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Cj)

Suppkment No. r to the SQth Annual Report of the Depaitment of
Marine and Fis/ien'es, Fisheries Branch.

SPECIAL REPORTS

ON

I.—

II.
III.

Natural History of the Lobster, with special reference
to the Canadian Lobster Industry

-A concise account of Fishes' Eggs

-The place of Carp in Fish Culture

FIY

'^mY. Edwrrd

H

D

COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES FOR CffiNSDS.

:o: —

1X96.
Pkinikp 1!y OunRK of Paiu.iamrnt.

■ . ■ OTTAWA:

- , ' ' '-

,^', • _,- , G.OVKRNMENT PlUNTlNC BUREAU.

'•'• ':■']■ '- ^ 1897.

H

■i- , •:

*w

LP)

i

?\

fo^/C

w.

CONTENTS.

/. — Li/e Ilisfori/ of Ihe Loisfi'v, ifith spucial ri'/erence to Ihf Canadian Lubstfr Imhistry.

Aljundivnci' of Lohsti rs foiiiuTly

CauseH of (lopletion

I )iicrfii.s(' ill otiicr coiintrii's

lUiiiiiiislifil M/.i' of tlic lolwter

J)iiiiiiuiti»n of siiiijily in rot'ent yeurs . . . .

J)iHCa,i(i.s of till' lobsters

DiHtrilmtioii of lobnters in (1cm|i water, . . .
Eg(f8, cleava({t of

do deposition of

do nunilier of, carried hy s|iawiiei'K. . . .

do the embryo within

do waste of

Kneiiiies of the lobster

Female lobsters, features of

do ovaries of

Fertility, compared « itli other fishes

FishiiKj 'i(i.:eltf, New York

Food and growcli

FiiUarton, Dr

Habits of the lobster

Ilatcliiiit^ period

do artificial, in Canada

Herrick, Prof

Honeyman, I )r

Introduction

Increased amount of lobster gear

do viiliie of lobster

Large sized lobster caught recently

Larva swimming to the liottom of the sea.

Larval life, its seven stages

Larval lobsters rarely caught at sea

Liv(> lob.sters, shipping of

Male, spermaries of the

Maturity and growth of the lobster

Mcintosh. I'rof. St. Andrews, Scotland

Pairing pn x'ess

Protection, necessity of

Range of the lobster (geograjihical)

Sara, I'rof

1, 5, H, 10,

Slielling or moulting

Sliell, structure of

Shipping of the live lolwter. .

Spawning, annual

do theory of biennial .

1

2
3
3
2

13
3
7
6

11
7

11

13
5
<i

11

3, 15

4

12

3

7

8

11, 12

10
1
3
2

11

10

!)

10

U

G

11

13

7

15

2

9

5

4

14

12

12

iv

MARINE AND FISHKNItJS.

11. —A Concise Account n/ Fishi-n' Kf/(jK.

AdheHJvf t'trgH, ilitiiuult to Itutcli.

AtlKllT, HCC (}(XiHt«tiHh.

Aiichiivy'H t'KKH . . . ,

Klauk Ihimh

CtttHnh

Cui>elin

Cntiu, Dr. (((uotnd),
C(k1

Colimr of eg(fn.

Dt'iiiurHal or non-Hoatinp; fiHh I'^ifx.

1 )or('

Flouting fi«li i'g(?8

''iiHport'au

T'aiik.
11)

92

24, 2(i
2A
23
1)1
21
2()

ll<H>H<(fi«h

(ioiiraiiii, Chinese.
Hake

21,

Holt, C. F

Ignorance regarding fiNh-spawn.

IntriHliietion

Mcintosh, Prof. W. C

Non-Hoating rggs.

I'l'lagic or Houting I'ggn

I'(tniiunt, Thiw

Perch

I'layfair, Lord

I'ickerel or pike-jierch.

Ryder, J. A

Salmon eggH. . .

.Saiid-laiiiioe

IH,

Slieli of fish eggH. .

.Sknlpin

Smelt

Structiu'e of eggw.
StriiM'd liasK. ...

Tomi-cikI

Trout

Vivipiirous ti.sheH.

Whitetish

Yolk of tisli eggs.

20
23

22,26
27
21
24

17, 1«
17
I!)
22
2U
1!»
25

17, IS
2;i

•j:<, 2ri

'2*2
2H
20
21
25
20

2a

24
22
28
22
20

HI.— The Place <>f Carp in Fis/i Cn/lnr,'.

Carp culture 2'.l

do ciiief characteristics 30, 33

Carp as a table tish 31

( Jcrman Carp, its introduction in American waters 2!(

not dtisirable in Canadian waters 2}t, 33

its rapid growth

its natural food

its value on Canadian markets

its diseases

Nevada Fish Commission, re Carp

New Jersey do do

Now York do do

Ohio do do . .

do
do
do
do
do

30
33
34
35
34
31
33
31

?0>cj^

I'aiik.
1«

22

. . . 24, 26

26

28

10
21
2()
22
23
90
23
Jl, 22, 25
27
21
24
. . 17, IK
17
1!»
22
20
10
2.5
. 17, 18

2a
*, L'a, 2r.

22
L'.'t
2(1

20
28
24
22

28
22
20

2!l

30. SH

31

2!»

2!t, ;w

30
33
34
35
34
31
33
31

I.

XOTF.?^ OX THI-: NATURAL IflSTOUY OF THF LonsTER,

WITH .spi<:(MAL rffi<:kk\(;[<: to Tm<: cAXADrAX

LOnSTKli INDUSTRY.

J'.v l'i!uri;s.soii I-^uwaiui H. I'liiNci:, Chmmishionku anh (.ii;Ni;uAi. Inspkctoh of

FisiiKUii:.s KMi: Cwaha.

I iilrndiK'lori/,

Thifo ywirs ap) ill my llrst it-port us D(tiiiiiii<iii Cnimnissidiun- ut' Fi.slu>iit's, which
J submitted to the Ministor of Marine and Fisheries, 1 \ oiitmvd to say that '• of all
the valuable inliuljitants of our inshore waters there is not one idxiut wiiich we liave so
little reliable information as the lobster A thorough research upon its habits, propaga-
tion, life-liistory and migrations, would lie of the utmost \iilue, and would afford a ba'sis
for wise legislation."

."<ince then certain scientitlc investigators, imtably I'lotessor Iferrick, of Adelbert
College, U.S., have iiiad(! advances in the direction indicated, but much remuiiis, to be
done Ijefore it can be said that the natural history of the lobster has been satisfactorily
outlined. Amongst Hshermen, lobster packers and others interested in the lobster
lisheries a desire has arisen for information about the habits and life-historv of the
lobster, and to supply this desire tlu^ following account, divested of scieiitiilc technicali-
ties, has been piepared.

A large amount of the injury done in the past, and now being done by parties
engaged in lobster Hshing and packing is due to lack of knowledge. "Many points yet
remain to lie ascertained regarding tlie lobster; but a summary of existing knowledge
on the suliject cannot fail to be of pi-actical \alue.

Iitcredible abuiiddiic q/ (obMfcrx j'ai'mer/

!/■

The Atl.mtic shores of Canada are perhaps the most remarkable lobster grounds in
the world. Their extent and the abundant supplies of lobsters which, iluring the last
twenty-Hvo years they have produced, are not to be paralleled elsewlier(>. Not many
years ago it was no uncommon spectacle to see, after a storm, miles of the shore strewn
between tide-marks with lobsters. In some localities in New Brunswick and <Juebec
lobsters in wintl-rows four or live feet high were cast ujj by the waves and left stranded
and flead along considerable lengths of the coast. As many as one thousand dead
lobsters have been counted along two rods of shore and in some years, as in 1873, the
destruction of lobsters in this way, especially along the Shippegan shore. Cloucester
county, New Brunswick, was memorable.

Lobsters were .so common that their value was not appreciated. Not only so, but
extremely erroneous views prevailed as to the inexhaustibility of the Canadian lobster
supply, and the peculiarities of the lobster's habits, migrations and distribution. It is only
very recently that the possibility of the depletion of these crustaceans was realized by
the fishing population and packers.

116—1

2 .\r.\iiiyE AM) risHEXiES.

D'nn'mixfiinij nn/t/i/i/ m rfrni/ i/ittrn.

AiM'iiiiiifnt rnitfd Stiilf's iiul'ioi'ity in iffmciioo tn ilif Nfu l]iii.'l,iii(l lulisfci' in
dustry iiMii.u'kH ; -

" TIk' stiitciiicnt that the lolisti r lisliciy mice oiri'lcil mi fvlciisivrly aluM;; llir New
En;,'l)in(l cniist, Iwih uiiuiit Ih'coimc u tliinj; nf tlic |mst, ami lliai tlir >at«li licic is now
Bciiivt'ly sutlititMit to NU|ij)ly unc liUli <>t' tii(i dcniand of lloston iiloiif tor tiiis erustnct'an,
jnav well iic asidii diMnav anioni,' llif invci's of mw (if <iui' ninst dfliciiaH anil iinpiilac fund
Kiiccialit it's, a-i w I'll as uniiiii;,' tlinsc wlm for'iiicily derived linndxiine reiuriiN hum tlie
pursuit of tlio lolwtef lisiiin); industry on our coast, 'I'liere seenin to he nu doulit that
tlio exiiuuMtion of the loliNter supply is thu' to the j^'reodiness of the lohsternien who hav«»
le\ ied exeessive drafts (in llieir resourt'e.s without ^'iving due lieed to the work of M'jilen-
isliih!,' them. This state of tilings demonstrates anew the impurtance (if the pidtectiim
of our lisheries l>y le;;al ((naetineiits and tiie ri;(id enfoicemeiit of sueli le;j;islation.'

The Dopiirtmcnt of Marine and Fislieriea, realizing tlie great and increasing value
of the liilister lisheries of Canada, attt^mpted with more di' less success tn prc-eive them
from injury and extinction, it may lie that various circumstances lia\t' interfered «ilh
a strict and fair enforcement of the protective re;;ulati(ins framed ; liiit it is geneially
admitted that our hihster tishery might have ali'cady succumheil. had no legal restric-
tion existed.

/ili'i'iUSfd lUt/lir III lolisli rs.

Sweden 200 years ago enacted laws to protect its Uilister lisheries, the earliest lolis
tei regulations lieing enacted in HiSCi, and th(^ Scandina\ ian lohster supply ha> outlastevl
that of all other lOiMnpean countries. .Many considerations might lie (ulduced to show
thai, uidess ov(irlisliing and illegal capture be prevented, the lohster mu^t inevitably
become extinct in (panada as it has become practically in niany other counti'ies.
],obsters lU'e admittedly becoming more aiul inoic si'arce, while the demand and the
nuirlsct price continue to increase. A live lobster of 11 inches in length which ten years
ago could not be sold foi' more than 1 or 2 cents will bring to the li^^hermen. especially
early in the yeai' Id to L'U cents. A case of lanned lobsters uhicli sold in l.^S? for v^-l
or So, can now readily be sokl toi- •S''^ or .*3»9.

CauHfs of ill jili'iian.

Among other reast)ns woi'ihy of .nention are it- limited geographical range, its
extremely local habits and migrations, its perils when shelling, the danucrs that threaten
the lolister's egg,s, atui tlu; delicate character of the young fry for many monilis of theii-
life, 'J'he enemies of tin; lobster are legion, and man adds inlinitely to its dangers by
spreading baited tr'ajis o\'ei' the giounds which it haunts when it comes in from deeper
water to hatch its young. Th(! principal fishing s(Nison covers the \ery months when
the parents are liatching out their broods of fry.

Geograpliicul ridi;/!- of llir lohntfr.

The lob.ster is an inshore creature and does not wander far out to sea. Its
geograjihical range along the Atlantic shore is very limited, as lui lobsters are found
north of Chateau Bay in Labrador or south of Delaware Breakwater, A specimen is
recorded as far south as Cape Hatteras, N.C., as taken by the Uiuted States Fish
Commission Steamer "Albatross" in 1884, and this appears to be the most southerly
rec(jrd of its occurrence. The vast waters off Korthern Labrador, Hudson's Bay and
the Arctic circle appear to be destitute of this valuable crustacean, nor do the prolific
shores of British Columbia yield any lobsters. Each particular bay or inshore area
within the range above referred to may be said to ha\e its own local supply of lobstei's.
Such localities, when once cleaned out, are not replenished in the way they would be, did
schools of lobsters constantly move over extensive areas. Certain bfiys could be named
which once abounded with lobsters, but rt?ckless and illegal fishing cleaned them out and
lobsters from the localities have not migrated in to take their ^acant place

i

y.lTL'h-AL nisrnitY nr THE /.oiiSTL'h

lolistcr in

ig llif Now

licit' is niiw
ciiistaccaii,
iijiiiliu' t'lHid
s finlii (lio
(loulit tliat
11 wliii Imvo
U (it M'|)l('n-
> protertioii
iliitii."
'UNiiiy \alin'
'-(•i'v«- llicin
irfiTcd willi
is jioiiciiilly
i'L:al rt'^trii.'-

arlit'st iolis-
as Dutlastc'vl
CI"! to sliow
t, iiu'vitaljiy
r cduntiies.
nd and tlio
■li ten years
1. cspcciailv
1SS7 tWs4

\\ iiuim>, its

lat tlircaleu

i( lis (if tlifir

daiigcis liy

iciiii dceiicr

inlli> w'lcn

(I sea. Its
■; are found
siiec'init'ii is
States Fish
^t soutlierly
n's J5ay and

the piohtic
nshtire area

of lobsters,
ould be, did
d be named
leni out and

Dfi'l'fOXt' III nfhi't' con iifi'ifn,

Tn Kni^land, Scotland and Ireland an well as idoii;:; the .\tlantic imist of ilir I'liiti'd
States uroiinds have been o\er(islied, which were once piolificund \aluai)lc, and the lolister
fishcricN in those areas ha\e piactically ceased. The N'cw ^'oik Fisliiinj ti'i'if/,,
I'chi'iiary -ti, \s'M, si:;nilic,intly pidiii^lics tic followin;; imiination : —

" It. is believed that there will be no lobsters packed on thi' coast of .M iine diiriiiu
the coming seamin. The principal paekiiitr will lie done in the Ihitish Provinces."

Tn the Doniinioii of Canaila tlicie icmaiiis i lie last i.'reat lobstei' lislicry of the world,
antl it is not too nnich to say that this lishery has reached a ciilical staj;e,

Sum// si'.i' nf /i>/inti rs in t/:r mil r/>its.

The si;,ns f)f exhaustion are unmistakable. Small immature lobsters, 'i to N or '.I
inches long, which a few years iv^d wer(< rejected with contempt arc now ea^jerly taken,
and form in some disi ricts the staple .iiticle upon which the lobster canneries depend,
Instead of two or three lobster- siitlicinj{ to till a I lb. can, not less than li\e, six, seven
or even ten lobster.s are now reipdted.

Ten vears au'o the average si/e of lobsters was of |(l ini'hes CI lbs, weight), uhile
tiiirty yi'ars aj,M an old lisherman has tcstilied that 1.'! inches (.'U Ibs.^ was ihe avera^'e.

/ ni'i'iiisi// iiiniiii lit ii/ /d/is/'i' i/iiir.

In order to kee]i up the catch each season the <|uantity of i,'car is bciii!.' increased
V(!ur by year all around the coast. Yet the averaj,'e number of lobsters taken per tr,i)i
has been steadily diminishin;,'.

A prominent packer in I'rince Ivlward Island ]uililicly stated that in .m certain
canncrv with which he was ac(|uaintt'd, the number of cans packed as compared with the
number of trap^ llshcd from that factory showe<l tliis slartlini,' decrease :- diiriim a
period of six seasons at that factory the avera;.'e number of I lb cans to each trap ti-lied
was in LSitl, 24 : in IH!C2 it was 10;,' ; in lW.'> it was I .". i ; in |S!t| it was 1-_M ; in IMt."
it was 7'}. and in ISDIl it was oA.

'{"lie ea|itui(' and packing; of lobsters inferior in size and (pialily cannot continue,
and the taking of " beriied '' females and even soft sliellllobsters indicates the ilesperatci
ell'orts now beiiiK made to keep up the ag;,'re;j;ate puck. In prolitic inslioie waters such
as those of Newfoundland tlie.se strenuous attempts are viewed with the ;,'ravest fears by
those (|ualiried, bv knowlcdye and business ex)ierieiicc to judi;e. The best auihorilv on
United States tishini,' matters made a few weeks a^o this aniiounceinent : —

Newfoundland lobster-packers propose to enter into the packins.; of this lish more
lari;elv than ever the coming season, and many nc" men uill operate small factories in
v.irious jiarts of the island. Tiiis, in view of the faci that the ground ail jibout the
islaiifl is being ovei'tished, would indicatt; that unless sonic restrictions other than those
now in force arc placed upon the tishery, tlie lobster in Newfoundland will scon be
extinct.

Loca/ '/if/i'i/'H/loii of /o/ifti rn.

I'ishernion have discovered that lobsters can be caught in deeper water than was
formerly fished : but their occurrence in deeper water merely shows that the lobsters
when they forsake the insliore shallow areas resort to these greater depths. Instead of
moving, as many still think, over great portions of the coMst, the lobsters, as the fact
stated shows, migrate from deeper water into shallower ami back again. No doubt the
great schools puss the winter at depths of 10 or 50 fathoms ; but during the warm sum-
mer months they move into shallow water, - to 10 fathoms, vvIkm'c the females ripen
their eggs and liatch them out.

Habits of /obster.

When moving at leisure the lobster walks nimbly along on the tips of its toes
holding its nipping claws slightly raised in front, waving its long feelers aloft, while the
116— 1 J

MAI.lXi: .I.V/> Fl^HhniES.

HliDi't. stciiiul |iiiii' in lii'lil <«iriii^li( ti) till' t'tuiii like li^iil l)iiyi>ri. *>, atid (iiriiiii^its |ii'iittiul>
iwit Hlalkcil t'yrs in <'M-iy ilire( tiuii. Tlic nil is Iii>|i| siiii'ini out ln-liiiul sn iis not tutoiioli
th() gi'xiiiiil.

WId'ii iiliii'iiH iI of ill (liiii^)'i' iiisti-iiij lit' |ii'iii'iM'(liiit; tiiiwiiiil, ii swiiim lMickwai'<l Ity
till' I'uiiviil -is !• anil |iii\vi'i'liil •-ii'iiUi'-- ni its hiil. It .sliiMits iilurit; Jit f lit- luli'iit' i wi'iily IIm-
(»r tliiiiy fi'i'i [icr -(•(•(iiul ; liiii i'a|iiil ■twiiniiiin;; is sd fxliniistin^ in ilir Inlisirf lliiit it is
liliysii'iilly uh'iIjI*' ti» cdiitiniif this viitlciii iiit>tli(i(l nlf |M'ii(,'reH>*ii»n vrry Imiu- .Mdivkvit,
wlmii swiiiiiniik^ ' liti InlisitM' I'lintint sci- whcri' it is ui'iiiu' ; it niily sim's tjic diuiKtM' fVnm
wliiiint i- llrciii;; ; luit ulisi'tsi'is Imvt* tiuti'ij with iiHtniii^iinii'iit Imw uci-iitiiti'ly it ilin'i ts
its niiii'tit>. A lnlisit'i, it is said, will at tiiiii'M ImhiihI tail tui'i'iiKiNl nut nt' ilii- iiiiriow

(•nttaiit t' a li)l),sti'rti'ii|) in which it liuds itself iniilini'd. Thf M-fV yniiiiK lolistcf usi'm

its t'l'iitht'i'V ft't't iitf swiniiniiiu, iis will In- dcsi'iiht* I mt .1 luirr jiayc, and pfui^i'i'sses
■'apidlv hi'ud t<in-in<ist ijiiiti' in I'lintr.ist in the lialiit nt' swininiinL; Larkuat'd in tin- adnlt.

'I'lii- iuhstt'f is niD.st active at iiij,dit and shims cxi'I'sh mJ' lii(ht. It is inipatifiit ut'
hf'nt or ''Xtri'ino cuUl, iind und)*!' stii'h I'oiulitinns Im'oouk'h sick iim\ inactive: hui in
water lit' a tc'iiipcfatiiic nt' 10 to ')n K. it is must \ i^inroiis and healthy. Tlu' hcait and
|iiinci|ial hjnnd-vessels ut' the lnhstfi' as well as tlm main venniis simises lie in the liack
lit' the (,'ieai lire, hence c.\|Misiire til t he hut rays lit' till' sun is ra|iidl\' fatal. I.olisters
ciinllnt'd iti ii'shotu |iiinds and in lluatini,' cars (lie in i.'ri>at niinilcrs t'nim heat and i'\|h)-
.siiru for the phy-inlui^^dcal roason just stated.

/'mil/ mill (i I'liirt/i .

Loh.sters may he aliiidst said to he cimnivninus, they are certaiidv not particular
in their diet and u'leedily devour llsh ali\e, dead, i>r even putrid, seavNeed, eel;,'ra.ss
{Zvsti:r<t) sJM'imps, startish, indeed anythin;{ in the shape of edilile material. At times
they turn eannihal and will devuur each oilier, whilo they are fond of tearini; oft' and
ealinj; the himciies of ei,'j,'s attached to the female lobster in a " lierried condition.' Just
as the owl or kiiiiitisliei' rejects the hones and indii;esiilile pnrtioiis of lisli or animals
which they have eaten, so the hjhster ejects fiuni its mouth the hard parts of the
creatures which it lias devoured. Such pieces cannot pass down the intestine, which is a
shwider and delicate tuhe lyin;^ aloni,' the lleshy jointed tail nf the lohster. The lohster
has a keen sense of smell which is lielie\ed to lie located on the under surface of the outer
limb of each of the small pair of feelers (the antenniiln')- No doubt it i.s mainly by the
s(?nse of smell that it is led into the baited ca;;e or trap used in the lol)stcr tishery.
There is certainly no just reason for r(\i,'ardint; putrid liait as more attractix'e than fresh
bait. It is possible that semi-decayed lisli may have a certain amount of luminosity or
phosph<iiescence, which artects the lubater's sense of vision ; but the Norwe;,'iaiis have
for centuries proved by practice that pieces of fresh tlounder placed as bait in their cane
traps form the best possible bait,

StriKliiri' (if t/ir s/i'll.

