MARINE BIOLOGICAL STATION AT PORT ERIN. 



137 



THE SEA-FISH HATCHERY. 



(Figs. XXXII.— XXXIV.). 



Although most of these little shore fishes described 

 above lay their eggs in spring under stones or in crevices 

 or on old shells in the sand, the majority of the fish we 

 eat from the sea (with the exception of the herring) 

 produce in enormous quantities eggs that are very minute 

 and transparent, and which float freely in the open sea. 



Fig. XXXII. — Interior of the Hatchery, showing the Hatching Boxes. 



These are known as " pelagic," and the eggs of Cod, 

 Haddock, Whiting and their relations, and of Sole, Plaice, 

 Flounder and other related flat fish are of this kind. It is 

 these pelagic eggs of our most important food fishes that 

 can be obtained in millions at the spawning season and 

 hatched artificially in sea-fish hatcheries, and so may be 

 kept and protected during the first few days or weeks of 



