter is abundant in that neighbour- 
hood. 
The Prawn, with which the usually much more abun- 
dant Shank is commonly confused by the fishermen, has 
not yet been the subject of any special work in the 
laboratory; but Shrimps have been largely investigated 
during the summer and autumn both in regard to their food 
and their reproduction. ‘To take the food question first, 
the most varied opinions are current amongst the shrimp- 
ers as to what Shrimps feed upon (see L. M. B. C. Reports 
No. 4, p. 32, and No. 5, p. 24); but the result of our 
*See their Report vol. X-, p. 21. 