The dense armour of hard limy material which encases the lobster permits only uf
limited {»rowtli so that the shell must be cast off repeatedly, as the lobster increases in
size, season after season. This "growth is most I'apid in the \ery youn;; or infant stagi s,
hence moulting is then most frequent, as will bo shown on a later page in the account
of the life of the larval lobster. A lobster cannot continut; to wear tiie same shell any
more than a growing youth could continue to wear a small boy's suit after he has become
a man. The shell consists of four layers : — (1) An outside horny layer, which shows no
definite structure. Professor Herrick calls it the enamel layei-. (2) A thicker canali-
culated layei-, crowded with lime salts, and coloured with pigment. Dr. Carpenter called
it the " areolai' " layer. (.'5) A very thick, non-coloured, laminated layer, recalling the
structure of dentine in a tooth. It is Carpenter's " tubular '' layer, and is the gleaming
white part of the shell, which is so noticeable at the broken edge when a lobster shell is
fractured. It is this layer which is absent in the case of P/ujlloaoma, and the glass
crabs, Porturma, and others. (4) A very thin lamellar layer which is not calcified.

of

satvum. nisrnifY or thk i.ohsthh.

ii^itN |ii'iiti iiil-
IH iiut til tmicli

iMickwai'l In
Mt' twt'iily five
ifC that it i,M
U. .Miiii'iivi'r,
iliihufi' t'l'iiin
iti'ly it (iiifc fs
•t' I III- miriow

ly IcdlHtcr USCH

ml |H'i)i;ii'sves
il ill till' uihilt.
s iiii|iiitii'iit lit'
irtiv« ; but ill

i'lir lit'lirt Hlul
if ill (lie liiirk
till, IjoliMtei'H
U'lit iuhI i'\[)()-

Hit piirtiiiiliir
wi'i'd, oi'lj^rii^s
111. At tiiiif's
ciiiiiii,' iifl'aiid
iililiuii.' ./u8t
isli or atiiiiiuls

jmi'ts lit' tlio
lie, wliii'li is ji

The Inhster
;o lit' till' (inter
miiinly liy tiie
ilistiT tislii'iy.
VI' than fresh
luiiiinu.sity or
:'W(';,'iaiis iiave
i in their cane

:?nnit.s only of
'X increases in
int'u'it stagi s,
I the account
ame shell any
le has become
hicli shows no
hicker canali-
I'penter called
recalling the
the gleaming
obster shell is
and the glass
calcified.

I

Till' iii-idi' liiiin;< i^ t'liiiin'il liy a ^ut'l layi'i coii'^iitiiiu ut' i'|iithi'lial cells, Thise
relU build up iln- shell, mid l.ei'ume j^reiilty enlarged iiiid i yliiidrinil, when aelivi'ly
seeretihi; a new shell.

All t'liiii liiyi'i's lire pier 1 by delinite raiiaU, vi/. : the skin 'jlaiid dinis, llie hair-
pores, and the teKlllnelital '.'liiliil tlllies. Ilisjde the Nhell, nt' I'ulirse, lie the yl'eat lililsHeH
of' white llesh or iiiiisclcs , but there in an iiiterveniny spiicf between the shell and the
tiiiisi'les which is iMiiipii'd b\ loose conneelixe tissue, la iifi' blnodspiees, and the;^reat
'glands, called liV I'lob'^^ni Ijeiiiek " le^lllnentid " yl.iinN,

isllillllllf II'' llllllll 1 1 IIIJ.

'i'lie shell iiiiileiyoes peculiar cliatijies when the "sliellini{ ' pi'iiud aiii\es, Siinie o|
the salts, wliirli llll|»al t liaidiiess to it, beyin to dis.ippe.il ill sUi'li placi'S as the liiiiidli
lit the ^reul shii'lil I'uM'iiii^ the head and thma.x. and aloni; eai'h side ot' the snoiil ami
utiier parts. This i||,in>.'e L{i\es the I'lasticity reipiired In allow of t.he shell bein;; more
e isily thrown otl' \ thin skin fnrnis umleinentli the shfll, luid the lobstrr then sliuws
very e\iilelit sjijlls of tlu' pllilltul jirocess aboiil 1<> IcLfin. .\ I'lbstei .ibmil III moult loses
its brii,'lil culiiiir, ar(|iiires n Innse la.N appeai/ini'i', iiiid bi'i'iPiiiC' vei y uneasy ami shy. It
seeks tile shi'lter i if rocky clefts, or if these lie lie' ; t ll.ind, iimiielses iUelf in a soft
sandy biilioiii, lyiii'.' sideu ise. It bends upon itself thai the skin eoiiiieetiny the
shield and tin tuil bursts 'J'heie aii' no \iulent coiivii inns siirh as some writers have
dcseribi'd. i'lie iniiseles nf the limbs til;; vi;,'ouroii Is , and the ^.oi al elaws, soft and
pliabli' as imiiaii rubber, are wit lidraw n like the 'i, ml froin a iflov . 1 he neat lire pii lieH
itself ihroiiLrh the ,','apiinf slit, the head beiiii; piio.'d out l"a\iii ; llie tnil to bedrawnouf
last ■'♦' •' I. The newly shelled lobster has a limp ai ' collapsed appi'aiaiiee. but its
roloiiis llie I'Mremely flesh and 1 ii' ,'ht . W. iter is si > r.i, idl > .ib'-ofbi'd tliriin;:li 'he soft new
shell that the lobsii'i- I'lilarvres and s\\ (>1U up with iiipii iny iiipidit \'. Tie' empty eist-nH'
shell I'l'seiiihles a (lull diiiu'V live Inbster. as it is rirely split or broken aliliouyh extremely
brittle. At the end of a month the shell is not really liaid ; but still has a pliable
leathi'iN I'haia 'ter. .Many nbseivi'i's liiiAe declai'i'd tlial within lui'ii'. four hours, or at
iiiii-i within a week the shell is jii'ifectly hard. This is not -m. A Inbsti'r is it:i|1v imt
lompleteU hartl for se\i.'ii or eiuhi weeks after moultin;.'. The pri.ress i\i Aw\\\\\\^ takes
place every year, especially duriiiu till' siihiiucr months, for whiih tun ri'a>ons can lie
Hilduced. Till' wati'r is wariin'r then, and tin' soft and scnsitiM' Inbster at that linn
escapes the ])eril of e.Mieme rold. A Mist number of female- hitch tlieii youiii: in ih"
warmer months, and, after hatching, they invariably cast oil the shell, partly no doubt
to j;et rill of trie clini.dn.u empty I'Lru'*. 'md their attnchments, which become foul ; but
ihietly, as already indieateil. nwinji tn the uiowtli of the a'limal inside its ciivrrini.' whereby
the old shell becomes too small for it. Actual observiitioiis on the shelliiii; process are
very meagre, indeed those of my friend the late (ioorge I'.ronk-e air almost the only
continuous observations on leimd. His studies were carrii'd mi in Scotland for about
si.xteen months, vi/., fmm.luly 1st, 1SS,'5, to N(p\einber lOih, 1S^^, during which time lie
found tiiat four moiiltings tonk place, the si/e at each .niult being:— <)[;] inches, 8
iiK'hes, iSj;^ inches and K^; inches, a total increase of I'l",^ inches. The dates, when the
shelling process was etVected were, J Uiy I't and December ij.'ith. in the tirst year, and
■ I illy 'J'Hh and No\ ember l',)th. in the second year. Profess. n- l[errick justitiablv
calculates that, under natural conditions, a (i inch lobster wmuIiI attain a length of !)orl<>
inches in two years and that a 10 inch lobster is iirobably four and a h;ilf or live ye;irs
nld. <.)f course during its more rapid growth in infancy, the shell is cast off much more
freijueiitly. During the tirst ;i\ or eieht week^ after hatchin;,' the \ounir Inbstor moults
not less than five or six times.

Fi^aftins of iiiiih iiiirf t' iiiiilr; Inhsti'i'.

Before describiiiu in detail the breeding habits, the ))roduction of egu'sand hatching
of the young, a few words may lie here said rcganlini: the external features ot the male
anil female lobsters. A comparisnn of a large number of specimens ha.s ~liown that the
male is more slender than the female and he possesses larger and stronger claws. The

MAIIINE AX J) FISHERIES.

body of tlie feiuali' is not only broiitler, but the side plates or Hnps at the niarj{in of each
tail rinji' iU'c dfopcned in order to [H'ovidt! a lar<,'ei' spuee under the tiiil for the reception
of the bunches ot' e;,';,'s. The first paii' of Ic^'s in the lobster ai'e the " nippin;,' chuvs " or
large forceps, an<i there are four |)aiis of true svallving lind)s. I>ehind the walking logs
there are five pai ■ of smaller liuihs called " s\vinnn(!rets." In the ,nale the first jialr of
swinnuerets are transformed into stout rods each consisting of two joints, svhile at the
inner edge of the iiasul joint of the foui'th or last, pair of walking legs a minuter opt'ning
may be notr-d, on close examination, wluch is the aperture of the seminal duct. in the
female, on the othei' hand, tiie first pair of swimmerets consists of a slender feathery rod,
composed of duo long joint and twelves or thirtetMi very small joints. The sciMind jjair
of walking legs show u couple of small ojieiiings (osidueal apertures) at the liasc? similar
to those in the male ; but in the inttM'space lietween the tliird pair of walking lind)s is
placed the V-shaped spern\ pouch. It is a very sensitive or'gan studded with small
sensory hairs, and in it the male depcjsits a thick gun'imy mattei" which acipures a some-
what solid character after a short time. A most r(.'liid)le distinguishing external
feature in the two sexes is the position of the small sex apertures. In the female they
are at the base of the second piur of walking legs, and in the male at the base of the
fourth, or last pair.

Sjiertmiries of the Mal>',

ft is necessary to describe the structure of the egg-forming and sperm-producing
organs before the jieculiar features seen in the breeding of lobsters can be understood.
The latter organs or spermar''s can be seen upon cutting open the back of a male
lobster. A pair of slender much corrugated tubes appears passing down the back, and
placed immediately aliove the massive green liver. They rudely resemble the letter \\.
as the two tubes are connected by a slender bridge, immediately behind which con-
nection there passes oiF on either side a duct. Each duct swells to form a sperm vesicle
before terminating in the small external opening or sperm aperture, already described
as occurring at the Vjase of each of the last pair of walking legs.

Ovaries of Fentah.

In the female, the ovaries where the eggs are formed have a! the character of a
pair of tubes passing along the back behind the eyes and innnediacely under the shield
or shell forming the forepart of the back of the lobster. When in a mature condition
they extend along two-thirds of the length of the body from the fourth or fifth ring of
the jointed tail almost to the eye-sockets. They exhibit much variation in colour as they
approach the ripe stage, recalling the green, pink and yellow ovaries of certain fish
such as Cjjcloptertitt, for the ovaries of the female lobster may be either of a cream
yellow, a pale flesh tint, or a light olive green colour. When the lobster is boiled, the
eggs contained in the ovaries, if fairly ripe, turn to an intense red colour and are known
as coral. In some great markets (as for instance London) lobsters containing coral are
prized for culinary purposes especially for lobster sauces, etc., and this demand for ripe
females has no doubt had much to do with the depletion of loljsters in Britain.

or
in

I

Deposition of eggs.

At the spawning time the eggs enlarge and become loose in the ovary. They then
glide down the oviducal tubes, their passiige being facilitated by a fluid, which is
secreted at that time by the swollen cells lining the oviduct and they are rapidly ejected
from the two orifices, already described as occurring at the bases of the second pair of
walking legs. Each egg is globular or rather spheroidal, about ,'^ inch in diameter.
They are received in the space inclosed by the incurved tail of the lobster, and become
glued to the five pairs of feathery swimmerets so that they hang like crowded bunches
of grapes. The liquid glue is secreted by the glands in the skin or rather shell, in the
^ail region, and it hardens on exposure to water. The eggs are dark green, almost
|[,lack ; the colour being due to the yolk which is visible through the transparent shell

SATUHAL HISTO/.-y OF THE LOBSTE/!.

iar<,'in of each
tlie reception
in<,'cla>vs " or
' walkiiii;' Ip^s
e first jiiiir ni
, wliile at the
iniite openiui,'
liict. Ill the
' feathery rod,
(' second j>air
^ bfuse siniiiiir
Ikin^ limbs is
1 witii sniiill
|uires a sonie-
ing external
femah} they
! base of the

rm-producing
i understood,
•k of a male
he back, and
the letter H
1 which eon-
iperin vesicle
d}' described

aracter of a
er the shield
ire condition

fifth ring of
olour as they

certain fish
!■ of a cream
3 boiled, the
i are known
ng c(jral are
and for ripe
in.

They then
d, which is
iidly ejected
?ond pair of
n diameter,
and become
led bunches
shell, in the
reefi, almost
aarent shell

or cliMrioii. riiless they are vivified the eggs come to nothing ; but the further (haiiges
in the pi'ogress of tlic fertilized euys will l)e l)rietly described below.

/•i

iiriiKj

/'

III order that ilic siji't'iiis cmiltPi! tVoni thrse two small openings, in tiie male lolister,
shall be transfeirud in tin.' fcmiili', {);iiring must take i)lace. No doubt the jieculiar first
pair of swinnucit'ts art; utilised in j)airing : but full and accurate obs(.'rvatiiins regai'diiig
the pairini; of k>b.sters remain yet to be made. Sutiicient information is afforded by the
Ntrui'ture of the organs described in the foregoing account, and i)y what is known in
many oilier creatuies of the s;ime siilikinu'flom {A I'flivnjxHlu) to esLal)lish the fact. That
pairing takes place luliiiits of no douitt. It must, in many respects, reseini)le the pairing
of spiders, in which ci'catures, we know that the male takes a (juantity of sjierms from
underside of its body, and by mf'aiis of its pointi^d second pair of limbs (the pedip.aljis)
transfeis these sperms to the spei.-ial rece])tacle of its mate. The sperms of the loi)ster
ditl'cr fi'om those nf most animals, because they ar'e apparently moti(Hilcss and are al)le
to retain thinr \itality fc^r a long period of time. In most animals the sjjcrms e-xhibit
wonderful activity for a \ery short time when they lose their a(ti\ity and \itality. The
loi)ster's spi'iins may be described as star-like in form and nuisscd together in a gelatinous
capsule (distinguished as a s|,iernui,t(jphor;. l'robai)ly the first pair of swinnnerets, which
in the male ai'e of very peculiar shajie, convey the spermatopliors to tlic female. They
are received, no doiilit, when lyiiii; in a reverse position, and the female stoi-es them in
the triangular sperm-rece|itacle. In the animal kingd(jm, as a rule, pairing takes phu'o
just before or coincidcntly with the spawning time, anil the eggs are at once and directly
vi\ified or fertilized. Buu in tli" lobster the conditions are peculiar and wholly difl'erent.
The nuile does not direccly fertilize the eggs ; but the motionless sperms, transferred to
the female at the pairing time, are stored up by the female until reijuired. If pair-
ing occurs in the fall when lobsters are found to migrate inshore in great numbers (say
in October oi' Xo\emV)er and several months aftei- the hatching period is o\er). the
sperms emitted liy the male at that time must be cari'ied by the female for from
six to nine months when the female deposits her eggs in spi-ing or summei',
April to July seems to be the nuiin time on our shores, then extruded eggs
come into contact with the stored up spern)s which are now poured out. By the con-
tact of the eggs and the spei'ms the eggs are at once vivified.

Cleavage of the e<jij.

Changes innnediately commence within each egg. The dark coloured yolk
divides up into seyraents dui'ing the first two or three days. This is what is called the
cleavage of the egg, and at its conclusion it has the appearance of a thimble-berry
or bramble-ben y. A thin skin forms inside the egg-shell, and both unite to ^orm a
double capsule. It has been frequently noticed that when a young embryo loV)ster is
artificially removed from the shell, the antenna' or horns are found attached to this inner
layer of the capsule and ai'e often torn off with the shell.

The I'inhri/o icilhin the rgg.

During the first ten to fifteen days, while one side of the yolk remains dark, the
other side becomes clear and shows a little creature like a spider lying on its back
inside the egg. This is the embryo lobster.

The formation of this embryo, embracing the process of cleavage just described,
may l)e rapid, under a high temperature, or very slow if the temperature of the sur
rounding water be \ery low.

Hatching period.

There can be no doubt that lolisters, which extrude their eggs in April, May and
June, accomplish the hatching of their fry in a few weeks, whereas late spawners, during

8

MA ins E AXI) riSHKniES.

the niontlis of HepteinVier, October and NovciiiIkt, |ii'nl)iil)l\ rlo i)nt luiteli tlieir younij;
for six or oiglit nioiitlis. This fifcoiints tor the fiiol imtitHHl hy JJr. FuUri'tcjii, that a
femalf lohster in the miilcUf ot' Novoniln'i' was found carrvini; ciius whifli were in the
stage, that in thi^ caseof otlier female lolistoi's wny not reached until aliout (lie niiddle of
May. I'rof. ilerrick, it is true, (juutes aoaseof the li^teliin;,' out of eg^s in tlie latter pait
of Januaiy under a temperatuie of 'M V., whicii had iieen icnuAed from a female at
Chi'istnias. 8ueli facts support tlie assertion that lobstei's may hatch during e\ery montli
in tlie year. " I am satisfied." .said an experienced tishernian in I'lince lOdwai'd Island,
" that lobsters spawn all the year around." Yet certain months, .lune. -Inly and August
endaaee the princijial part of the year during whicli most female lol)ster.s are in Canada
found eai'rving berries. The l>eiiartnient of Maiine an I J'isheries has been able to
confirm this after conducting artificial lobster liatching at Pictou, N. S,, for the iast
five yeais, the suji)ilies of eggs beiui; mainly obtained fi'om ^lay 1 •'"ith to etuly in July
or liite in June, and the fry as a rule hatching out in from seven to fourteen (jr twenty-
one days. Some very mature eggs hatcli within twenty-four hours after l)eing received
at till' hatchery.

'J'hf cour.se followed in artiheial hatchin^' in the depaitnienl's estal)lisliment is
brietiy di^'^criljed below.

M'lhdil I'l ti rliji'-ifd Inlfr/ilii// in Cuiiodd.

Alier the eggs a-e i'ecei\ed frmi the lobster canneries usually at the rate of 1 i
niillions per day, they are ]ilaced in glass hatching jars thr.aigii which jiure sea-
water constantly passes and this circulation keej>s thoin in motion. The hatching jaivs
are upright cylindrical vases, with a central glass tube supplying wa.er which passes up
through the jar and escajie-; by a conical tip at tlie top of the jar.

Aljout the middle of .June the earliest lobstfjr fry h;itch out, and are carried liy the
circulating stream into a capacious reception trough, which recei^es the waste water.

"When the hatching-out begins the assistants are kept busy night and day atteiuling
to the eggs and fry to see that they do not collect and c'og together, as they soon die
under such circumstances.

AN'hen the time for distribution come.-, the fry are ])laccd in barrels of sea-water
open at the top, and conveyed out to sea on a small steam tug.

Tiiey are not simply thrown o\erboard : but from a low steamer are scattered bv
means of .small tin dippers, ov passed thrtmgh a hose, one inch in diametei- and abinit 8
feet long, provided with a funnel shaped box at the top ; they are scattereil about one
million to the mile over a distance of GO miles. The battom is rock and k(>lp, and the
fry are distributed not less than •'< miles from shore.

The number of eggs placed in the liatching jars is about f)~' nnllions eacii season
and the eggs are .so healthy that at no time have more than a hundred dead eggs been
found in all the jars.

Female lobsters ai-e found from G inches to 8 incites in length bearing eggs, Ijut the
larger lobsters carry proportionately far more eggs.

Since the Bay View hatchery, Pictou. N.S., was opened, over 500,000,000 of
fry have been hatched, the numbers being as below for the following years, viz : —

1891 . 7,0O(),(i00

1 89i> O.S,:)00.000

1893 15:5,600,000

189i IGO.000,000

1895 100,000,000

Before emerging from the egg, the advanced embryo lobster is shielded \ery effec-
tively from harm. Thus there are (1) the shell of the lobster, (2) a temporary larval
skin, which tits around the shell like a glove, (3) the egg-shell or primary chorion : (4)

XATUHAl. mSToUY OF TUL LOIiSrEI!.

»

till! secondury t-gg-jnt'iiild'niic wliit'li is out.sidt;. Tin- chorion is forme I in the oviduct
;ind is iittaclicd oidy iit tlii' stalk to \\w .■•(■(•oiidiii y, oiit-ide shell, the liiltt-r is thick and
translucent ii\v\ secreted liy the cenient inlands, Jioth slu^lls split, like a bean, into two
halves at the time of hatchiuL' and <>ui ronii's the larva tail foremost. it is very uidike
the lobster in foiin and hal)its. It rises to the surface of the sea and ajipcrs to fre-
i|uent tlie u))pei' \v iters for o\cr two months, as Professor <I. < •, Sai'.--, the famous Norse
naturalist lonj; ayo conjertureii, (luring' which time it underj.'oes a serio of cham,'''.-;
described as f\)llo\vs in which seven stages m;iy l)e distinguished.

