The practical results are at least perfectly clear. They show 
that, if an attempt is to be made to cope with the effects of over- 
fishing by dealing with the ripe ova of fish when caught, the work 
must be done at sea with ova and milt as fresh and as ripe as 
possible. The results which could he got from the exceptional cases 
of fish recently caught and brought into market in a living 
condition would he far too small in proportion to the total number 
to warrant advocating dealing with them in hatcheries. As we 
have pointed out before, if the fish caught at sea are to be utilized 
for artificial fertilization, there is no need for bringing them to a 
hatchery. We believe also that much more work could be accom- 
plished by returning tho fertilized ova directly to the water. 
In my report for 1898, in reviewing the problem, 1 was hopeful 
that if it were proved that the market lish might be utilized in 
this way the fishermen “ would facilitate the work by saving such 
fish as would be useful for the purpose.” And I added — “It would 
not be necessary, of course, if responsible men were appointed to 
visit the important fishing grounds during the spawning months, 
for the purpose of stripping the ripe fish, artificially fertilizing the 
eggs, and returning the products to the sea.” 
We thus had the opinion that men should be trained, and sent 
out during the spawning season to the fishing grounds, there to 
visit the trawling and other boats, or to be sent out with these 
boats to fertilize the ova and return it to the sea. Such a scheme, 
however, would perhaps be too complicated, too expensive, un- 
controllable and irksome to fishermen and owners alike. 
While the experiments were in progress, we were favoured with 
a visit from Mr. C. E. Fryer, II. M. Inspector of Fisheries ; and the 
opportunity was taken to bring about a meeting with the North 
Shields Fish Merchants and Owners of Trawlers, for the purpose 
of discussing the question. This meeting took place on 27th March. 
The company met at the Laboratory to see such of the above experi- 
ments as were in progress, and immediately afterwards, by the 
invitation of Mr. Dent, Vice-Chairman of the Northumberland Sea 
Fisheries Committee, in the Grand Hotel, Tynemouth. 
The discussion for the most part was directed to considering 
how best the work could be carried on at sea. Mr. Fryer pointed 
out that an effort is being made in Devon to get the fishermen to 
undertake it for themselves, and strongly advocated that a similar 
effort should be made here. In the report previously referred to, I 
stated that 1 did not anticipate much could be expected from 
