2 G 
than once. Moreover, fish in the egg condition are as safe as fish can 
be from enemies. The fry which are poured back into the sea after 
being hatched artificially are just acquiring the colour and move- 
ments which make them objects of attraction to many an enemy. 
In the hatchery we preserve them during a time they do not require 
it, and launch them into the sea at a time that they do. 
If this manner of hatching is open to criticism, — and we are not 
in a position yet to say much for it or against it, — still more so is 
the method of catching the fish, stripping them, fertilizing the ova, 
and sending them often a considerable distance to a hatchery. The 
fish in the first place could have managed the business better where 
they were, if they had been allowed to do so, and in the second place 
where is the sense in retaining the fertilized ova and sending them 
to a hatchery when the very best hatchery possible is just over the 
side of the boat, and that is where the fertilized ova should be poured 
in such an instance. 
From my experience of life on board a trawler I am quite 
convinced that it is hopeless to think for a moment of the skipper or 
other men doing this, however much they may be assured that it 
would be to their ultimate benefit. They are on the fishing ground 
for one purpose only, and that is to catch fish. They do not concern 
themselves, nor indeed have they the time to concern themselves, 
about the years to come, nor even the next voyage for that matter. 
The same might be said of his less fortunate brother the line 
fisherman. 
I have thought then that if only a proportion of the ova that are 
wasted every spawning season could be saved when it reaches the 
market that a hatchery devoted to this work would be a very useful 
institution. There are some considerations to be taken into account, 
however, before it can be seriously advised. 
(1) Could a sufficiency of ova be obtained to make it worth while? 
I think the answer to that might easily be — yes. But (2) must the fish 
be absolutely living to prevent a great mortality? This is the ques- 
tion I want particularly to give a definite answer to. It has been 
shown in America that fish kept too long in the net, — that is for a day 
or two, and are therefore mostly dead, — give ova which do not develope 
satisfactorily. And it is to be feared that we may find the limits too 
exacting for the purpose we have in view. 1 am hopeful, however, 
if it were once established, that fresh fish brought into market may 
be stripped and the ova converted into living fish again, and if an 