[jiirral fifh — S''V''i' xtfif/t's.

It IS

Tlie newly hatcheil larva exhibits a short shrimplike body and rinui-d lail -tretclied
out almost horizontally. It is of glassy transparency, with gleaming emerald eyes, and
possesses a huge pointed snout or rostrum, consisting of a centi'al blade and a latt-ial
spike on each side Two |>airs oi very short horns jirotrude in fiunt (antenna' and
antennuhe) the second pail' being forked or split into two Imjui' of the --ix tail-joints
bear si>ines, tw(j on each side, and one in the middle standing erect. .Moit young mariiie
larva-, having the pelagic habits of the lobster carry for some da>s a small bag of yolk ;
but .'ill trace of the green yolk has disapjieared by the tiiiu,' the yoimg lobster hatcht-s
out. The yellow liver is jilainly visible threugh the translucent shell. There an- no
swimmerets aK)iig the nndei surface of the tail ; but minute buds indicate their future
))osition. The jointed foot jaws and the five ])aiis of legs are paddle-like, and the oeature
shoots forward through tli(! water with great rajiidity. The triaiii;ular tail is ]ii"\idi'd
with spines and is fringed with hairs. Fn length the lar\a is oxer .'. of an inch ("■•">0 to
8'o0 mm. long.) from the tip of the snout to tiie end of ttie tail.

(2.) During the second week after hatching live changes may be noted, in} the
snout l)ecomes toothed and is less blade-like in character: (/)) [laired sa imiiieiet> i;row
out along the under side of the tail : the second to the (ifth tail rings : ('■) green colour
appears along the back region. The length incieas !s by nearly one-twelfth of an inch,
and the lar\a is now about half an inch long (H'oO to 11 mm )

(■'!.) During the third week the jirincifial change is the development of the ni|)]i r-
claws or chelae. All the feet hitherto were adapted for swimming and the lirst pair
(or nippers) differed little from the rest ; but at this stage the\' liecome proportionately
much larger and their inner margins exhibit serrations or tooth-like projecticujs. The
eye still shows a bright metallic lustre, and green spots distinctly appear in the thin
shell mingled with a brown coloration. This stage appears to rarely last more than a
week.

(4.) The fourth or fifth week witnesses further chatiges. In outline the small lobster
shows a resemblance to the adult lobster greittn- than it has hitherto exhibited. It has,
after moidting, increased in length, and measures more than half an inch (13to lonim.)
The erect spines down the back have gone, while a deeper colour, brown or green,
extends over the shell, and the nipping claws are of a warm brown or reddish colour.

(5.) The young lobster, six weeks to two months old, stdl swims nbout actixely
near the surface. Though its prevailing retldish brown tint renders it less incons))ieuous
than in its younger stages when its glassy translucency is more markeil, yet it is really a
small insiginficant object J inch toginch long, and not readilydistinguished from the small
fishes, young cod, gurnard, sculpins, \-c., which abound in the same surface waters A
young lobster at this stage is often mistaken for a larval gurnard ( I'vioiioliis) as Ijoth
swim rapidly forward in a similar way, and the moving reddish claws of the lobster bear
no little resemblance to the orange tinted })ectoral wings, or tins, of the minute gurnard.
The snout is narrower and therefore appears more prominent and pointed, while the
feathery outer joint or exopodite of the swimming fee^ becomes much diminished This
last feature, with the loss of the glassy translucency, characteristic of previous stages,
indicates that the j'oung lobster is about to take to the bottom.

10

MAIiIXE AXn risHI'JlilKS.

SiriiiDiiiiH/ larra di'scivd^ to thr lio/toin nf the va.

(0.) Oii(« (ir»t\v() wf'cks Inter wlifti tin- lohstfi- iiH'iisi.i't's ii friiction more in lenfjtli
(15 to 17 mill.) it elimi;ii's its swiiiiiiiini,' |H!lii},'i(' liiiliit and I'nnit's insliDiv. Its colour is
tliirker tiiiin liitlierto, thoiigli thore is ureal varia' ion in this respect. Dark green, pale
hluisli or ifrccnisli l)ruwn are most freiiui-nt. As Professor lierriek points out there
ai>piar at this time on tlie head shiehl two white sjxits, really points of internal attaeii-
meiit for tendons, very app.:'eiit a iitllt; heliind the eyes. The projecting ed,!.;e (pleuron)

on each side o

ft!

10 nrs

t tail

rini' is also \vliit(

'I'l

le snout or rostrum measures aoout one-

<iuai'ter of the length ot the head shield (or cephalothorax).

(7.) During the third month (»f lar\id life which Herrick divides into two stages,
the changes are mainly inteinal and only tlu^ traimd specialist is able to notice the slight
external modifications which take place. The most important point is the assumption
of the external characters of sex. The males and females, in early lar\al stages, cannot
be distinguished. Up to llic^ sixth or eigth wei-k the first fiair of swimmerets heneatli
the tail are mei'e rounded tuherch's, and up to the stage now described the oviducal
openings on the second pair of walking limbs are not ajiparent in the female. They
now ajipear distinctly, and from tliis stage onwards the changes which take place are
niainl}' connected with growtiiand increase in si/e. The young lobster thus passes through
changes in its early life of a very sti'iking ciiaracter. In outline it changes less no doulit
than the shore crab, but in habits, mode of progiession, food, A-c, the changes are
momentous. From a transparent free swimming, almost transparent, mite in the open
sea, it becomes transformed into a hea\y opacjue bottom living scavenger. As the length
of J of an inch is approached (19 -o or I'O mm.) the eyes begin to grow more rapidly and
during the stages immediately subse(iuent are unduly prominent. This in fact is true of
young marine larvie generally Of course young lobsters, like other developing acjuatic
organisms vary in rate of growth and features of colour, i^-c, l)ut the foregoing brief
sketch may be said to represent the average larval life of the lobster. As in its mature
adult stages so in its early days its food is varied. Minute marine plants, algae, diatoms,
as well as minute crustaceans, copepods or water fleas, i^-c, chiefly constitute its food.
Cannibalism is frecjuent-, and the method adopted of attacking each other is very striking
as the young lobster barely a few weeks old invariably selects the most vuIneraVjle point,
viz. : the opening behind the head-shield. The stronger larva springs upon the back of
the weaker and savagely bites him at the point named. Larval lobsters feed chiefly at
night, hence their illimitable myriads are not readily noted by fishermen oi' sailors ;
but on bright sunny days they rise to the surface of the sea. Light has a fascination
which is •common to many creatures in the water.

Rare captures of larval lobsters in the S'ia.

Considering the countle.ss millions scattered every season through the sea, near the
lobster breeding grounds, it is astonishing that so few have been seen or captured. I
have myself received specimens of some of the stages described on three occasions only.*
They were captured in the Straits of Northumberland, where, during the latter portion
of the summer, certain areas must be crowded with various stages. Prior to the capture
of my specimens the only actual record in Canadian waters which I can find is that of
Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, of the Geological Sur\ey, who eighteen yeais ago, captured specimens
half an inch long in the months of July and August off Pictou Island, N.S. The fact
is that the free-swimming lobster larvje, like other young pelagic creatures, range within
one or two fathoms of the surface of the sea, not (juite at the surface where the concussion
of the waves would be hurtful. The late Dr. Honeyman (of Halifax, N.S.) is recorded
to have computed the following table of growth : —

Young reddish transpaient lobster . , 6 weeks old is h inch in length.

Small, but perfect lobster 16 do is 1 inch to H inch.

Larger ftard shelled lobster 1 year old is 4 inch to 4 J inch.

* I owe sonie very fine Kj)ecinienn of stage .5 to Coniiiiaufler Spain, R.N., Head of the Fisheries
Protection Service. They were obtained l)y Caiit. Knowlton, D.G.S., "Kingfisher.'' >Ir. C.A. Stayner of
Halifax, also kindly gave me specinieiis of a still younger stage (say stage 3).

til
bij

Cfi

III

ail
tl

XATUllAL HIS TO II y OF THE LO/ISTEK.

11

V ill leii;,'tli
t.s t'(j|(nii' is
yioen, pule
out there
iial /ittat'li-

0 (plt'UlOIl)

(il)()iit oiie-

wo .StHg*-S,

! the Mli<>ht
asiiiiiption
;<'-^, cannot
ts In'rieath
3 ovichieal
lie. They
place are
's thi'oiii,'h

1 no (loui)t
an;,'es are
I the open
the length
piflly and
is true of

S a(|uatic

ling brief

ts mature

diatoms,

its food.

r striking

ble point,

e l)ack of

hiefly at

sailors ;

scination

near the
ured. I
IS only.*
portion
capture
i that of
>ecimens
rhe fact
T within
icussion
ecorded

Fislu-ries
:ayiier of

I have not l)een al)it' to ascertain on what grminds thi^ computation was made,
thougii some of the details given are very remarkaliie and of exticme interest, dating
back as they do ten or tifteen years. Tin; p(jst-iarval growth of the loiister it must l)e
confessed is even now largi'ly a matter of conjecture : but some data exist. Professor
Tferrick succeeded in keeping one specimen alive, which hatched out on May L'Tth
and lived until SepieTnl)er 1 1th, a j.ieriod of lu7 ilays, in which [u;riod it increased about
throo times its original si/e,

f,'riin//i iiinl Mdl II I'lti/.

A\'o have seen that the adnlt loi>Hter ha- been proved bv aiiual "bsi'iAal ion-, to
grow about '1\ inciies in sistecn and a halt' Months, and the larval lobster lias l)een
demonstrated to grow in three and a halt' months no less than half an inch and these
facts go to show that in four or five years it is (|uite possible for the Tiiatuie size to be
reached and at that ai^e no dnulit many females carry spawn.

They continue to grow for a period of many years as is prt)ved liv the i.'apture occa-
sionally of gigantic specimens. These are more rare than formerly, but this season (IH'JT)
a tine sjiecimen was taken ofl the Jersey coast, which measured three and one-half feet
in length, two feet round the body, feelers one and one-half feet long, small leys one
foot long, felt claw two fciet long and ten inches wide, tail fourteen inches from end of
tail to body.

Siz'i of sp(i,iriii'r>i and iiiiml/rr uf njijx.

Professor Herrick arrived at the conclusion that \ery few spawn before reaching a
length of 9 inches ; but so many "berried " specimens 7 J to S inches in length have
reacherl me from various parts of the Canadian coast that a considerable proportion of
females would apjiear to carry sjiawn at 8 inches and under. The ratio of reproductive-
ness, is however, so low in these small female lobsters that the id)undance of lobsters in
any locality must depend upon the larger females. A 7 inch lobster will })roduce .j.OOO
eggs, whereas when one inch larger thi^ numl. '• of eggs carried is just alxiut double
that quantity. A 10 inch lobster carries as a rule 18,000 or 20,000 eggs ; but when 1-4
inches long the number of eggs is 40,000, and at 16 inches the nuinl)er is estimated at
no leas than 80,000 eggs. Variations are not infreijuent and a 10 inch lobster may
produce only 12,000 or 14,000 eggs ; but on other hand one specimen of this size is
recorded which carried 21,000 eggs.

Lohstev\'< Jcrtility compared n-itli ni/s/rrs, ji's/h-s, "><:.

These figures might appear large did we not know, by comparison with other marine
creatures of economic importance, that the lobster is perhaps the least productive iiumer-
ically of all. A herring deposits doul)le the number of eggs produced on an average by the
lobster ; a mackerel four times as many, a cod four hundred times and a Canadian oyster
four thousanfl times as many. No wonder that nc) lobster tish'-ry in any country has
been able for many ye.ars to withstand the tremendous annual drein implied In^ a larye
market. The lol)ster fishery of Canada it is estimated annually tlc^ttv^ys lietween sixty
and one hundred millions of lobsters, a considerable proportion of these being females
about to spawn, or recently spawned. It is indeed astonishing that our lobster grounds
have been able to hold out so Ion" with this jjiirantic destruction uoin" on year after
year.

Wdsti' of fif/yfi diwiiiy fisJiiiKj si'ason.

The destruction does not end merely with the annual loss of many millions of parent
lobsters, for the loss of the spawn about to be laid, or already deposited and scraped
from the lobsters before being landed cannot lie ignored. In the departments report
for 1890, the late Lieut. Gordon laid stress, and rightly so, on this waste of eggs, which
ia so readily overlooked, and he referred to certain means which might effect (to quote
from his report p. 18) "the saving of the ova, the destruction of which now, perhapw,,

12

MAIiINK AXI> FISHKHIKS.

inorj! tliim aiiytliinj,' ('l^f'. iiiililfitcs (lu'iiinst the Hpccfly restoration of tlu' fisliory. To
show lliiit tliis is no idle siatt'incnt llic ciiso of a cannery puttin;; uji 'l,i)()i) eases, or
{•0,000 ll)s., may be taken : tliesc rffjuire say lialf a million lolisters to put up, and
my ini|uii'ii'- show that jiioliiilily 1 in ■") are '• herried " iniislcis >ay 100,000. Now,
take f'ven one lialf of this, and say liiat .")(J,(.)0(> •' Ijenied " iol)sters, each earryinj,' alxiut
20,000 exuded ova, wne cjestroyed in puttinii up tiie 2,000 eases, we have no less than
],0(l(i,O00.()0O n\a de.-,lroynd : and if tiiis rule he applied to the •_*-_'0,000 eases which
constituted tiic product of the lishcry for the year iNSi), we have a numlier of 1 10,000,-
000,000 as the wanton "destruction of ova which it is possible to save -at any rate, in
some small measure ; for even a savin;: of 1 per cent of such a total represents a nund)er
the magnitude of which ligures fail to hrini,' home to the mind."

Thi

>t h

'iroi'il III hi' II H III

I S

pinnii III/.

CI

osely connei;te(l with the interestini,' iiuestions respectini; the reproductive ca]

)a-

city of the lol)ster, and the probable inte;\ai elapsing before it readies maturity and
reproduces, is the further i|Utistioii as t<i the fre(|iiency of s])awnintc.

A very erroneous ojiinion was in circulation some years a^o that tlie female hdister
.spawns once in two years. Curiously enouuh this notion first put forward by parties
wholly untii'Jned and umiualilied to frame a reliable judyment has I'eceived (vnintenance
recently from men of scientilic standing. Pi'ofessor (Jarman. and in'>re recently I'l'ofessor
]lerrick, ha\e favour(>d the idea, and |)r. {''ullaiton has also adopted it in his recent
Scottish jiaper on !.iobster I *e\elopmerit. thoutrh the evidence when analysed instead
of establishing biennial spawning all jxiints the other way. ilerrick indeed himself
found in '• ]iiiper shell ' lol)sters in .luly that .just after the brood had hateluul ami the
nionltiuL,' was over the e^ys in the o\aries were no less than half th(^ si- -'. of mature ova.
Ehreiibauni inferred that the female lol)ster spawns every fourth year, .nd the evidence
on which this new view is based woulil .just as cnnclusi\ely prove that the lobster
.spawns quadrennially, ^ly own end)iyolo;.'ical studie.s upon a variety of niai'in(! fishes
and other creatures have established beyond (piestion in my mind that the ^r(jwth of
the ovarian ovum may be astonishingly hastened after the dispersion, superliciall}' <)f tlie
nucleoli over the surface of the nucleus or germinal vesicle.

Tn the female ft'i<Ktro<lfus, ova ile\ eloped and ripened in the months of duly, August
and Scptemlier, when the conditions w(M'e most favourable, in periods of from GO to 80
days, and passed throu.gh stages which later in the year occu})ied no less than 220 to
240 days. Yet Vvoi. Hei-rick doe- not hesitate to aflirm concerning this suppo.sed
biennial spawning that to prove it re(|uires only tli(> dissection of a female with eggs ready
to hatch in dun", July oi- August, and it will be found that "the ovarian eggs hav(> had,
in all these c ises, from ten months to a year's growth '' — the very point in fact being
assumed which requires proof. Further on in his e.xcellent memoir he adds: " ihat
the spawning periods are thus two years a[)art is a vali<l inference drawn from the
study of the anatomy of these organs. "

We have, indeed, available the fullest scientific proof that a Decapod, closely allied
to the lobster, spawns not once in two years, but twice in one year, thus the shrimp,
Crniigon viifiynris spawns in April and May as well as in early November. A \alid
inference would be that the lobster spawns not less fre(iuently than once a year. Dr. Ful-
larton in adopting Herrick's view says : " From an examination of the ovaries of lolisters
which had shortly before hatched a brood, and others periodically between that time
and the following January, it is certain that lobsters do not breed annually." As I have
shown a mere anatomical examination of the ovaries is insufficient to establish any such
conclusion, and an embryologist familiar with tlu' various stages of egg-maturation, in
different animal ty[)es, is bound to pronounce any such inference as unwarranted colla-
teral evidence is all unfavourable to the theory of biennial spawning.

Ann Kill .sjxiirniny of lobsters.

When Professor Herrick again affirms in these words : " When the extcnal eggs
are ready to hatch the ovarian ova have had nearly a year's growth," an experienced

}

XATUHAL UISToHY <>F TUt: LOUSTfi;.

13

fishery. To
00 ciisos, or
>ut uj), (iiid
000. N„w,
ryiiit,' ulidiit
nil less (lifiri
cases wliich
>f 110,000,-
iiy rate, in
s a nuiiihei'

JCtlVe cflpfi-

J

iliirity 1111(1

1

fiaia lobster

1

•ly parties

1

miitenaiice

1

y I'i'ofessor

i

I iiis recent

1

sed instead

'?

ed liiiiiseif

i'd and the

,

lature ova.

i

e evidence

he lol)ster

irine lishe.s

<,'ro\vth of

hIIv of the

V, Au!,'Ust

\ (iO to 80

an 2J0 to

su|)|)o.sed

"^•^» ready

i

iiav<> liad,

■-i

let being

: " that

from tlie

;^ly allied

! shrimp,

A valid

Dr. Ful-

' lohsters

lat time

s ] have

my such

ation, in

1

'd coUa-

i

lal eyofs
rienced

einliryoioji^t could accept this opinion with dilllculty, .My own olwervations for which
Canaihi oilers opportunities inc<imparalj|y yreatt'r than those of any other couiitry, lead
uio to the view that lohstei's as a rule spawn aiiinially, and that a feiiiah? lohster which

lias hatched her l)rood early in the season does in many cases ju'oduce a si nd crop of

fj^gs late in I lie fall which are carried all wiiUer. The iletailsof my examination of a
lar<,'0 numher of specimens supportinj,' this \icw cannot he yi\en licic; luit will he
published in due coillse elsewhei'e.

There is c'citaiiily little jiistiticatinn physiological m anatomical for holdint,' \s ilh
Fullarlon that in no case "lobsters tiiat had just hatched a bioixl, had e;;;,'s in the
ovary which could lircdme fullv ripe under a good maiiV month-. ' The oftipioted
case of the |iii)ster in Kothesay .\i[Uariuin. Sc'otland, which was carryiii!; o\ a
when jilaced in the tanks in .Viit,'Ust, l"*'*^!!, and did not complete the hatchin;; of
the same until .\ni,'ust, |Ss7^ thou;^li larvic hatclu'd out as early as April, l>^S7, ])ro\cs
only that the conditions were abnormal and unfavourable. The fact that the omod were
hatching' for ,i period of five months, A|>ril to .\ui;ust, from CL{gs which were exliiided
the suienicr liefore fully demonstrates the abnormality of this special ca^e. The fait
that the lobster spawns annually is eviilenced by (1.) The fairlv iinifiirm proportion of
" berri(*l ' femali's taken sea.son after season.

(-.) The occurence of the berried conditions in all si/.es of females frmM 7 inches
to lSin(;hes. It miL;ht be expected that females of certain speciljed sizes wuiil'l never
or rarely be foutid with eggs wert; biennial spawning a fact.

(3.) Exact researches u|ion allied decapod crustaceans pro\e the gi 'ater fre-
(juency of spawning.

fl.) Tlie rapid growth of ovarian eggs so familiar to einbryologlsts is unfavourable
to the biennial theory.

I]niiiiii!< II lid ili!--t iisi^s ()/' //(<■ lo^'slcr-''.

As with other \aluabl(> inhabitants of the -ca the lobster's enemies are legion. In
its earliest days the young swimming larva- are sadly decimated during the lir>t tnght or
ten weeks of their life, when as we have seen they rangt? from .', inch to ;; inch in length.
Physical and chemical impurities also kill them. Later the}' are more hardy : but in-
tense cold and excessive heat are equally fatal. Adult lobsters conHned in tloating cars
are found to die in great numliers when the sun's rays are powerful. I have examined
such cars and found a large in'oportion in a sick and dying condition.

Almost every [uedaceous fish in the sea devours the lobster. The mackerel feeds
largely on the larval lobster, while the cod, haddock, pollack, sea bass, skate, etc., eat it when
it attains a larger size ; but to add to its dangers and enemies L have found in N()\a
iScotia that crows are most destructive, for when the tide goes down these birds destroy
the lobsters left amongst rocks and sea-weed. They pierce the shield of the loljstci-
where the heart and main blood M'ssels are situateil and the crustacean is at once
rend(;re(l hel|)less and is devoured by its assailant. The tlocks of crows busy amonust
the rocks inshort; must destroy large tpiantities of this \aluable crustacean. lioeckh
has described a curious habit in the Scandinavian crows. They seize the lobster and
fly up into tlie air with it and let it fall, breaking its hard shell into fragments and
exposing the delicate masses of flesh in the claws ;uid tail.

