SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY:- 351 



' "'.At "the close of the hatching season, in May, the 

 pond was drained to within 18 inches of the bottom, and 

 all adult plaice found in the smaller Western portion were 

 transferred to the larger portion nearest the hatchery, 

 in preparation for the reception of a stock of adult soles. 



" During this operation, it was discovered that eight 

 of the adult fish had died since the pond was last drained, 

 at the end of September, 1904, leaving a total of 319 

 healthy fish. It was also found that a large number of 

 the young fish hatched during the season of 1904, which 

 had been left to undergo their metamorphosis in the pond, 

 were still present, and evidently thriving. Thirty-one of 

 these were taken at random, and were found, on measure- 

 ment, to range from 2\ to b\ inches in length ; but, while 

 the pond was being re-filled, a few others of the same 

 generation were seen which were certainly larger than the 

 largest measured. 



" It is evident from these observations (1) that the 

 artificially hatched fry are perfectly healthy, and capable 

 of continued life and growth ; and (2) that the young fish 

 which have undergone their metamorphosis in the pond 

 have found there healthy conditions and abundance of 

 their natural food. 



" In accordance with an intention of extending, so far 

 as is possible, the hatching operations to other suitable 

 fish, steps have been taken to commence, on an experi- 

 mental scale, with the black, or true English, sole (Solea 

 vulgaris), which spawns rather later in the summer than 

 the plaice. Forty-six adult soles were brought by the 

 s.s. " John Fell " on May 31st, and are now confined in the 

 western portion of the pond. A number of these are 

 spawners, and although it is now getting late in the 

 season, it is hoped that sufficient fertilized eggs for our 

 purpose may still be obtained. It is proposed, unless some 