The lobster suffers from few diseases or parasitic afl'ections. A large (»regarine
((7. (jiyatiteiDii) abounds in the intestine as V^an lienedeu found, and a peculiar Trema-
tode worm occurs in the liver. Prof. Herrick remarks that no specific disease char-
acterizes this crustacean, though Mr. Hathbun has described a tumoid protruberance on
the outside of the carapace which was attributed to a wound. As a matter of fact an
internal disease does, in rare instances, affect the lobster, and Professor Mcintosh, many
years ago, described a tumour which originated in the wall of the grinding stomach and
pushed its way through the carapace behind the eyes. The tumour enlarged and finally
resulted in the death of the lobster, which was a very large and old sj)ecimen.

The lobster has more than the usual quota of perils to face, and man's systematic
destruction has not merely added to them, but overbalanced them all. It is probably

I

u

AfA/ilXE AXl' FISHHKIEH.

1 r *••

in curly larval life that the dfi-iniation of tho lohster cliiftly takes |.lac»', for tlioro ur«
fi'w tisiu's in tlif sea iliat will not cau'^rly dtnonr tho youn^; as tlicy tlit in clinidy masses
throii;,'li tin' watiT.

'riio intliKMiccs fatal, or at least hurtful, to tlie lobster in inatnr«! life iiave licen
already pointed out ; hut there is one to he added, viz., fresh water, fjihsters avoid
localities where fresh water str«?aiiis run in v.,iniin,i,'led with salt water. Tn shippini,' live
loloteis j),uked in ice, the fresh water (rieklini; down fi'oni the melting ice is most
harmful and ultimately fatal,

SliiiijiiiKj itf lire IdIisIi'i-s.

Willi proper proeaution.s, however, lobsters may be carried alive and healthy over j^reat
distances. Karly this century some loyal Nova Wcotians .^hipped in a sailing vessel
several bari'els of lol)sters to King (leoige 111. They I'eached London safely and alivo.
In 1 Htill, some tubs of sea-waler eontaining live lobsters were .sent from iSlaine, U.S.,
via Halifa.x, to the Emperor Napoleon 111., and a few years ago the (Jtago Acclimatisa-
tion Society, Dunedin, New Zealand, succeeded in carrying live lobsters from Kngland.
Tn the tirst attemjit oidy twelve were sent ; three died during the lirst wecik though
the rest survived, fed «ell during the voyage, and at the end of tlie .M days' sail were
planted in a healthy condition at the Antipodes. The Society was encouriiged by this
success to arrange for a second shipment ; but all died on account of the dett^ntion of
th<" ship for a month by a broken shiift at sea. Tlie extensive exportation of live lobsters
is iti (.'an.'ida a comparatively new thing, and is growing rapidly. What its elUict upon
the lobster supply will be, remains to be seen.

For many years very large exportatioiis of live lol)sters have been made from Nor-
way averaging in value ."^l nO.tKlO ]ier annum, the number actually taken in the fishery
raiiging from sOO,OOU to 1,U00,U00 lobsters, and most of them destined for the Engli.sh
market.

The method of packing and shipping them may be descril)ed ;is follows : — Tho
boxes gener.i My used have the following outside dimensions : Length, .'50 inch(!s : breadth,
11> inches ; and heii;ht, 1 o inches. Tf ice is used they are made 4 inches lower. Racli
box contains from 100 to ll'O lobsters. Sometimes smaller boxes arc used, with the
following dimensions ; Length, -\ inches : brcjadth, 19 ; height, 1.'5. between the boards
there are suitable openings to admit fresh air.

In summer there is ])laced at the bottom of the l)ox a layer of ice two or three
incites thick, and on this a frame, so that the lobsters are not disturbed in their j)ositioii
even if the ice melts. < hi this frame there is tirst spread a thin layer of fresh heather
(long, thin gi'ass) or straw, on vvliii li the lolistei's are laid caicfully, back downward, the
tail being bent forw;ird and across the box, with the claws turned inside towards thecentre,
Wlien the box is full some lie.itlier or straw is spread over the lobsters and the box is
closed. Heather is prefeial)le to straw, as the latter sjioils on account of the moisture
caused by the ice, and the lobsters cannot well endure any bad odour. For this reason
t is iu)t advisable to use dry sea-weeds, which formerly were often enijiloyed. Old sail-
cloth dipped in sen-water forms an excellent cover, as it keeps nioist and cool for a long
time. Tf ice cannot be had, heather .soaked in scawater may be used, rlry fresh straw, or
sail-cloth. During tlie cooler season only heather or straw should be placed at the top
and bott )m of the b >x.

In winter the sides of the box may be lined on the inside with paper, so as to pro-
tect the lobster.'^ against the cold, but there should not be any jjaper either at the top or
bottom, as the lobsters would be stilled, owing to th(! lack of air. When the lobsters
have not been kept prisoners for more than eight days, they will, when packed in boxes
in the manner described above, keep for four days. The fresher the lobsters the better
they are able to stand the fatigue of the voyage.

The boxes ar(> ])laced on the deck in such a position that the water from the melting
ice does not reach the lobsters, which canntrt well endure fresh water, and so that the
lobsters are protected against rain, as rain-water is very apt to injure them. Lobsters
which during transportation have been exposed to the rain, when placed in tanks
generally lose their claws. The persons who ship lobsters usually see to it that

XATUiiAL msToin- or /■///■: i.oH^rh'/,:

16

for llifiT iiro
Itiiidy iim.s.sos

I' Imvi' licj'ii

)ljst«'rs iivdid

sliippiiii; live

ifc is most

')}■ <tverf,'reat
iiiliii^ NCH.sol
\y Hiul alivo.
Muiiic, U.S.,
Accliiiiiitisa-
111 Knj,'l;iii{|.
vfoii tli()ii<;li
ys' sail vvfTf
ii;;o(i l)y tliis
(It'tciition of
live lobsters
i t'ni'L't upon

0 fi'oiii Nor-

tlie fishory

tlie Kn>,'lish

lows :— Tho

s ; hroadtli,

A'lT. F.acli

with the

the l)oar(ls

I'o or three
position
heather
ward, the
10 centre,
the liox is
moisture
lis reason
Old sail-
or a lon<;;
straw, or
it the top

as to pro-
le top or
lobsters
in boxes

lie better

melting
that the
Lobsters
n tanks

it that

I

«

the buxe^ arc placed in proper jiosition on board the Hteaiiier. It always appear- bc»t
to place the Imixc^ coiiijiiMiiiu lol)sieis oil the t'orepail of the sle.imer, so that the l(»bst«MN
tiiav get the i)eiie|it of the spray from the wa\es.

A't'Cfinsitif III JikIiiiiiii.i jirntii'/iiiii. •

W'hethei' the caiiniiiL; of lobsters in the I loiiiinioii or their shipmeiil ali\e to the
I'reat iiini'kets will base siipreniiicy in the future it i-, impossible to Nay. Ivvee^-ivf and
unrestricted li-'hiiii,' eanii'd on for either iiidiistiy, or both, must hase the same result
viz. ; sure and ciMtaiii e.xtermiiwition.

This calamity has iilready hapi)ene(l in the I'liited States. A- ha> recently been
stated in a leading' Ignited .Siulcs ti-bery journal :•" Canadian tishermeii
are awakeninn to the possibility of a famine in lobsters, and the Ki.'<heries |)epart-
ment is calling mei-tinjfs, at which Professor I'riiice will eont'er with the fishermen
and represeiitativt' men in the; industry, who will present their views on
close seasons and other reyulat ions ad'ecliiij,' the lobster indii-liT. it is a very serious
(jucstion, and should lie ^iven attention at once. The I'nited States Fish Coiiimi.ssion
should CO (iperate with the Uanailian, as our lobsters are jjrowinj,' more scarce yearly.
This industry was \ery profitable aloni,' the Maine and IMassachusetts coasts in former
yeai's, but now is iuiylhinu' but remunel■ali^(^'

That Canailian tishermen and canners realize the ;,'rave possibility has been shown
by the recent conferences held in the .Maritime Provinces, tlie first of the series beini;
attended by the Hon. the Minister of .Maiiiu! and Fisheries, In .lecord.inci' with the
wishes of the lion. L. II. Davies, the furlhei' meetini^s held were attended by the Coin-
missionei' of I'^isheiio. A No\a Si'otia j(aiiii;d (the I'ictiai Ailniriili) briefly suniniari/ed
tlie situation in these words : —

•'The attendance at and interest tnanifes'.ed in the iiieetin;rs held ilirotiudioiit the
province bitcly by I'rof. Prince show that our peopN- recoL;ni/.e the threat imjioitiinee of
the lobstei' industry. To preserve it dn a permanent l)asis is a matter of the greatest
jiossible importance. " You can not have your cake and eat it' is true in re;,'anl to
this question. As other ciamtiies havi- lost the wealth which follows suceessful hshiny,
St) .also will these Maritime Piovitu'e> if those most interested in its perm;itieney, the
tishermen, alonL( the coasts are not impressed with the iuiportanc.'e of tosterini; it, in every
way. Th(! idea of Hon. Mr. Davies of loi-al discussions and expressions of opinion from
those interested is a -splendid one, and we trust will lead to the framing' of a ^uod law
which will benefit uiid jirotcH't the industry."

Canada has an object lesson liefore her in the depicted I'nited Stattis lobs;»'r fisheries
in I'eference to wliich Dr. I,a\.iie, Fishery < )tlicer for llie (iulf of St. Lawrence di\is!on,
wrote in 1870 ; —

'' T/ie ruin of tlu: Inlisti'v jlnhiu'ii on f/ii"' ■•'/lofi's of ihr I 'nihil Stutes onijJtt In irnni and
at the. sanii limn Inacli ns ii fcisnn n/iir/i n-r s/ion/d Idh nrfrn nlni/r of : that is to rei,'ulate
with as little delay as possible, the mode of e iiiyiiii,' on this (islusry, if we would not
suffer the .same results."

The New York FinliiiKj (Inzfttc recently lj.ixc e.\)iressioii to similar sagacious warn-
ings, and a (|Uotation from that ackiiowlcij^ed authority may fitly conclude these notes.
The quotation is extracted frcan an article referring: to the growin/L,' .scarcity of the lobster
in Can.idian waters. ''In these waters, it may be said, are the >v-'//(rt/«.<of the onhj n'main-
hiy fo/isli-r jis/irri/ oj lltf n-orhl. That this is so is not due to the ext^rcise of greater caie in
its yirescrvation than was i)estowed upon those other lobster fisheries that, are now un-
profitable ; but rather to the fact that it has existed as a tishery of importance only a
few years, or since the packing of lobsters cea.sed on the coast of Maine. Practically
the .same methods have been pursued. The packing interests liave been in the liand.s,
in a manner, of those who c(jntrolled the industry when it flourished in New England.
The manner of prosecuting the tishery has been similar to that in vogue here, and its
operation is being followed by results almost identical. Tlie ditl'erence between the
jNIaine fishery that was, and the Canadian tishery that is, lies in the fact that in the case
of the former the gravity of the situation escaped the attention of the authorities until
it was too late to apply the needed remedies. In the latter case, investigations — some

.U.I/.7.V/; .\y/> FIsHKIltKS.

Ill

wliiit iiinlilv ln'><iii»- -art' liciiin |iiihIh'<I witli vipmr wliilc tlifrf in \v\ litV Irfi in tln' in-
iluNtiy. [t itMiiiiiiiN ti< he nutMi wlii'tlicr tliii<«(< in iIiihk** ai tlicsn itivcMtij{Htii)nH nnd tlio
iiini't'tUfs tliiil will hiivc to li)« ii|>|iii('(l will |ii(ilit hy the Mii"^takf,s thiit wci'e innilf Ium'i'.'

'Hk' t'liflliiT ciliHf'i'viil JDiiH (if till' xiiiiit' iuiiiiiiil ill ii';;anl to llir market tor ISldl niul
IH'.IT MIC ot' tilt' liiiiNf-t iiii|Mirt ; " It is in>arly ct'itiiin, shvh iIiin iiiitlmrity, " lliiit, tlio
iimrkcts Ill-re will lie (l('|ifti(l('iit wlmlly iiikmi tin- output of tlii> ('aiuidiiin iiackcrs. Tlif
liik<li prii'i'H that rult-il dm in;.' tlit> last >t>asoii riirlailt'd tlif ('unsuin|itiuii Imtli licrc and
aliiiiad, and yi i in --iiiti' nf this tlu^ ili'maiid was siillicii'iit tu ulisorl) fvcrylliiii;^ in liist
hands mi^ In t'oif the rlost^ ot the pai'kin^ si-ason, and for s"M'r,il iiionlhM the iiiarkct
lias lii'iii virtually Imre, tlif sinull stock renuiitiitiji lifiiiK '"''•' '"'"dy '•>' j<'l''»'''''^-

As this i^ inai'tically the situation at presfiit, tlio.-c i'iii,'a;;ini^ in the packing
industry may III' rcasonalily ci'rtaiii of tiiidin;; a ready iiiarkit witii priies well in Iho
lead of those |ii'e\ailin;i at last years opening. Some of the lar;,'er packers of lohslers,
indeed, have made prices on the \X\^~ |iai'k which ran;;e from Ito to .'17^ cents aliove the
opeidni,' ti;,'ures of hist year. Notwithstanding^ these prices, which are the hi;,diest that
ha\e liceii c|uoted for maiiv years, it is reported that the hulk' of the coiiteniplated pack
of the lirands so fcn' ntlcied ha-- heen placed. It is not expected that the output of any
of these hrands will he lar;,'er than was the ca^-e in 18!I0 ; indeed, there are reasons for
helievini; that the nuiidier of cases packed duriiii,' the coinini^ season will he the smallest
in the history of the husiness. "

m_

I'-f't in till' in
It ions and tli«<
« nmdc |i»M»>."
for \X\U\ ami
ty. •• tli/il 111.,
•inkers. Till'
>lli licrc ami
• liinj,' in liist,
I** tlif niaikt't
iIhts.

tilt! |)iu'kini<
well in t|,'„
■s of loliMcis,
its iii)ov(,« till'
liii,'lii'sl tliat
ii|iliU('(| pack
ut[iiil of any
' iciisons for
' thoNMialit'st

I

II.

A coxcisK AccorXT OK Kl.siii-:s' i<>;(;s.

Ih I'UDKKMMOII K. Iv I'llINCK, I )OMINION CoMMIMfJIONKIl UK I'lHIIKUIKH KOll < 'aN \l> A.

It liiiH lon>^ hi'cn a|>|iai'fni lo tislmry untiini'it ics cNcfywIiiTt', that tht' [in'scrxui ion
of I'xi^iiiiL,' tislicrii's liy a|i|iin|iiialt' rc^'iijal icins !-. an ini|)(i-sit(lt' tiik. and tlu' rt'sturation
i>i dt'jiicti'd or (It'stroyf'd tislii'iii-s by iiiott'tJtivc nH'iisiu'cs. is liupclt'ss. iinK'n-i based
upon Hci'iirutn knuwlcdj^iMif lisli iifo. Many tisliery law.s would never have be«n framed,
and ninnlierlesH >;iii,"_'estion,s woidd nevei have l)een made, bad any real kniiwled({e ubit-
•uec existed in re^'ai'd In the e^'^s ami liabits c.f tithes, tlie periuds nf spawiiin;,', and llio
Hitfls soiected for the breedini; grounds.

I'tdposals aie continually iiiadt* for the establishment of i»o\eniment liatchcrieN for
the <Miltiire of lishes the nature of who.se e;,'i;s and fry render futile any .iitenipl.s nt
ariilicial propaifation. I'uil -.o loni,' as dense iifiioraiiee pri'sailed I'cspeei iti;; the ch.ii'aeter
of tislie-,' ei;j;s, the times of spawniiii,', and the loeations chosen l)y the parent 'ish, and
the tinte occupied m developini^ the younn fry, the eniictnient of chiso st'iisoiis, and other
lei,'al rest i'i<'t ions, was as likely to Ite wroni,' and mischifnoUs. as rif.'ht ;ind .salutory.
I]\<'ii to those scrsed in the kno\vled;4e of lishe.s in our seas and inland \valei>, and
familiar with theii' habits, the actual facl.s in rej^ard to tlu' spawniiiji; periods, and i he
nature of the o\a. were for the most part unknown, 'i'he attempt- to hatch au'l i-eai'
species which had decreased in numbers was i>racti(;ally impo^sible if the em,'s anil
natural spawning habits of such tish were not known. 'I'liut the causes of the depletion
of cei'iain lisheries ami I he disappearance of valuable kinds ot li.sh are in many cases duo
to (H'culiarities in the e^'s or spawidnj; habits, or the nature of the yuiin',' fry,
admits of no doubt ;ind were the facts scientitlcally ascei'tained such in jurions causes
miijlit be rcmoxcd. I'rior to I SO 2, a law for the protection of spawning.' heiiin;,'
was enforced in certain areas in Scotland, .Ml the lisherinen interesti'd W(ire most
anxious for its (Miforcemonl l)ut as Lord Playfair has fre(|uently pointed oiii the
Uoyal Cominission on herrinj; tisheries. which first, sat in IsOl'. established one m
two facts of the i^reatest importancf! to iji'cat lisheries, for instance, thai lestiietive laws
framed by man in ignorance of the liiws of n.iture, were e.-ccessively destruciiM' to
the interests of Ksherinen instead of beini,' fivourable to them. \\'hen the com-
mission (ir.'-'t b(?nan to examine this subject, they fout\il dittertuit la\<s prevaillim;-
on the east coast of Scotland to those which pi-evailed on the west. < )n ihi^ east coast
thert! were no restrictive laws, and lisherinen were encoura<,'ed to catdi tish, even full
tish containing ova, for curing jiurposes. Kach of these tish had on an average ")0,000
eggs, and the enormous lumber that were taken in this statt! would seem to indicate a
proi'ess of exterminat'dii ; but the lishci'ies of the east coast, without restriotive laws,
incrt^ased, and did not diniinish, ( )n proce(Hling to the west coast of Scotlanil,
however, in the inner waters of the l<'irth of Clyde, they found restrictive laws prevailing.
For S(,'veral months tio herrings were allowed to be taktMi, theie Ixdnn 'i close time foi-
hi'rrings for the piirpo-e of protecting them. As they went further into tin; open waters
out of the Firth of Clyde along the islands up to near the llighland.s, those res-
trictive laws still prevaile<l ; but there was a rela.xation as to the period when the close
time ended, A very curious re.'^ult was made apparent, and a most unexpected one.
At the p(M'iods of clos(^ time, the herrings came to the baid<s to sj)awn, and were fol-
lowed by their natural enemies in great number, among which might be named the cod
and the ling, wliich consumed theni in great nundiers. There were inniunerable fish
which lived upon the young fry and the full-grown herring ; the cod, ling, dog-fish and
conger, fed<m the full-grown herring; while the flat-tish and crabs eat the spawn, and there
were innumerable othfjr fish which eat herring-fry. At the time when they found them
on their spawning banks, these fish had an appetite for nothing else but herring, and this

116—2 IT

II

J/.l/./.VA' AMt flSllhlflSS.

roxtitr. t'itll<i\s>>il, tliiit ill*- i^lici'iiH'it of cihI ami liii^ cduIiI vnxch nnthini,', Iti'mutt* tlicy \\<miIi|
Hilly liiki' lii'ii'iiiK litiit lit till' time, nn<\ lli< r|iiM> tiiiii* |ii'i'vi>nt)>ii tin- lUin'i'iiiiM uftiin^
liny iiiTiiii;; l>iit tor imIiIiihu ilifi- li'^ii Tin' < ciii<ii'i|||)'|k'i> uiin, ilial ilii- liius mvi'iitcd
t'lif (III' |iiiii('i'iinii lit' till' In-niti'^ lii'i'iiiiii' liiWN tor tln'ii ili'iiiiuii inii, lii>i'iiii«t' tlii'ir nutiinil
I'lii'iiiii'N, Ns liii'li cinilil hilt lie I'liu^i t lii'iiiiiM* lit till' wiiiit III It lit, iiitilii|i|ii'il i xi-t-i iliii;,r|\,
mill ili'Viiui't'il till* vt'iy lii*i'i'iiiu> svliicli tlii< Iuwh intriuli'd tn |iiiii«ii'i. Mint wun iIii>
ri'hUil lit' ihti'i't'i'i iiiu' wiih tin- liis\~ ^>i iialui'i' l»y mi imliM ri'i-l law |iiih-,.i| Ii\ I'm liiiiinhi.
Till' li'NMiii NNJiirli iiii^lit Ih' iImiwii, wax iliiit ilinii^li i'mlimiii'iit iiii;.'lii. tiiaki- iasvs t'lir
ki'i<|<iii^ iii'iliM' iiiul Miifi'ty iuiiiii'K»t liHlifniii'ii : tlmt tlii' liiilmicn ut' natiiri' in tliKMi'iiNliuiiiii
not lie tiniliilv iiiti'i tVii'd vvitli, mIiiti' lli«> liiilaiiii' nf atiiiiial litV iIi'|m'imI's ii|Mih iinlomuM
t'lioti ■!'>«. ( >t' tiii'M- iiiiLiiiiuii t'ai'tiH'M iKiiir Writ' iiiiiri' \ilal than tlir iiatiii'i' iit llii' -jawn
mill till' rliariu'ti-r lit' till' I'lirlv liti'liiNtiiry lit' lihiii'H. Simt' j);-. I.nnl l'la\ fair's ilri'laiii.
tiiiii ,jii'<t ri't'i'i'i'i'd til scii'iirii liiis imyoly it>iiiiivi>i| uiii' i;<iMii'mii'r.

A^'aiii, fur iiiiiny yi'urs |iri(ir tn l"*."*!, Smtti.xli llxlii'riiii'n itrxi'il lliai ilir iiki' of strain
iriiwJH, a kiiiil iif l.iiyi' lii'iiii ilii'ilyc, mIhiiiII Im' iirnliiliitrd liy law, fur I III' riamiiii that it
WHS >*u|i|ii'^rd III ilcsliny iiiiiiuiiM' i|iiaiit it Irs of .^iiasN II nil tlic Monr iif till' Mi'a, and wan
tlius rf;{aMli'd as si'iimisly i'iidmig«'rin;f tl «« Mi|i|i|ii s of most \aliialiii' lisli. We now
know that no siiili i'xti'iisi\i' dc-tnit'tion of sp, w n loiild iiossilily tiiki' [ilarc, ii> tin- iKli
fliii'llv taki-n on tin' Siotli»li mast do not ilr|iosil lluir I'KM'*' 'it tlu' liottoni of llio
8»!ii. '{'ill' lirriiiii;, il is trill', doi's ,o ; Imt it. wan not I'lainu'd that I lii> lirrrinu wi'i'i'sliowing
si;{ns of diniinuiion. 'I'lir <'oiii|iliiint liad ri't'i'i'i'tu" inainly to the I'od. haddock, tiirliot
mid Hat tiHiu's. A still iiiori' ylariiij; »'xmii|)li' of thr folly of lisln'iii's li-yislaiion lia.si'd
upon i^iiioraiiii' is thai of a n rtaiii liay in KrriA on tlii) west coast of Inland, wlii^ri'
ti'iiwliii;,' was at oiii- liiiir forliiddeii liy law lii-ciiiisi' of the iillt'^i'd aliiindaiicc then- of
turliot Hpawii, This -.|iiiwii. it wiih Htiiti-d, lay in »'xti'iisiv«' soft pati'ln-s all om-i- the hot
toiii of till' hay. AftiT till' prohihitioii had lici'n strictly carried out, soinit of ihi' ullc^'cd
tiirliot s|iassii was >iil)iiiit ted to a ^cii-ntitic authority, who, at unci', disco\t'ri'd that it
was Hot spawn at ul! : hut a wortlih'ss kind of spun;;!', svliich was positist'ly injurious to
lisli spawn and yoiinu fiy on account of its poisonous rxlialations. I'lidrr this
law a source of daimcr and injury to tin- lishcrics had liei'ii iuiiorantly protiM'tivl
mifl i<iicouraj,'i'd. A well-known lishcry expert at the Plyiiioiilh Lalimatorv, l']n:,'lmid,
in reference to these erroneous \iewN held liy men usually lei^anled as practical men,
has pointed out that "other thingH ai'o frequently mistaken liy tlsherinen rr tloatiii},'
spawn. l''or instance, in early summer ofl' the coast of ("ornwidl. there are frei|ueiitly
seen yreat i[umitit ies of a )iinkisli scum, w liich is found to consist of simdl round f,doliiiles.
This stufl" has liceii hrouyht in iismackorel spawn. It is not the s_ a^\n of lisli at all, the

little ;,'lol)ules liein^ a lowly orgmiisitd iiieinhn' of the miiiiial kiiii,'dom, which

never develops into miythinf,' different. It is called Noctiluca. "

Such ^rejit aihances ha\e lieen made in our knowledf^e of tin.' e!.';^s of (islies,
especially those of economic value in our seas mid inland waters, that the continued
prevalence of erroneous opinions. e\ en amonu' tishermen and persons connected with
lisli ill;,' industries, is il matter of surprise. It is, moriover, no iincoiiinion thiii;n- for
iiitelli;;eiit jicrsons to apply to the l)eparliiient tif .Marine and l''isheiics for spawn, or
for the yoiiiis;- fry of lishes, the en^^'s and youinj; of which liiuc never yet l)een st'cn hy
any one, and it is still more common for similar applii'iitions to he made for frv which,
on account of peculiar features in the nature of the spawn, it is imjiossilili', or very
unprotitalik', to deal with in fish culture- ■stahlishments. It is well known that in
zoological gardens and meiia'.;(!rics it is perfectly easy to lireed and real' lions, while no
oise is on record of elephants under domestication producing young. The peculiar
features charactei'istic of any sppcies.be it animal, bird or fish, must be taken into
account before the artificial culture of such species can be taken in hand.

Adhesive eggs, such as those of the black bass, maskiiionge, sturgeon, itc, are
most un ii.tisfacti/ry for treatment by methods of artificial culture. With extra pre-
cautions and care a small percentage of their eggs can be hatched ; but to obtain the
best results the seimrate, non-adhesive kind of eggs only, should be hatched artificially.
A'3 the late Professor .1. A. Kyder.jaid (Hulletin U. S. Fish CVmim., 1.S.S8) "our experi-
^nc^ with adhesive eggs of a'l kinds has always shown that it is difficult to prevent the

r;i

I

A coy CIS H ACCOUXT OF t'lSUKS EUUH.

19

liMlgfiiH'iit ami rii|iiilU fiitiil Kiriiiiiiiitinn of iln' H|Kir»'H nf Sii/)fii/',f,iiii nr .Irln/fn, i.e.,
ui|Uiiti(' t'liiiyi <>i' iiiiiiiltU, tiiiind ill itll tn-hli SMitiis u|miii dfinl us wll iis liviii){ I'jj^s. Sn
i-ii|>i(ily (ill ili)'>ii> r'liii^i nmw iliikt in a vt<ry nluni tiinc tlit-i mvii^i>H will «>x(<>rii| mmm uii

«Mitiif tniy ot' iiillir«.ivc' I'mrs, 'rin< I'^in (|t'-.t niycil liy tliii t'iiiiu'"i«i Mi'iiilim; 'iliuin-tii^

iiilii lln'ir Milisliiiicc, wliili' till' iiH'oli til iIm' inyi'i'liiiMi .lixo allnnlH |i>(i;,'iiH'fil ft r ilirt, mi
tliiit tlif iwn ti>«fllii'r t'rti'olimlly sluit oil" tlii> pt»«tMil)iliiy «»f t»xyx<'»mtiiiK elm i,vii, sn timt
tllfV lilt' slilnlln'rt'il.

Tlif «'K«s «i|f thf iiuiiu'i'itUH iiitliT lit' Itiiuy (Ulit'H (Ti'lcuMlfi) wliiili, ii iniiv lii» Miid,
iiiilii(li'H (iliiinst t'\fiy 'viii I lit' tisli tit' iiiiirkt'l Miliif, siiili as tlu) fnd, hi'irinif,
miliiiiiii, liikf vvliitt' ll-li, liiililiut, i^'i-., may l»> itMilily urrmiut,! in u iimitfil
iiuiiiImt III' ;.'itiu|is, cinli m'tiii|i iliHtiiinuiHlifd liy inurkiMl |)«H'iiliaii(ifx, ''"lioio an- twn
Tfiy distiiift typi's tif ^^■j.s iiridiT wliioh tlicMt ^{rt)ii|iw full : (I ) liutiyant m p. I(i;{i,' I'mfs,
*wliii'li |Mi>si'ss lilt' |"iwt'r iif lU).iiiiin ill wiitcr ; iitul (J), iIimihtsuI nr nmi jicliii,i" f;,'j,'s,
wliiili sink t<i till' liiiltniii \slii'ii dt>|Hi',iifi|, || i-, mt\ inti niu<-li to suy llial iiiiiMt, h.ilu's
ill llif swi, "t) fur U-. (iiir [iri'MMit knnsv UmI;;!' sIikws, iiniduif )liiuliii>< dvu. wliith urc
litiriif alioiit ill tlif -iirfaif walfiu nt i\\v sen in ilnudN as iiiuliitinliiitiiiN iih sikiw (lukus
ill llif wiiitfr uir, until tin- yDnn;; ThIi ili'\flii|i- and LiiinIs fiuii imcIi r^^<^ at tin- timi' nf
liuli'hin;{.

'riiiiu;;li t)ur .sous liavt- fur agn.-. fi)riimd a vast miiNDrv for tiit- lloutiin; nvaaiid voiiiik
fry. lilt! uinu/iii;.' faft was nnkimwn iml unsus|Miot<Ml, and tisliiMiiifii, in I'mhinnn witli tlif

iiuliiic Kf. I I !y imauint'd, tliui lislifs N|ia\\ iumI mi tlif linttKin nf l lif sfu, nr sflfcifd spff i,il
tanks, nr .•>. Itfri'd imky ^llnrfs nii wliiili In pi ice ihfii f;.'i{s. 'I'liniiiUN I't'iiiiaiit, niui nf
tlif iiiiist tlil'y;fiit and puinstakiii;.' nf the nidfi JJrili^li nuluralisiH says, fnr iiKstaiicf, nf

th id (liiitish Znnln^y, I "'i'.', \'nl. Ill , pap- 1 II.) •• In niir m-as ilicy U-'iii tn spawn

in .lanuary, and i|fp<»il tlit-ir f;,",'s nii rnu_i,'li i;rniinil, aninny rn.'ks, S(]inf fnntiniif in
rnf until tlif lif'^jiniiini,' tif April.

I>r. Hii;{iiH'(,'aiiu aptly says, in liin retciit ineiiinir tMititlfd, " rnnti", Ueuf&, et I,arvf's
fles htissniis Ossfux, i'tiit'H ft (.'niiifstildt's." (.Vnii. Stat. Agrif. Mniil.iu'iif sur-Mor.
1.S1»3): "( Jniitrairf infill aux frnyaiiffs rfpandufs danw If nitmilf dcs pcchorifs, la
jiliipart il(*s pnissniis iismmix cniiif-tililf s dnniifiit dfs n'ufs llntlanis, (lispfiNfs a la surfaco
df la iiifr a c|Ufli|Uf distaiuf dfs cntfs ft i|Uf (.'''rtaiiifs fspciMs prniluiscnt stmU's ft- iiui
tHuit attrihut' a la j^t'iu'ralitf, a savnir. ties nufs Itaabant au fund df IVau t-n raisnn dv
Ifiir pnids nil lixt's aux fiirps suliiiif ryi's (liurt'ii;:, (''pfrlan, ftc./

'I'lif pflu;.,'i<' nr tiit^ df 111 'I'sal fliarai'lfr nf tlif i-y;; in any parlif iil.ir spffifs nf lisli is
altiim'tlicr iiultipfiidfut of its znnln;;ical atlinitifs. Tlio irinst .surpi'i>in;,'divt)rsity olitains
in tliis rt'spcft, ami wc cannot forctisl the iiaturt- nf tlif fj,'i,'s nf any kind of Hsij frniii tin-
gfiifi'al cliaraftcr nf tlii^ ova known to hn proilucwl liy tlit- ;,'rnup tn wliifli it, /nolmM-
cally liflnii.;s. Thf yfiifial laws wliifli hold iruf in thf casr of tlit- f^'i,'s and youii" of
binls, nr nf insfcts, (In lint hold I ruf nf lislu's. The hf rriiij,' and inaiiv nf I hi^ horriii"
triiie (Clujioiduf ), for fxaiiiplf, prndiicf small iidliesivt* e^'gs whifli clin';,' in rntks, iVc-.
at thf hnttniii nf thf M-a. yi'l the sprat {('/n/iitn sprn/Zns) ami llic pilchard {('hnirn
j/i/r/iiii(/ii>) pindiii'f llif iiinst dflicate ami Inmyant n( all lluating fy;,'s, 'I'ho .skulpins
(t'nf/i), as a rule, dfpn>it spniij^y inasso.s nf nnii-llnatin;,' f^ys, yet Ale.x. Awissiz de.s-
crilif I thf I'uji nf one specios nf ('ollns a-- lloatiiii;. Sn w idcsprfad ai;ain, i.s tlu' pflai,'ir
char.iftfi' nf thf fi;jj;.s of llat tishes, sufli as the halibut, lurhnt, miIi-, ,Vf., that it was a
surjais ■ to ii;itiir dists tn liiid that the wiiitfr llnumlfi' { /'.ti-in/, ,-/,/, iir:in''r/i-s inmriranas)
has adht'siM.' f.ujis. which sink In the bntlniii nf the watfr, and clinic in aillieroiit masses.
The nearest rt'lativc of the winlcr llnun 'er, viz., the cnmiiinn tlniinder ( I'arali' h>}iu^
ijinhihix) nf nur Atlantic sliorfs, pioduofs tloatiiii,' fjigs. The Cuniifr (L'li imlalirns
a'lsj)i'i\-<iis) has a vfry traiispaffiit iii!la;,'ic nsuiii about .,'. nf an inch in diaiiifter
whereas the allii;il specifs, IjiiJirns )>iiica/'i/iin, thf liallari W'rassf. dfposits dense heavy
ei,')j;s in a m-si in rnek pools. The discovery that tlioet,'i;s of such tishes as the cod and
mackerel were possessed of such buoyancy as to compel them to swim near the sea's sur-
face is due to I'rnfessnr G. O. Sars, the eminent Xor\vc!.daii z(Mln;,'ist, and what Sars
early in the sixties (1S64) proved nf the cud, mackerel and gurnard, was estalilished
later by Frofessnr Mcintosh, of St. Andrews, Scotlaml, in the ca.se of the sole and tlat
■fishes, as well as of the linL;, whiting and other important species used for food.

90

MARINE AND FISHERIES.

Of the two types of fishes' eggs, the deinei'sal find the pehigic or floating type, there
are many vaiieties ; but it is possible to group theui under a number of heads, and thus
concisely enunieratf, in brief compass, most of them.

A vast number of fishes' eggs are spherical like peas, or small shot, consisting
essentially of a iiall of soft yolk, capped by a more or less transparent sheet of germinal
matter, the whole being inclosed in a translucent cay)sule or shell. The shell is often
very tough, l)Ut usually sufilciently thin to permit a careful observer, with the aid of a
lens or a microscope, to make out the main features of the early germ, and, laler, the
larval fish inside the egg. Those who practise fish culture are able, on account of this
feature in the egg capsule, to see the progress of the developing fish. It is usual, indeed,
Ui speak of a certain stage as the "eyed egg," because the black eyes of the larva are so
readily visible through the shell. The shell in the cod, haddock and mackerel is excep-
tionally thin, no more, in fact, than ;,o'(,„ of an inch thick (-0078 or OOSl mm.), whereas in
the shad it is about twice as thick, and in the ti-out and salmon at least live or six times
thicker. Many eggs exhibit lemarkable shining and coloured oil-globules, in the
salmon they give tlie warm orange tint to the egg ; but in tlu^ whitefish the oil globules
are j)!de and nearly colourless, hence the eggs exhibit no tint. The eggs of the stickle
backs are golden yellow, and those of tlie hinip-tish (Ci/c/iijif<'n<K) vaiy \('iy much, and
may be either yellow, gi'cenish, or even light pink in colour, these colours being due
apparently to tinted matter scattered in the yolk. The eggs of the sturgeon are either
of a dull green or of light or very dai'k brown colour, due to the grains of colouring
matter which are crowded all over the surface; of the yolk, and are espeiially numerous
and ilense in the germinal area The olive-green colour of the eggs of certain Siluroitl.'-
or cat-iishes is due to the colour of the yolk substance, as is probalil}' also the case with
the pale green egg of the striped bass ( Raff us /iii<'((/iin) and the rich y(!lIow eggs of the
pipe-tish (.Siji/ioft/ooia).

The nature of the yolk varies greatly and may be of the consistency of s^Tup, cleai'
and translucent, f)r coarsly granular as in the carj) tribe, or broken up into segments
oi- lunijis, like the separate i^rains in a pomegranate, a condition well marked in the
shad, pilcliard and sea herring. In the eggs of the sole, anchovy, blue fish ( TmniDilmi j
and others, there is a partial segmentation of the yolk, which is coiitined to the sui'facc
of the yolk. Other interesting features might be referred to, but they aic, to the
ordinary ol)servei', of minor importance, and are of less practical moment in connection
with the fisheries.

Turning then to the various types retei'red to, it may be premised that the
following grouping of fish under tlieir se\eral distinctive heads, must be regarded merely
as a ])rovisioiial and cotivenicnit classification which may r(M|iiire modification oi' exten
sion with the advancement- of our knt)wledge r'egarding the ova and eai'ly life histoiy ot
fishes. The sharks, rays, lampreys and other fishes, not of piime importance fi'om an
economic point of view, are excluded ; but the eggs of those Telef)stean or Bony fishes
which are of princii>al value in the markets, and of moment, theref 're, in connection with
the iislies are all embraced in the seventeen separate divisions enumerated below. Ot'
these seventeen grou))s or types of eggs, no less than seven are pelagic and characterizefl
by the special features which belong to floating or buoyant kinds. So many fishes pro
duce eggs of this chaiaf>ter deposited in t.h(> open sea within a fathom or two of the
surface that, in the iirief sununary here given, they may be placed first in ordei'.

Pelayic or Fhu.lhtg Fish-EgijK.

(1.) Ei,'gs. such as those deposited in the sea by cod, haddock, halibut, plaice
and sprat, and other valuable connruMcial fishes, are spherical inform, with an extremely

thin shell oi' capsnl

(•!

eai' translucent liall of yolk, and no large oil globules.

1^

They float separate from each other in the surface waters of the sea, and from their
delicate structure, buoyanc}- and coliuiless tran.sparency, they may not inaptly
be compared to minute soap-bubl)les wafted hither and thither by every current
or movement in the surrounding water. They aie always of minute size and so ditficult
to see in the water, that they are practically invisible. A practised eye can discover
them if tlie water be very smooth, but they are most readily obtained for examination

in
mil

pr.i

(-■

U'\

is
th

.1 COXCISE ACCOUXT OF FISHES' EUdS.

21

oating type, there
i heads, and thus

1 shot, consist! ii<i
^ht>et of germinal
ho slieli is often
nth tiie aid of a
, and, liiU-r, tlie
1 account of this
is usual, indeed,
f the hirva are so
ackerel is excep-
nun.). whereas in
:. live or six times
lol)ules. In the
1 the oil glohules
;'s of (he sfickMe
very much, and
(lurs beinij due
rgeon are either
ns of culouriiii:
iially ninnerou>
•ertain Sihn-(»i(l,'-
■^o the (Wise with
How egM-s of tlie

y nf syruj), clear
) into st'Ljnietits
I marked in the
ish ( Trnnioiloii )
1 to the surface
liey are, to the
it in connection

nised that the
('yarded merely
■ition or exten
y life history of
)rtance from an
or liony fishes
onnection with
ted below. Of
d characterized
any fishes ]iro
or two of the
I order.

halibut, plaice
h an extremely

oil globules,
nd from their

not inaptly
every current
md so difficult
e can discover

examination

in a floating tow-net oi' l)ag (.)f fine mosquito netting. They vary greatly in si/efrom the
minute egg of the Dragonet \CaHlonjp)t.H><) about .-^ of an inch in diameter (O'oG to
0-()0 nun.) to that of the halibut, which jmssesse^ the largest floating fish egg uji to the
present time discnvered, and measuring in diameter no less than 1 or J, ()f an inch
(.">'07 to llvS nun.) The cod's egg is about ,'. inch (1-1 or I'o mm ), the .sand dab's egg
(J'li'iironixles iiiiii-n/itfiis) mt^asiires ,,', inch while tlie cunners egg {i'lriidhihrns ad.-^/i' rsKn)
is about .,\, inch in cUametei'.

(■J.) J'^ggs, similar tc those embraced in the last group in all particulars, except in
the })ossession of a large oil , .(lobule, rarely with one or two smaller globules .ulj.'Krnt.
This so-called oil globule is so striking a fi'ature thatinany eggs of this lype can bo
readily diseei'iied with the naked eye. Otherwise! they are colourless, delicate and
transpar(>nt aiul uouldlie practically invisible when floating in sea-water'. The most
important of thi.'se eggs is that of the mackerel which measures a fraction over ^,\^ of an
inch in diameter (l''J."} mm.,) while the oil gl()l)iile is very large, vi/., about one ([uarter of
the diameter of the egg. The Silver Make [Mtrlnc'nx) pro(Juces eggs .,'- \nv\\ in diameter
(the oil globule about j,',||Of an inch across), while the sea cusk or torsk (lirnsniinx
hriisiiiv) the turbot {lUioiiiliii!^ iiKiyiiiinx) the < lurnard ( 7'/''///'/.), t'le Spanish Mackerel
(Scoiii/iiiroiiiiij'iis) and the File lisli (Elacate) may be instanctid as species wlK)se eggs
contain a siimle briiilit jilobule of oilv matter. T'he ''lobule niav in somti cases l)e tin'cd
viz., a reddish brown in the torsk and a dull pink in the gurnard's egg.

(•V) Kggs in which ihe characteristic- featni'e is the presence of small oil globules
distributed all over the surface of the yolk ball, or collected in scattered groui>s. In other
respeijfs, by tli'ir smooth transparent shell, citiaryolk, and extrt'iue lightness or buoyancy,
this tyj)e of ovum is not distinguishable from llif two jireceding groups. The appeai'ance
presented by the so-called oil gUjbiiies is very distineti\e.

Tiu! most important commenial specit-s of Hsh that may \n' instanci!(l is the lOnglish
sole (Si)/r(i rii/(/<ir!.s), the globules in which are extremely small, silvery, and collected
togetlier in se|)arate groups upon the surface of the yolk. The egg of the Wcest-r-lish
{7'rnc/iiinis ripi-ra) is .nlso studded with small glistening globules scattered over the yolk,
while .Vl(\\an(]er Agassiz long ago desci'ibed a tloatiiig cge; which he regarded as produced
liy an Anuuican species of Skulpin (Coffus), tvKhibiting similar globules of a greenish
tint. Other species of Skulpin ((.'ot/ns), it may be mentione.l, are known to have s\ holly
difl'ereut eggs, destitute of the p(jwer of floating, possessed of tough and thick cajisules
or shells, and strongly adhesive; to each oilier.

(t.) I'^loatiiig eggs without oil globules, which jiresent on the outside of the shell
project ine hairs, knobs or other external structures. Coniparati\ely f 'w llshes ]iroiluc(;
eggs of this charactcu', but they are suiricieiitly noteworthy to entitle them lo be regarded
as a very marked distinctive tA'pe. The Silver (Jar {llilunc), as Hieckel long a^o dis-
covered, produces eggs about ^ inch in diauu^ter, which are covered with long hairs oi-
lihiments, many of them half an inch in length. The eggs of the tl\'ing lisli (E.riicnr/,is)
and of tl' • Sauiy pike (Si-tiin/ifr'Sd.r) exhibit the same striking {leciiliai-ity. Tlie late
Professor llydcr held the \ iew that by these hairs the eggs were able to cling to floating
objects in the sea, and be thus ; tanspnited through tli • water and inculiation fii'oured.
'J'hey also become attached to each other and coIIih'I in entangled groups, in lead of
Moating isolated far apart. The theory that these filamentous tendrils have for their
object the attachment of the eggs to foreign objects is open to ([uestioii. At times they
no diaibt accidentally come into contact with stake ni^ts and oilier fixt-d objects inshore —
the floating eg;^ ribbons of th(? Aiifiler I'^isli frc^cjuentiy do tlitit, but the presence of similar
tine filaments jirojecting from the shell of certain rooted eggs in tidal pools indicates
rather a protective function. The ova of the Dragonet (Cnl/i'iiii/imiii) present externally
an erect honeycomb structure, [)roduced by delicate intersecting projections of the
shell exteruhng ov(>r the whoh; si.rfai.'e of the egg, and resulting in a hexagoiiiil pattern.
Like the coat of soft mucus which envelops many eggs, these hairs and projections on
the outsitle of the shell may deter certain natural enemies from eating them.

(•").) To this division lielom^ pelagic eggs provided with extei-nal projections, but
unlike those already mentioned, exhibit one or more f)il globules. HaflFaele has described
an egg showing these features measuring about -jJ,, inch in diameter and having conical pro-

22

.\fABIXE AXD F IS HE HIES.

jections studding' tlie wlinlo of tlio egg capsulo. TliP nil nrlobiilc is ratlior nioro than , J

incli across, and tlif stnietui'o o

)f tl

xc ovum

io(r
is exi'pe(lint;lv delicatf and stril<in''. Tlip

disooveror rf'<;ards it as the egg of i1/ae»v/?'«N, helnnging to a family of lislics closely allied
to the cod (the (iadidic).

((■).) i'loatitig eggs iinhedded in gelatinous i'il)lions or strings, such as are produced
hy the angler {Loplnun). K. van Heneden, many years ago, ol)tained floating eggs
whiih reseinlilcd in all essential features the egg^ grouped under dixisioii 2, l»eing
■iplierical in form, extremely delicate in structure, and i>ossessing a large oil globule, hut

\vere iml)e(l(le(l in a

characterized hy this striking additional feature, that tin
tloating mass ot clear jelly. Van Jicneden's eggs were attributed \o some species of the
family (iadidie; but the most familial', and in many respects the mo>t remarkable
example of this group, is that of tluf egg bands of the Angler or (Idosdish already
alluded to. liiicli egg, individually, is a small sphere ( ,'j inch in <liameter) and pro-

vided with a shininjr oil

Job

Mie ot a pin

kish-

irown colour. an<

d

inch 111 diameter.

Many thousands of them ar(> pnidmcd by the female Loji/iin^, agglutinat(>d together in
a mucous iiaiid, thirty or forty fei-t long in some cases, and <) to Id inches wide. ( )ne
ribbon of eggs is recorded over UO feet in length. This ponderous ribbon, a soft slippery
nias.^, floats in the (jj)en sea secure from every predacious foe. Observers have describcfl
it as recalling a l)and of pale f)urplisli i'rajH> ; but the specimens, obtained when
entangled in inshore fish pnunds, which I have had the oiiportunity of studying,
appeared like Hat lianrls of colonrh^ss glistening jelly, with a delicate hexagoi al pattern
internally, duo to the gelatinous capsules of adjacent eggs pressing u> •• each other.
No animal known to the naturalist c:aild readily swalhjw this formidab' pl'ery mass,
and the en\clopc of the eog-ribbon is so tough and t.'iiacious that, as i»,.'J', |j, iiean
reported when he secured a mass of these eggs in bSS7 " we were obliged to out it with a
knife. The eggs, " he added, '• are in honey comb like c(>lls,'" a condition really due to
the mutual pi'essure of adjacent eggs all provided wiili a thick mucous envelope. lOggs
of this type are most eU'ectUMlly protecled, ;uid the young fry. on hatchinif out, are well
provided for co]>ing with the perils which beset newly liberated lar\al fishes, as T
described in the Ninth Annual Kejioit (jf the Si-ottish l''ishery IJoard, IS'.tl. In con-
setpience Ln/i/iixs- is an .ibundant and widely distributed species.

(7.) l'>ggs of an (.'longated or ova.l shape form a somewhat restricted and uncommon
type of floating o\a. Many of the sj)herical fish-egys embraced under the foregoing
divisions at times are ellij)soidal ; but tlie normal form is a more or less perfect sphere.
The anchovy (/i'i(_(y/y<»//.s') produces eggs of a marked elongated oval form, which has
been cliaracteri/,t>(l as saus.ige sha[)ed. Kaili egg is about ,,',, inch from end to end, and
about A, inch transverse diameter. In structure it is extremely delicate and transparent,
destitute of oil globules with f.iint lines of yolk segmentation, in the early living stages.
The young fish on bursting from the e^g is extremelv elonuated. and shows the charac-
teristic features of the clupeoid or herring form being destitute of colouring matter.

Demersal or iS^oii-iii./'fiiK/ E'jijs.

Passing from jjeljigic or tloating eggs to demersal or noii-buovant eggs we find that
there may b(; distinguished no less than nine groups.

(8.) The first group r'onsists of eggs wdiicli are free, non-.idhesive or very slightly so,
spherical and usually of <-onHiderable size. They lack the extreme transluc •ncy and
delicacy of the float.ing eggs described above. Indeed compared with the almost
invisible and insignificant pe'agic ova,the eggs of saluKm, or smelt, lumptish or herring are
coarse and heavy aiifl can be readily handled if due care be exercised. Floating eggs
can in most ca.ses not be touched or lifted out of the water without injury and usually
death. The eggs of the salmon (aUmt | inch in diameter) are typical, and an abund-
ance of reddish oil globules in the yolk imparts to them their characteristic colour.
The eggs of the brot)k trout ({\r inch in diameter) are very similar and those of the
great lake trout about 1 of an inch in diameter are much paler. The eggs of the whitetish
exhibit no tint at all. < )n account of their wholly non-adhesive character they are
hidden by the parent fish in crevices in honey-comb rock, in gravel, coarse sand and the

.1 COSCISE ACCOUNT OF FISHES' E'.'il

23

''•m<)i-o than , '
I Striking'. The
lies I'losely allied

IS iifo produced

d tloiltillli; («r(rs

■vision 2, hein;;
f'il Klol)uIe, bu't
- imh(>d(led in a
If .species of tlio
<>-t rcinurkuhle
osffish id ready
neter) and pro-
'■'i ill diameter,
f'd tocr,.(li,.i- in
les « ide. ( )n,.
, a. soft slippei-v

liJivedeseribed
'litaiiied when
of studying,
gorai pattern
■■ e.i^'h other.
I'pery nia.ss,
' • T. H. Hean
oout it with a
really due to
ke|op(>. I']iri,'.s
out, are well
d fishes, as T
^i'i. h.ron-

id uneoininon

the foreiTdiiifi-

, w

irect sphere.

11. which has
to end, and

transj)arent,

ivini,' stages,
the charae-

I'iii.U matter.

kve find that

slightly so,
uc ncy anci
the almost

lorringai'e
oatinj,' eggs
ind usually

!in al)un(l-
tio colour.

io,se of the
0 whiletish
' they are
id and the

like. When newly ileposiled they are smdnth and -li[)pery tn tin ioueli. and ari> lightly
carried 1)V th(» water into (•re\ii'es at the linttom, and thus secure > ',f e pi'olection tlmugli
many fall a |irey to enemies, which pel igic eggs cntiiiiy escape. ( In >e\eral occa'-inns
1 have tried to secure newly dejiosited eggs, say of Itritish Columhia salmon, innncdiately
after the female had laid 'hem. I found it almnst impossible tu ^eize any with forceps
or the hand as the slippery eggs eluded iIk^ grasj), anil in the swift current they tlew
from one crevice to another as thiiugh cnduwetl with life. So far as known few fishes
in the sea produce eggs of t!i is t} pe. The larger and lesser Sanded or Sarul I aunce
(AniiiKidi/tfi.K) do so, though the eggs for a time ai-e slightly adhesi\c, and arc hidden in
loose sand or gfav(>l between tide marks. The eggs of tiiesliad are deposited in >lialIo\v
water some distance up rivers where the water is fresh. They are of compar;iti\ cly
large .size for a I'lupeoitl, \'v/.. : \ or i inch in diameter, fairly translucent, anil with a
very small yolk-ball which occupies only a part of the spacious chamber inside the I'gg-
capsule. ^^'llell nt'wly deposited shad eggs often cling tcigether, by rea.soii of a slight adln si-
veness, in layers one egg deep. 'i'he striped bass llncnift liwiitii.^, one of the most
valuable of food fishes, enter.s C'^tuaries in sjiring and deposits it-, eirgs toward the
head of tide on a sandy or gravelly bottom. Tliey an' 1 of an inch in diameter and of
a pale gi'ecn tint when first laiil. The first r-(>cor(l I'enaidiu .' the eggs of this spi^-ies
ajijiears to be that of .Mi\ .\i:uvettu<. who irr the report of tiie .Mar'vland i'isir ( 'orrrmis-iiui.
United States, 1S80, states that M r\ Hamlin, on May 'itli, IS?!', obtairred them and
noticed that they were lar'ger' than herrings eggs and iircieased in size after- ferti i/ation,
losiirg their green colour anil opacity arrd assuming a t rMn--parency which r'endercd them
almost irnisible, oirly the oil globule arresting attention by its glistening appear'ance.
They ar-e deposited by t!ie [)ar'ent fi-.li apparently in fiesh-watei- above the liirriis of the
inflowing tidal sea wali-r-, ii» some important Canadian rivers. Fiof. .1. A. Ky<ler-, siu'-
urised that they also may b(> deposited in salt w.itei' in somi- localities, ami iir the
-Miramiehi Hivei', New Ibainswick, it is claimed that the urain spawning gi'ounds coin-
cide with or' ar'e lower' down than the piinci])al winter' haunts of the fish, and in that
case th(! eggs ar'c place 1 in br'acki^h water'. That, the eggs of any species of fish can
thus be ilepo^itcd inditl'er'ently in fi'csh and in br'ackish wati v is corrtr-ary to exact
obser'valiorrs on the physical eth'ct of such iliver'se conditions upon osa, and fur'i her'
investigations ar'e medcd rega'ding the actual s|iawrring haliits of the striped bass. .V
consider'ablc ipiantity of eggs (riot less than twd ui' thiee milliorrs) is pr'oduced by a
single spaw ncr'.

(U.) Separ'ate. norr adhesive eggs pr'o\'ided with numerous long tilarrrents like the
ova of the sand smelt or' Atlrer'ine {Alln riiiti /ii>j)sf/ii.<. L.) which are verv large, not less
than ,',T in diam eter-. altliougii the full urown fish is orrlv five or' six inchets irr lerrjith.
Ujiorr one side o^ the yolk ball there is ■„. wr'cath of srirall oil globules; but th<^ most
tlistinguishiiig featur'e is the tariuled irrass of wavy filaments pr'ojectirrg fr'om the exter'nal
sur'face of the egg capsule. The egg is attaclied to sea weeds, cor'allines, and even to
star fishes and sea-urchins, by means of these tilameiits.

(10.) ( dohular- eggs srilUcientlv a<lhesi\e, when deposited, to clirrg to th(» bottom,
or to adjace'.t (.bjects under- water', but never' adherirrg together' in lar'ge spongy masses.
The C'apelirr de])o.sit.s fre(> adhesive eggs of this characte The eggs of the (iaspereaii
or alewife, a clupeoid wlricli ascends rivers in May for' spa -a id ng, deposits cleir, glassy
eggs, srrraller than those of the s|iad and destitui" of oil globules. l_)r. J. B. (Jilpin
I'ecorded the opiruon that the spawrung l)eds might lie in lakes of some depth.
"Although the salmon and tr'out ar'e often seen spawrung. F never met any one," he
says, " who has seen the tb-rspei'esiux in the act. So T suiipose he spawns in deep water
as we know he loves the deep lakes with clear sandy marjiirrs. " Fields over' flowed in
the spr'ing ar'e, however', often chosen, and as the eggs hat'lr in thi'ee or four- (hiys, the
schools of frv usually reach the river channel before the ;!oods subside. The female fish
produces (iO'.OOO to 100,000 eggs.

A sinrilar egg is produceil by the pike-perch (pickerel or dore), which readily
adheres to ad,)acent objects when newly deposited. Each egg measures ,',y inch in
diaujeter, and a yellow or' reddish globule of oil is seated in the yolk. The eggs of the
sturgeon, about j'g- inch in diameter, are enveloped in a tenacious gummy sub.stance,

f

84

MAItIXE AXl> FISHEIUES.

and no dou))t, when deposited natundly they encrust the interstices of rocky ledges,
gravel, stoness, ^-c. Including their coat of uulcu^ tliey measure over i, inch (.'5 mm.)
in diameter. No observer appeal's to have discovered tliem on the spawning grounds,
and lumps of sturgeon spawn are not known ; l)ut when artiticaliy manipulated they
readily form huge irreguhir musses and long ropes of an extremely adlierent nature.
Fishermen or others would certainly ohtain sucli masses of sturgeon spawn did they
occur in our lakes and rivers, i)Ut the eg'.'s appear to he not found naturally ailhering
to each other. The tenacious matter haidens in al)uut thirty minutes, and Prof, liyder
has recorded, " after that has occu red it is scarcely j)i)ssil)le to dtstiich them without
injury to their delicate thin envelopes and their soft vLscid contents. The sticky coating
of the eggs linally remains asagrayisli winte, tough, slightly elastic covering enveloping
the egg-membrane proper, and varies in thickness at diilerent points on the surface of
the ova."

If allowed to harden in round or irregular masses the inner eggs die rapidly from
suffocation, and in our lakes and rivers the sturgeons' ova are j)rol)ahly dejiosited in
thin layers. Indeed, it is found in handling freshly laiil slurgion ova that if a basin or tray
be inclined only for a mon\ent the eggs ilow to that side and a coaling of a single layer
is fonned ujion the surf:ice to which they have been so brietly exposed. They hatch in
four or live days, but it is i)robal)le that a very large percentage perish annually on the
spawning grouiuls.

(11.) This division includes eggs, which closely reseml)lc in their tenacious char-
acter and general features, the last described yet a distinguishing point about them is
the fact that they form clumps or irregular groujis, lather than layers, 'i'he eggs are
.so attached to each other and to stones, weeds, sliells and other di'biis, that they form
a loose spongy mass, through which water freely percolates. Demersal eg:.s thus irreg-
ularly cemented together, exhibit the utmost variety of form, colour aiul distribution.
They may be pale and translucent like the herrings eggs about the si/.e of No. 7 shot
01' more dense and as large as peas (slightly less than a (juarter of an inch in diameter,
viz., () nun.), like those of the wolf-tish {AiKirrliirhns.) Tin; luui]) lish t'lidoyti'ma, whose
eggs are |\y inch in diameter, and those of the frost-iish or tom-cod (Gadn'< tomcod Walb),
measuring I'athei' less than ('i,- inch in diameter, belong to this group. The eggs of the
tom-cod have a conspicuous oil globule, and the thick adhesive shell is coated with an
mucous cement enabling them tf) cling to sea-weeds, ami stones inshore anil below
low-water mark.

(1l'.) Eggs of spherical shape and clothed in a distinct layer of soft mucous matter,
which causes them to adhere to plants and foreign objects. .Most of them contain
numerous oil glol)ules. and they are the type of ovum ju-oduced by some of our most
familiar freshwater tishes such as the pike, maskinonge, white perch (liocnis nini'vicaiis,)
the suckers (Catastomiflie) and many allied Cyprinidie. 'I'lie tenacity of the mucous coat
is ^uch that as one observer has sai<l of the --niall adhesive ova of the white perch, they
"maybe hatched on threads which base be. n drawn through the freshly extended
spawn, the thre.ids being suspended in a hatching' j;ir, through which water is kej>t flow-
ing.'' The eggs in this group are freipiently found to be dei)osited singly ujion plants,
submerged routs of trees, branches iVc, and the adhesive coat inste.idof hartleiung under
the action of water renwiins as a soft prot(!Ctive coat, which ju'events many predacious
animals from eating them.

One of the carp family viz., B/kh/ius dUKirfis, JJloi-h. by means of a long ovipositor,
like a protrusible tube, places its eggs inside the open shell of pond-uuissels. The familiar
gold-hsh deposits its eggs (,'jy inch in diameter) on weeds.

(13.) Eggs similar to the last are produced by the black bass of our lakes and
rivers and the allied river sun-tishes (Centrarchi(he), the bearded cattishes and other com-
mon fresh-water s])ecies. The eggs with their soft nmcous coat cling together in nuisses
and are generally placed in a nest of more or less perfect construction. They
become attached by this viscid en\ elope of jelly to pebbles, twigs and weeds of which
a kind of nest is usually constructed by the parent fish.

y\v. C. F. Holt, who described this nest in tiie case of the black bass (iJicropterus),
says : —

th

th

wh

I

.1 CDXCISE ACCOUXT OF FISHES' Ei.'dS.

25

The places selected ufp in lUNii'ly still water, near the ^lun-e, and in water fnmi one
to two feet in depth.

The l)ods are circular iti t'orni. tVnni eii,'hicen inches in three t'eet in diuuieter, and
are formed Ity cleanin;,' from the bottoMi all setliment, sand, A-c, leaving' a bed of cle/ui
pebbles. Tiiis is the joint work of both malt! and feniah- tisii. The bed hasiiij,' been
prepared, the female then moves slowly over it, depositini; her o\ a. and the male impte-
UnatcH thoni as fast as laid. The e;,'L;s. which are \eiy small, arc i;liied fast to the
pebbles. The im|iregnation is almost absohiti'ly perfect. In the past thrci" years I have
examin(!tl a larj^e nuiid)er of beds, by carefully iemo\in<; one or more of the pebbles
covered with Pf^ffs, and examininji them with a microscope, and have never yet found
more than one per cent of unimpreiiiiated I'^^s.

After the ej^^s are impregnated the male heaves to the female the whole care ui the
ej^fjs and the youni; brood. She now passes constantly backwards and forwards over the
bod, the motion of her (in and tail keepini; the e;,'i,'s clean, whit'li the fact of their beitiii
ylued fast permits her to do without washing ilicin away.

The catlishes (vl//i''//«/7^s and others) construct a similar nest, oxer which the parent
fish keep ifuard. The ej^<;s, ,! to l-inch in diameter, an<l of a dull whitish, sometimes
gi'eenish colour are aerated by the male during' the si.x or eiffht days occupied in incuba-
tion. Tim male hovers around the viscid mass a^itatiny tlie water I'onslantly witli the
pectoral, ventral and anal tins. The female fish remains near but takes no part in the
work of protection. A recent writer in the ".\merican Angler " refers to the nest in
these terms : -

In laying their eggs, the parent cattishes selet't a spot wlii'i'c liie water is ipiiet,, if
possible, ]irotected by a(|uatic jilaiits. and there they make a nest, perhaps eight inches
by six, includinn' the spawn.

The nest has a soft outer envelope, and over it tin' m.de hoNcrs. forcing frish water
through the mass bv rapid vi!;rationsof his tins, until after about a week they are iiatched.

The late Professor Ryder estimated in a nest of the kind just described that there
were probably J, 000 ova covering a space eight iiu'hes liy four inches In each egg it
has been found that the outside \iscid layer is separated from an inner and extremely

of elastic substance
e of tim eic"

ntlli' sea f:ll\\<.\\ {./:'/ II n'r/Ziys)

g is that exemplilied by

thin shell or capsule by a considerable space acros-^ which straiu

extend. This remarkable separation of tlie shell adds to the hardy nature of tim egg

by providing a cushion for resisting ^ iolence or injury.

the capsule is simple and unlike that just descrilied.

(14.) A further and most interesting type of a(
the j'ellow perch [I'l-rra jlarrni-ens). hjach egg is globular and pos-psses a triple egg
shell, viz., a thin, delicate, iiniermnst membrane, surrounded l)V a \ery thick, soft layer,
streated radially in a most remarkable way, and inclosed externally by a thin viscid
layer. The eggs adhere together in the form of a band, like the egg-ribbon of the
Angler (Lopkini>), excejit that instead of being flattened it has a bellows or folded
angular ararngement, up the middle of which there passes a space allowing of aeration.
These jelly like bands, in which the eggs are massed like the cells in a hoiu^y comb, ate
lie|,vy aiul often li(> in the bottom of still water like a long hollow frill in a cir(.'ular or
semicircular form. They are '1 or '?> inches across and \'l to .'30 inches loni;. I^ach egg
exhibits a large oil globule, an<l when free from its jelly ribbon measures al)out 1 of an
inch in diameter.

.Mr. G. P. Dunbar described the eggs of the liill fish ( Li-pidiisfi-ns) as suspended in
long ropes of thick jelly several inches in diameter and hung to old snags, roots of t rees, iVc.

(15.) Stalked or rooted eggs form a distinct irrouji, and wdiile all exhibit the common
feature of a fibrous ])late or facet of attachment, they vary in shape aiid structural
details in the utmost degree. Thus t he f^gg of the smelt (Osnif'nis I'/n'r/tnnis) is global ir,
but exhibits upon one side a ooneshaped attachment or root, really formed by the .split-
ting and inversion of the e.xternal adhesive mendjrane. J. T. C-unningham carefully
studied the featurts of this pecitliar conical attachment in a .series of eggs, and his
ob.servations may be here quoted —

" They all possessed a kind of membranous appendage, and there were two or three
which were suspended fron. the surface of the stones by means of this membrane, the

26

MAIUNt: AND FISHERIES .

distal end of wliich Imd l)wi»me iittiielicd at the inoiiifiit (if cxtriision. In tlif frco ('<;<rs
iin puwfT of udhfsiou any longer evicted. It was dlnious t'nnii;L(li that tlu; inonil)i annus
.il>[i('ndai,'t' is tlici sn fulUul susptMi^d v tilaniciit nicntioMcd in tlic cxistin;,' literature,
l>ui ilif word tilaiiit-nt is a wvy iua|i|iii)|>ri'it<' Icriii. 'I'lie iiifiMhianc is Hcxililc, and in
llif r'nini nf a liiilUiw truncated ctuif, tlif sides uf wliidi are tlirnwii into irn'^'ular folds;
tlie narrow end of the eone is eontinuous witli the envelope of liie I'n;,' ; the attachment
li(!lween lilt' i'n\ I'lopin;,' and tiie sus])cnsory inemlnane thus forius a rin;,' on the surfa-e
of the furnit.'i Ivxauiination ot' the ejii^r-, in this condition does nil aliord c\idci;ceof
the origin of the suspensory niendirane. All that could he setui was that tlie suspensory
mendjrane was dotted ad over with |iores of consilcrable size, and that the envelojiin;;
nicnilir.ine was perforated everywhere hy liner pores nioie closely crowded. 'I'he
envelopintr ineud)ran(' is thus a /.ona adiata.

■■ I^\anii'i . lion uf the e^i;s freshly pressed from t he feniaie ira\e I he cnuiplcte explana-
tion of all the tacts. Tliese ei/j^s were ne.irly, and some of them (piite. luMtuic. They
are inclosed in a \hii'l< zona radiata, which is di'leicni iati'd into two laycis, the outer of
which is somewhat rhinnei' tli in the internal. In the zona radiata i\\tcr'na the pores
are lar;i;(a' and farther apart than in the internii. The external zona sepjirates ve-iy
readily fi'om the internal, and, lupturint; at one portion of the o\um, |ieels df]', heocaning
turnetl inside out in the process, and, reniaiidni.' altacheil unci' a small circular area,
foinis the suspensory menilu'ane. Sliiihti pressure and I'olliny; uf the e.i;,i,'s hy means of a
cover glass is suthcient to cause the rupture of thee.xternal zona, and the two mend)ranes
can be examined in all stages of separati« ii.

'• Tf it he true that the ova of (Jsinmis cjn'rln mis jtre duriir; i e\elopment. iixed to
solid ohjeuis, it is in the highest degr-ee improhalile that the o\a of O.-niifirns iiiin-dn.i- are
pelagic : but the adhesive nature of the egu- of the iJritish smelt is beyond all ipiestion.'

The speckled goby {(lohin.i uiuiiilun) has a pear-shaped egg, the black gohv ((lahiiiK
iii(/' r) has an almond-shaped egg like ii. \eiy minute oat-giain with a narrow stalk or
root, while the genital surface of the moderately thii\ egg shell is beset by w:i\ v tila-
ments of extriine fineness and on that account dilhcult to distinguish. e\en under
magnifyinu' lens. The prettj' (iuhiiis ruili'iinjHirri produces;) small pt!ar-slin)ird egn-, not
larg(M' than the head of a pin, wit i the fi-ee end of the egg pointed and not blunt- as is
the egg of (,'tili'nis ii/liintiis. A curious egg is that '•( the small double spotted su<-kiiig
fi.sh [Li'imi/iii/titi/' r liniKii-nhil us) which is oval or eggslnped bur much flattened upon one
side. Oil the tlalientul side a fringe of long hairs occurs, the pur). ose of which is to
attach the egg to t'lU'eign oljjects, such as the inside of empty sea shells. .\ single large
coloui'less globule oc<'Urs in the tine y granular yolk. In li'^S.") aii egg of this ch iracter
was d(^scribcd l)y Professor Uyder. Its length was ,',| inch, about th- same as that of
L' p'((io(/as/) i\ which is a species oceuriing in tidal rockpools, but IJvder speaks of his
spe imens as eggs of ,i fiesh-water tish, probably a rivi-r sunlish or a cv])rin(iid, ami they
Were procm'ed .attached to a piei'e of leailcr at ]la\re de (irace, .Maryland, early in the
month of .May.

(IG.) A group of demersal eggs, sutliciently well-marked, is foruied of comparatively
large demeisal o\a adhering in small irregidar lumps, in the midst of which consi||er-
able inteis])aces a .d chambers occui'. In tlie-r- loose -pongy chai'acter these masses diU'er
from the more compact leyers, and lumps deposited by iish like the herring. The most
important feature in these eggs is the fact that they are laid in nests. Tiiese nests may
be nejitly built rounded masses of weeds bound together bv tenaciiais tinvads pi'o-
•'ui .'d h\ the male Hsh, or may be mei'ely loose mounds of gravel and pebbles. The sea
'If b'ck {G<ir-troste>i.s xpinnchui. L.) binlds a nest of se-i weeds two to ei<:ht, Indies
.•..■•' and places in pocket-like cavitie.s, these bunches of egg.s, each egu about '., inch
!!; iie'cr, and of a bright atnber tint. The fi'esli water species ('^V. «(V(/w^/.sj "forms

■ • • • ' like nest about lialf the size of a small lemon, composed of weeds and .small
A - '. ind together by .strong threads of animal matter. The eggs are rather smaller
than Liiose of the marine species, and the separate lumps contain fifteen to twenty e^gs
and probably a total of two or three hundred eggs in e.icli nest, agglutinated together
as Hrmly as the ovu of the herring. Tlie ballan wrasse and other species are also
credited with the construction of a nest ; and these tislies usually are very .solicitous

.1 COyCISK ACCOUNT OF Fls/fES- MhGS.

87

i

of tlie welt'iirf uf tlit; i\y wliPii llicy cmi'iuc t'nuii I he .•«;,'. I'esv lislios, lidwcvcr. cxliibit
much solifitudf for tlicir youiii,', the .\i,'gsfiii(l fry IxMiiy ^'.•iinmlly left t.. th.' t.'ii(l..|" nuMvios
r)f tlicii' coiiininii iMiitli( T, the soi.

'Flic Chiiicsc Cdur.niii r0.v7'///v,/,„/,/(.s;, which lut^ lon^ lit^eii ;irtilic'i,illv hied .ind
ctiltivutfd ill Asiutir waters, aiiij is stated U> have excclh'iit cuHnary c|ualiti"("s. liuilds a
similar nest. An ul.sci'vcr has di'sciihwl in detail the luiildini,' of this stniciure and
tlio fi)M()\\ in;,' paiticiihirs may 1m? here i,MV(>n ; —

'•In one uf the cDrncrs of the jxnid, amon;^ tlie iihinis whicli ;;r(>sv tiiere. the
goiiramis attaeh their nest, wdiicli is of a nearly s|,herieal foi'in. and roiniiosed of plants
nnd mud, and consideraiily rciiemliies in form those of some iiirds.

The nests, of ionise. \ary in si/e in proportion to the lishes, hut the iisnal si/e is
somewliut less tiian a man - hand in length (ahout ') or six inciies). The lishes an;
ein[)loy('<I some live or six days or a week in l)uildini;, and their task is rendered easier,
when the pa iriiiu season has arrived, by plaeins: in the water, almost at the surface,
hranehes of handjoo (/lum/ntsu itniniUniirnt), U> wiiieh are attached linndles of fine
(lo,i;'s tooth i^tass. 'I'lie oouramis lake this ,i,'rass, and with it form their nests in the
brain lies of submerued baml>oo, in a manner analo^'ous to that with which the common
silk-worm avails itself of the branch which is presented tor it to make its nest on.
^\ hen tlie nest is completed, the female deposits her "g^is, which in a moderate si/ed
inilividual amount to aliout SOO to l,()(Mi. After the ei,'^'s have been deposited and
fecundated, and while they arc liarching, the parents remain near, jealously guardint;
them, and rushing; with veliemeiit fury at any ordinary intriid-f near their ilomains,
nnd thus they continue to uuard the yoiiiii; for a time attet tliev aic hatched.'

Of the nests composed of stones and | ebbles, the ne--l of the l51ack-nosed 1 >fice
(Jill nil eh t In/a iifrnnnsiis) may be selected as an example. It is recorded that the male
and female lishes conibine thf-ir elibrts and after selecting a shallow depression one and
a half or two feet ai'foss. the\' carry small stones and dro|) tlu'iii upon t he tdioscn site
until a layer is formed. The female then deposits a layer of e^'i;s upon the jiebliles,
and in this way a layer of ei,'ys and a layer ot ])iiil(lps tire alternately forinci.' until tlie
deiu'ession is lilled up, and a dome shaped pile or nest results.

Cha'tobraiichtis, a species allied to the Wrasses, builds a nest in wldcli the egys are
protected, and the (Uinnel ((''ii/riuiohi.';) or Shore ihitler-lish is said to deposit a small
nuiss of ei,'L!s, not larger than a walnut in liulk. and vhe parent lish curls around the
mass which is partly inclosed in a boh' or depression, and thus keeps watch until tin;
yount;' hatch out.

(17.) A very ri'inarkabie L;roup of lishes' eu^js consists of those which are caiiied
al)out by one of the parents until the yonnu fry liatch om. The marine pipedislies
fifVord interesting; ('xamplc--. The small seahorse { l/i/ijiiniiiiijiiiK) carries iheei^gsina
ventral j)ouch, the' o\a beiiiL; arranged in re;,'ular rows down tliefronlof the bodv. how-
ever, in .V'ri'jilii.i and Si/iifjinitliiis^ and co\ered by a somewhat transparent growth of
tlie skin. The Indian Sohiioslnnia shelters the o\a between the xcntral lins, ati exten-
sion of the integument addin,;.' to the completeness of the egg-p(Uich for tlie reception
and incubation of the eg^s. wliich duty is performed i)y the female whereas in the three
preceding species it is tlie male that does so. In the female AsjH-iild of (iui.ana, a tish
allied to the North American cattishes, the eggs arc found attached to the under surface
of the female ll.sh, extending from the chin to the tail. H\ en the lins have been found
sprinkled with o.g,i;s, which are .,'. to ,'., inch in diameter, and protected by a cup of
skin which becomes spongy and forms stalked capsules. Related species in Indian
waters, Arius, for example, carry their eggs in the mouth and gills. The male [)erforms

the duty, and as the eggs are

ar''o.

I to .', inch in diameter, the lireathinL' and fe(;ding

operations are seriously incommoded, though tiie jialatiiu! denticles aid in surmouiiting
the dirticulty. Some South .Vmericaii species, according to Steiiulachner, have a similar
habit. The common marine pipetish (SipliDxtuma) develops a pocket in the skin behind
the rudimentary anal fin, and a thick viscid mucus is formed, in which tlu! lemon
yellow eggs, 1,'^ inch in diameter, are imbedded.

The foregoing sket(?Ii, while it does not profe.ss to be completely exhaustive, com-
prehends most of the types of e.gg.s which have been described by scientitic observers in

28

AfA lUNE AND FiSlIKItlES.

Hlso .v.pan.us : ,ut tl.o p.H-,l«rity is one vny .„...,.„„,„.„ ann n^st n iL
Ci.rta m small m.un... Iisl,..s, Mm- K.Ml.i„t..c.itJM., ll„. ^\nnv sun 1 s . s w m' I

nu..t .n..d. tl.,... to twenty you,.« ahoui H.^ lo^;;;' r,^; 'u / ;^:;';;:;;f^^^ '^':::-
caw. hsl.s U.,.,,.,s,.l., a,v al.o vivipan.s ; In.t „.is i..u.X 1 li^ tin";. J,':

teen g.-oups con.pnse all the essential type. .hid. cxp.Hs i;:;?;iislt^u'sh;d

III.

Tiib: iM.ACK OK (AKP IN nsii-( I 'i;ri;i{io.

Hv I'rt u'Kssoit \'a>\\ \(ii> Iv I'liivci:, ( 'cimmissii(\i;ii in l'i.>iii.i;ii..s kdk Cansda,

Fishery HUtlmritios urn vciy t'lii- fruin l.rini,' .•tyivcd coricciiiiii!,' tin- iiicfits uf tin-
(Jpriiian cnv\>. Tlic inf(liir\ dl itinnks .f lvi;,'l,ih.l I'sti'iincil il lii;,'lilv, and nfuu- its iiuin-
• luclioii into I'liij^lisli waters t'loin ihe cniitiriciit .>t' Kuiopr. in l'>\ lliy Lcdiianl Miinliul,
i», I'lirp {lond WHS amsidcrfd m iiccfssurv luljiiiict to I'wis, iiKuiJistic t'.staldisliinoiit.
(ioniiiiit i'(ir|i ajiiK-ar to have Imth l)iuMt,dii .iccoss tlic Atlantic in 1S7(), uml weiv liist
jtlaritf'd hy Mi'. PoH't', a Calit'oiiiian pisciiuli iitist in Ids jiond- in Sonoma. Si. \ years
later tlie I'niled Slates l''isli ('ninndssion followed this siejp ii|i. liul without .sncce.s.s as
the tisli (Hod in traasit ; inn in 1S77, a suece.ssful .siii|>ineiii uas made, and .since I iiat
time cai'i) propiiifation has l)eeii scry extensively carried ont. Tlieie has, however, lieen
no unanimity in iet,'ar<l to tiie claims of carp to attention, and I lie wisdom of thir intro-
duction into the wiitei-s of tid.s continent lias lieen .seriously (|uestioned. TIk'.sc waters
W(u-e alr(!ady jiooph!.! hy tin; closely allied fanuly of suckers and .'arii niullet.s, tlio
various species of which, ihou;;h noi highly estetnued us food, are superior in edilih-
([ualities to the foreign carp.

Tn the report of the Department of Marine and I'islieries for IMtrj, I hfieiiy indi-
cated my views upon thi.s matter in the following,' word.s : —

"One word of wai'ion;; is necessary in view of a counnoii opiidon thai (Jerman carp
anil other coarse llsh meril the attention of tlsh culturisi-,. In pure and prolillc waters,
such as those of Canada, ahoundin;; in iroiit, salmon, ami all the highest Ljrades of lish,
it is claimed these lower inferior kinds are a positi\t' curse and injury if introduced.
They increase fist and sui v ivc und(M' the most unfavourahle i-onditioiis ; hut their proj)a-

gation in Canadian wateis is little short of a crime, and entails the destruction of f |

U))on which the liner indigenous kinds li\e, and the crowding out of iht; splendid tisii
native to our rivers and lakes.

" Kven of the higher kinds, the Salmoidda-. there are species and varieties which
slif)uld \w ri'garded with disfa\our, es]iecially those from the continent of l'airo|ie.
Cirernian and Austrian trout, full of the germs of disease, should not he hastily
introduced.''

T s(!e no reason for modifying this unfavouraiile \ icw. ami after fully considering
all its l)earings, as an e.\|icrt, il apj)cars to me to lie injiidicioiis and erroiieinis to jidopt
the policy of peo(iling our waters w ith lish having; the (ju.ilities ■•ind habit, s of tiermaii
carp. Iiupdries respecting carp-culture and application^ fur the eggs and fry of carp
constantly reach the deparlmeni, and a concise .statement of the points, fa\oiiral)le and
unfavourable, which have been raised by lishery authorities, and a brief r<>ference to the
claims of (lerman carp to the attention of t!anadian fish-cuiturists, ap])ear to lie very
opportune.

Unlike the principal tisli native to tin; waters of the i>ominioii, (ierman carp are
not essentially swe(>t and wholesome, but riM|uire, as all carp culturisUs art; aware, to be
transferred after capture to clear running water to rid them of their characteristic
muddy tlavoui". Car[> retjuire to be seasoned and stuffed ;ind subjected to more or less
elaborate cooking methods before being served up at the table. The salmon, trout,
whitetish, ba.ss and other tinny inhabitants of our lakes and rivers recjuire no such
elaborate treatment — an undeidable jtroof of their superiority. The wandering habits
of the carp also detract from its desirability. It is impossible to retain theni within
reasonable limitations, if by any means they olnain freedom for migration. Our native
fish, such as the salmon, the lake trout, wliitelish, pickerel, etc., have definite course.';.
Year after year they follow practically the same line of migration, though winds and

29

30

MAHISE AXI) FISHKniKS.

stuiiiis limy ciiiiHc tlicm tn iloviiitc to moiiic oxtetit ; yet tlmy unfiiiliiiyly iimkf t'nr llu-ir
luM'Ustoini'd spawning j^rouiidH luui losort, season at'tt*i' NoaHon, to thitir rf^coi^ni/ed tVi-diii^
Ificalilit's. I''isli('rint'ii arc so well awaii' ot' this that it in |)i>.s.sil)lt' to .set ncrs (yillnt't.s,
jiDund lU'lH, ti'u|is, etc.), (liiTctly in tlic ti-ai-k wliicli llicy aif afrustnincd to lollow.
('(M'tain points ai'i' known to 111- lii'tltT ilian oi hers foi' inlcrt'cptinji llir lisli, and sonif
iift'iocntionH arc, tltcri-t'orc, t'ai' nioi'c vuliialilc tlian others. Ft is not so with tlic carp,
which w.tndcf tVoni one; side of a lake oi' livcr to tlic olh(M' in the most ci-ratic, uncertain
\v,i\, and w.inihir into cvci'y shchcrcd creek or uiiiddy inlet. LitcaUtics in \vlii<'h thes
liavc nc\er' iiccn planted may tlitis heconic crowded with I liesc wandi-rin;; intruders. On
Like Krie ami in tho St. Clair waturs, Canadian tishermen complain of the ahundanco
of tliese inft^ior tish, whicli were phinted in localities distani from these areas, hut have
HO widely spread thai in some .seasons the nets set for hcl.ti'i' kinds make lar;,'c captures
of these less valuable tlsh. They spawn exerywhiM'e, and it is prohalde that they spawn
more than once each season. They inciease with icmaikaiile rapidity and crowd out the
nali\f species. " It is my experience," wrote l{o;,'er North, oneof the earliest of lii'itish
pisciculturists, "that most waters, the first year after h.ivin!,' lain dry a sunnner. do
lirced, and that numerously, especially carps, which I have known increa.se to such an
incredilile fry, that I have i)e«m troubled how to dispose of tlu«m."

Of their lapid (.growth, a recent United States writei- has said : -

''Tile growth of this tish is even more remarkable than was at lirst supposed.
Hecently, in lettin;,' the water off of a pond constructed by the late |)r. (Jeo. |{. |)ennis,
in which, just a year a;{o, lie placed soiiu; carp alxait an inch long, it a as found that .si.\
carp taken out weii^hed and averaged a little o\cr three pounds each. About a month
a^'o a car|i was i',iut;lif, whi<'h escaped from the ponl of I >r. I, T.i. .\dkins, and which
had been plat'cd there two years a^o not more than an inch lon;{. Wliei weij,die(l it
carried the .scales down at six pounds. And so numberle.ss e.xanijiles might be given of
cases wlieie tlie growth is shown to ha\e been from luehe to lifteeii inches in one year.
and the weight to have been ffiiin comparat ivc'ly notliinu to two and even three pounds
in tho same length of time.'

Xotwithstanding the serious objections to the planting of carp, either indicated
above or mcjre fully stated on a subseijuent page, it must be admitted respecting the
carp ; —

(1.) That it has a certain market value in the Cnited States markets, and i.s
legardtMl by some persons as a tish posses.serl of edible (|ualiti"s.

(■J.) That there are inferior waters well adaptiMl for cari>-culture.

(3.) That the tish are liatcheil and reared wiih com[)arative|y little dithculty.

(4.) That they are very prolific and grow rapidly on very coarse food.

(5.) That some anglers ha\e found carp-fishing to be an enjoyable pastime.

It cannot be (luestioned that carp-culture may be commendable in some countries
and in th(> sluggish waters of Central I'hirope. of (iermany, Austria and other lands,
carp are cultivated with as inucli care and industry as fowls (a- ducks, but while there
are enthusiasts like the late Frefes.sor Spencer haird, wlio held that in the future the
carp would come to be regarded as of high importance as a commercial fish, yet the
general trend of public opinion has not been strongly in its favour. Professor i«aiiil, it
is true, mentioned especially the waters of the Southern States, and in these remarks it
is, of course, ti; be borne in mind that the waters of Canada are alone kept in view, and
the criticisms here set forth ajiply, therefore, to proposals only for extensive planting of
of German carp in the Doininicjn.

In England the carp has never been highly esteemed for its food qualities, and in
Scotland and Ireland it is practicably unknown. In blie United States on account no
doubt of the large German population in .some of the great manufacturing centres, the
demand for (Terman carp has in some seasons been quite considerable and examjiles like
the following may be ijuoted in proof of its economic value though not in full accordance
with other views published upon this point : —

" Many carp have been caught near Easton and eaten by the citizens of that com-
munity, and in every instance they have been pronounced a fine food fish Your com-
missioners are particulai'ly gratified to note an increase of interest on the j)art of the

Upo

Tilt: I'l.ACK or I'M, I' IS FISH iVI.TUIIE,

ai

i;ii till' i'iti/('M> \4 <,iiit'cii Am

HUlltV

|)t'<»pl(' ill tliin tUli. 'I'Ih'V liiuf Ipii'ii iidvi^fil tl
liiivt', ill iiiii'iy ill liiiici's, |)ui'i'lia>i-il a Hii|i|ily tin- ilirir |iiiii(|s tVom llioli inl llollvilav, oV
thai i-tiiiiily, will) waM niiu nt tlic \\\\l vWv/mws in llic sla •■ to laiild jxiiiils ami finliaik
iiil(» i-aip rulliiit'. Allot lifT yt'anir » vvu will pn>\i' tlial llii> vciitiint will Ihmis inuliialilf
to liiiii a-, his will -at, rorii nr pi-acli rinp, in |iriipi>rti(ni In liir laliMiii. t inn and iiioni'V spt'iit
UpiJii it. ( Maiylaiiii l'"iMli ( 'oinini.s.Hiiiin'r s jifpnil., js.s.'l).

Thi'Pn is iiu doubt, liuwt'vcr, that tlif cidinary iiit'iit-. of ( inniaii caip liasr ln'm
o\a^';;i>i'at)-il, and that tli>' autlim itii's who hi-uiidi'd its introduition, with hiuh Impi's,
liasi' «losv|\ ii'iiii/t'd lliaL tlii'sii hoprs wi'ii' not rntiirly t'lilllliiil.

As to their ipialitii's as taldr lish. ihcrt' ari' conMary ii|iiiiions. Sonii' hold that tiii'V
ai'o a siipiTiiir tal)ln lish, and oiIhts (Maini tlii-in poor ami insipid. Piolialily tlu'ir ipialit v
larynly di'fti'ndH upon tlin fiirc that has hcfii rxpi'iidod iti n-ariiiy tlifiii. A rhicki-n
l)roni.'lit upon 'hoit coininons is jiooi' meat indcrd. 'I'hf saiiii- aiiiiiial, propi'il\- I'l-d and
lioiirishi'd, is a liiMiiy that all ili'liyht in. I )oulili('ss a poor, hajf-t'i d, halt' uiown. nt'!,'-
lectt'd and liony oarp will not niaki- an atti'uctiM' fii.sh ; Imt if nii.st'd atcordiim; to thr
nianniT of his intivf roiintry. hi- may lii' fat. tiaky, /md possjhly di'licioiis. It is ctTtain
that in (it'iinniy lliry arr ratrd a standard lish, and air in nioii- ^I'lii'i.d usi- than any
othi'f. .\ j^cni ItMiian who has sut'ii much of them in that couiitiy has rn'ordi'il tlic fact
that hotel krcpt'i's liko them hcoausf they are ohcupaiid their customers w\,\. so littln.

Some states after spendiiiLf coiisidfrahle sums of pnlilic mon<!y on earpcultnie have
resolved to disrontinuc it, and in certain rases ha\e decided to ih'Miie such monev in the
future to the work of e\liri)alin,i; and dcstroyin;; these lish. The Canadi;in /'i.^/iin:/
^JVf;r'■/^■ (Selkirk Itecord), in Deeemlier, IMi."), |(ulilislied the follou in;^ c<>ininenls on the
matter : —

'■ A few years iv^t> many pi'ople in the I'nited .Siutes and ( 'anada went ira/v o\cr
tile introduction of carp. Hatcheries all over the I'nion raise I and dist i ilnited tiiem,
and th« Canadian liatchericK were Itlamed for not u;i\in).' the fry to the puhlic The
Kish Commi.ssion's report of the state of New .lersey will show what c'arp are. It i^ a
bhjssin;; they were kept from Canadian waters, and there oii;.rht to h- a heavy line for
any one jilaiil iiii,' them ill C.inada. A dispensation has huen ;.'raiited to lishcrmen to
take carp out of the streams l»y net, under the watchful eye of the w.irdens, who h i\e
seen that no food tish were .appropriated out of season. The I'arp is renarded as an
enemy of food lish and a ^.(eneral jiiscatoi i,al nuisince. Tlie commis.sioners otllcially say
that the introduction of carp has been fittendeil i)y nothing' but e\ il results, and that of
the most aL;j,'ravatinj; kind, as this lish destroys the clearness of the water and eats the
spawn of valuable tish. The law a;^aihst the liberatini; of carp has not been enacted
too soon, and the wardens are watehinj,' that none are beinu put into the streams.
Other states are .seeking,', l>ut new .ler.sey has e.Kperimeuted and deciiicd aj,'ainst the
forei;,'ner, who seema to t' rive in Jersey wateis.''

The state of Ohio, like that of New .lersey, has concluded to deal with the carp
question xij^orously, but not without |)rotcsts from journals such as the New York
Fishiiirj (lii'jiti; which, towards the close of last year, remarked: — '• Tlie Fish and
(iaine Commission of < )liio projmse among other things to wage unceasing war against
the carp, in sjiite of tiie fact th.it this species of tish has become recognized as one of the
most valualile food lishes taken in fresh wan-i'. Tin- reason given for this move against
the tish is that it preys uimn tlu^ young fry of other sjiecies of fresh water lishes. Just
as if those same other fishes do not devour the smaller fry of their own species. It Is
not known how the fishermen who ha\e in times past iiiade their li\ing in the carp
fishery regard th(! proposed move of the i^oinmission. it is to be hojied. howe\er, that
they will iio^ allow the destruction to proceed w ithout first making a vigorous protest
against such action. There is one thing in their favour, too, and that is that the carp
will need a lot of destroying Ix-fore it b 'coint s extinct. "

While it cannot be denied that carj> have a certain value in those markets where
inferior kinds of fish are in demand, the fact ii Nertheless reuiains that Canatlian waters
are perfectly adapted for all the higher grades of fish. These sifperior kinds not only
have a claim to pniference on economic grounds as articles of food, l)ut also in most
cases on grounds of sport. Fi.sh, like salmon trout, black bass and others which add to

32

MAHINfJ AXI> t'lHIlKRIKS.

thoir KXCHlU'iit tnblo i|uiililii"4, tlio \\\wh\, clutracti'riittioH olf \it\\i\e tUli iir«« ciititliMl to prin
I'ipiil I'Diisiilonitinii iitnl till- riiliiitti of I'lirp, if in iiiiy itiiiiiit'kl (o tliiwc s|i(ii'tini{, tJHli
sliitiild Im> ilisi'iiuiiti'titiiK'cil. TIk' t'liiiiuus iiii^lin^ liiiiiiuiity, Mr. \V. ('. Iluiiis, oditnr
lit' till' .liiitririiii An;//tr, S.\., US, A., iftViN ill the t'i>ll(iwin({ tr«fu'liii(it; iiiiinm'r to flu-
(|iii'hliiin of tlif ititriiductioii of (JiTiiiiiii I'lirp

I'lid.

r no (■ii'i'iiiiistiitii'rs |ilii<'t> t'lirj) in you

r wiitiM'H, Tlit'v lire xvnrtlilcNs iiolii an

i'ilii)l<> iiiiil roil ri«>lii-i. Tlii'V nil" iiUo (li'si iiic tivc of till' >'|in\v n ut'olluT tislu'w, iiml ilf
ymir slri'iiiiis or poiitls iiri- t'it'i|iii'iiii'(| l»y \mIiI fowl I lie ciirp will soon drivi' tln'iii iiwiiy
(ly niitinu tim Hprouln of all m'^cLiIiIc urowtli upon wliicli wild fowl f«M'd. If yon liiivi*
till' i-iirp iilr(>.idv wiili you, M'itif, mtrli, kill iiiiii poison tlicin out. Tlic I'nitcd Sliitt'H
( tovi>rnin>'nt liiis sp<'iU tlmus >iid> upon t oUMihd.s of doiliirs in inlroducK tli)*in, imd lht>
MportHintni of tli«' I'luntry woiiM Im' wiliinj,' to lit- tii.xed iin ••ipiiil iiiiioiinl timt tin- nirp
iniu'lit I'l' <'.\tt«rininiitfd."

I'l'i'liMp^i it is a fortunat)' i'ir<'UinHt.iiiic)< that in ( 'aimda inany of our wtit<>i'H air not
till- nio^l suitalil"' for iliit lixli. It may Im' H;iiil as SupiiriniiMiili'iit \i>\ins, of .Vliidison,
Wisconsin, r.S., wroii' rf ihi- Wisconsin \vjit»'rs

"l)ur Htrt'iuns arc i-itlii'i- ino rapid or too cold for tlicin In pciiiiil a Npccdy j^rowtli,
oven tlioiiijli ot licr ciiiditions were fii\i)iirul)lc. It is usdc'-s to uniicrlaki' to j^row carp
where there are oiher tish. The cjirp must he luitixated in ponds expressly liuilt for
tlicin, and those of ditVereiil nues must he kept liy theins('i\es.

The water thai it preftured hy tliein is such as is preferred l»y froj,'s. In water that
is Httiynant and has plenty of vei^etation they will thrive and do well, or they can he fed
the same as |iot;s with calilia^'e, potato pealinys or lioilcd corn.

The California l'i>h ('oiniiiis.sion (|.>>',tl) while (idmitlini,' that carp had [udved dis-
appointing as an addition to western fond resoiirceH, ypt adduced an in;{«'iiious plea that
they would pro\c ^'ood food for liett"r kinds of jisli : —

"The ilevclopmcnl of l he carp, wliich. like the cattish, do not- take, with our people,
tlie rank accorded them in the eastern majkets. has heeii lar^e < >f these IHh <i(l,100
pound- were markeled in iSifJ, ha\ int; a value of St*!', •-'•'• They prohalily never will
iijjure lar!,'ely in the value of our tish products, hut they have proved of the ;;reatest
value as a food to siripcil lia.ss. '

The liii.ril , nature of (Jerman carp has lieeii uiL,'ed in itM fa\'our, .ilthoii^ih som tm

petent authoritie."' have delared it to he ca.sily and detrimentally atFectod by extremes of
tem|ieral.ure, l''xperiiuents have proved that f i w kinds of tishcs are so tenacious of
life, and thai changes which would prove fatal to liei Icr species have in their case
proved harinlesH. They li.ive liecn fro/en rii.'id .ind thawed out .i^^ain, they liave been
subjected to teniper.iture almost as hi^fh as boiling point, and in every case they sur-
vived. In the tepid waters of Hawaii the foreiifii carp have tlourished, and in the
absence of better fish, have liecome of market value. When taken out of the water
they will live for long perioils if wrajiped in damp cloths or cool moss, [n (lermany
and l[olland it has long been the practice to fatten carp upon bread and milk, the fish
being suspended in nets in cool ct>llars and kept i.Mi.ni. In form they are coarst^ and
t'ai' from graceful, yet on account of their lack of tim lity and I heir hardy character
they are very suitable for exhibition purposes in poirtls or aipiaria. They live and grow
rapidly under crampeil and unfavourable conditii c. A I'nited States authority, con-
nected with one of the State Fish C unmi.ssions, roported that: "for several years they
Invd bred ipnte a number in the fount.iin, which served the piir[iose of atlbrding pleasure
and amusement to visitors, as well as increasing the sujiply. Sometime in >Iuly the park
policeman, who fed them daily, meeting the writer in the street, said : ' There is (juite a
number of young fish in the basin T wish you woidd come over and see them : T
l)elieve they are young carp.' I replied that that was impossible, as there wis but one
large tish there, and that a male, but would go ovei' and see them. Judge of my sur-
prise when I found thousands of young carp there from one and a half to two inclies in
length, the product of carp then only one year old. The young will now aggregate
many times mori^ in weight than the original fish, and of extraordinary size for their
age, five to six inches in length. The carp were taken out and loaned to the Inter-
State Industrial Exposition at Chicago, where they now are. Since the above mentioned

77/ a; I' lack of (Wf.f /.V FISII CULTUIIK.

S3

•<x|M«rl««iM'i' wo tiiivi' hot tii't'ii NO cfiuly Ik ilmilit ihi' •^iiitcriH-tii'* hI' i|iiitc n tmtiilwr wlm
liiivtt i'i>|M>iiti'illy NMiitfti 11^ lliiil tlii'ir I iii'|i hiiil ^|iii\sri<'il at tiii> n^r nt Drii- vciii. '

III Npitc of ilifir liarily ijliiirin-tci, tlu'lr ifiiiii'ily of lif»<, tiuMlir.y in" fnoilin^ mid
roiiriii^, ami, III liiin's, tlirir rniuly suli' iimniii«Ht ii'ri.iin cIuhhcs of the I'oiiiiiiiiiiil v \\\\n
iini not fiiHtidioiH in llinr (unIi'm, it in iloiiliU'iil if iIuti- in insiiticiUinn foe iMiiiMliii-iriL{
tlit'si' li'^li iiito( \iiiii)liiiii wilIi'I'm not ,il |iii'sftii iiilialiiti'il liy lliciii 'I'Im' tollowitii; i-on<<ii|t>ni
lions ai'u ciMtaiiily of weight iiml xhoiilil lir ^isrn uiliMiiiori Itv .ill w |io ui'i> inl»>i'i<N|n|
ill ilsli riiltiir«t.

(I.) Till- wiili'iH of I 'iiiikIh liriny iiH II nili' puif, rold ami in cM-iy wji\ ai|o|>tri| for
oiii' nalis*> liHJi, itnil tli<- Hii|ii-i'ioi' iiiililr ^.inx'ii'H s\\\\\ a^ ili<> intioilii>'iM| l<)iiuii<.|i Inook
li'out, tli» l<o<'li lit'Vi'ii trout, A'l'., it iH tln' Ii>nn lu'coHHary or licHiralili' lo rtilti\alt> inforior
kinds i's|i( cially as tlir so cailnd I'oarst- (Isli native In oiir walcis (-.inkt'iM, pike iVi'.,) art'
adinitti>dly Nii|icrioi' in ijuidily to (■crninn carp.

('!.) I irrinan carp an< nomadic in tlicir I utility, and wanilcr appaiiMillv aiinli'SHly into
all aiM't'ssiltlr <vatt'i',H, licnco if intiodnccd into any Htrcani.H or ponds adjacrnt to and
conncctiMJ with otlu-rs, tlicso tisli will rapidly spread over tlif wliolc systfin. Siihnon,
troiil, whil<>lisli, pickiMcl or don, indeed all our native H'.ji are more locid in ilieir
wanderin;{s and as a rule have dellniie courses of miural ion, and conlino tiienisehe.s
witliin reco^ni/ed limits. 'I'lie (ieiiiian ciirp has no such d<-tined ino\emontM or hnhitjit,
thus |,ake I'a'io, the St. ( 'lair wateis of Western < )i»'ario. Lake Huron and other ( 'anadian
areas are heinj^ o\eiiun liy these lisli, whicii liase wamlered from i he moie oi less
remote localities in I 'nited Stales territory where they wer*' oriyinally planted, lake
uiidesirahle weeds they spreail e\er\w'here and it Ih praelieallv impossilile to limit Iheii'
projjress or to etl'eel I lieii' e\t irpiit ion. I >r. I'',uii"'i"' Smilh referrinin' to this ditlicnil \ in

I tiiii,' out these lish s.iys : "'I'he carp fandlv ha\e a proiinuiMeij ti nilencv to liurrow

ill the mud at tho iMttlom of stn>aiim, and can live then' for some time, -o i hat it i-^ hard
to eriidii!iit« tiin carp from any particular Ixnly of waiei' without thorouirjdv drainiiii;
it oir."

(M.) Tliey are voraciou.s and omni\orou-». Theii' vnracity ma} !»• judi^ed hy the
;j;reat si/o they rapidly roach. Tlicy ha\e heeii known to ;;row a foot in length in iiiiu^
(jr ten montns, and it is aulhentically recorded tiiat a (lerinan carp in the state of
New Jersey <,'rew in three years to a weij;ht of thirty piainds. The cai'p may ho com-
pareij to th(( hoij amonj^st i|Uaili'upeds, liotii in respect to it-< fattening; capaliililies am!
its coarse and lepulsivi' tastes. This opinion, indeed, I llnd tci he espresseil in ti'iins
almost identical with thcforeuoinj,', hy tht^ Now York l'"i.sh ( 'omniissionors, in their report,
in INSI, In this report they say: ''The carp tril)e stand in the lish family much as
the ho;^ does amonif i|iiadrupeds. Coidine tin latter in a pen and steadily respond to
his cravin<.»s of ajjpetito and ht^ will increase in tiesh and nuiliiply in fat to an e.xtent
wlii(^h will reward the care of his owner. Similar treatment applied to the larp. ehanijed
only to suit the diU'eront element in which he livi^s, will make lum a productive and pro-
iitahle lish.'

Their natural food ajjpears to in' insects, froi,'s, the spawn of other fishes ; hut they
devour oflfal, or, indeed, anything edil)lc, either animal or vegotahle. A vegelahle diet
is as accejitahio as any other, and wild rici^ water jilaiits and the like are voraciiaisly
eaten by (iernian carp. "The destructivtMiature of the carp to the spawn of nohler
fishes," says a distinj,'ui.shed authority, "and to tiiL- vegetation upon whicli wild fowl
feed should act as a caution signal in the introduction of foi'oign species of tish in
American waters." In coniu'ction with this charge, a western, U. S., paper tells of a
ninchtu''s visit to Portland, Oreg., to sue for damages he lia<l sustaineil from the intro-
duction of carp, he wished to lind out whetlier he had lecour.M' against! lie I'luted States
fish ccmimission for the introduction of carp into the rivers of this section, lie .says
these lish are destroying his meadows hy eating his grass and gruhhing up the roots.
As the water overflows his meadow the carji follow it uj) in ilKaisaiids, the small
ones weighing about three pounds pushing their way up where tiie water is only three
inches or so in depth and clearing off all vegetation, so that when the water recedes
he will have mud Hats in the place of meadows.

116—3

34

MA ItlNE Ayi'iFJSHEJUES.

linckhuid iti viinv of this licil)ivni()iis liabil i-ccoiiiMifiKlid that at tiiiuvs tht' watcf
shoulil be niii nil' carp poinls ami :,'i'ass M'vil sown on tlit? iiuul aiul tht; cd^os, " tht'ii Id
tho water cover the j^raHs,'' ho said, "and it will allord exc(illt>nt pastiiic for the carp."

(4.) Thdirniar-ket \alui'can ncvci' he iircat in Cana la. h'of niany ■'^'asoiis our liaUo Krio
lishornien ha\t' been takinj,' larLti' '|Uan(iti('s of (ioinian carp, wiiich lia\ti wandercfd across
from their haunts on the Uiiiteii States shores. Thus off tint south i'^ssex shore, (Ont. ),
indivitlual j)ound nets occasionady take two or three tons of cai-p at a sin<;le catch, [n
many ca.ses personal (jut.'stionini,' has elicited tin; information that the lish were found
to lie so worthless and such a drn<^ in the mirki-t, that they had to he ijurioil on shore
in order to >^et rid of them. Certain public bodies in order to shield them.selves from
severe criticism have exag<;e,rated the value of these lish, and tlie demand and sale for
th(Mn. No doul)t the mai'kets of ( 'hieayo or New York, which are not rei^arded as the
best or most remunerative by lish buyers, shipments of carp lind sale amon<;st liussiaws,
Jews, antl other foreigners to whom trout and the best kinds of lish are practically
unknown. The demand for carp must, however, bo limiteii, while the demand for salmon,
whittitish, trout, iVc, is in reality unlimited. The economic value of carp as a permanent
element in the lish mai'kets of this continetit is jmtblematiial. 'i'hey no doubt have met
ii demand in markets, which the great lish buyers have ti^Mied the "dumping ground ''
for the lislieries ; but in the best markets of Canada and the I'nited States, (iermancarp
will ne\er be esteiMiied or demanded. A division of ojiinion amongst llshery authorities
on tins side of the Atlantic, has existed every since (German car|i have been imported.
Tho late Profes.sor Spencer ISaii'd was .somewhat hopi^ful and enthusiastic, but the plants
of carp fry allocated under his jtersonal supervision were I'ot always received with con-
fidence. Everywhere can be found views lik(^ those exinessed by tli(^ lish conunissioners
of the state of Nevada (b^S?) :—

Professor iJ.iird also very kin-ly pi'esent(!tl uw. with 29') you;ig carp from the United
States lish car all of whii;h have been disti'ibuted to the best ail vantage possible. While
fully appreciating the generous courtesy which prompted the gift, and gladly acknowledg-
ing our obligation to the donoi-, f feci it my duty to say that my observations have not
impressed me favourably with the tpialities of these lish. They multiply rapidly and
attain a considerably si/e, but in my judgment they are not what can be fairly called a

good tal)le lish.

T regard the Lake Michigan whitelish as being in (ivery way superior.

marginal banks and by disturbing the bottom,
exhibited a hard liottom have become discolouicd an(

5. They live upon the food of better lish, and propagate so fast that they prove
injurious and e\en destructive to the higher kinds. It can be [iroven that whitelish
and the yeilow pi^'kerel have been starved out and crowJecl out by hordes of hungry
carp. N(jt otily so, Init it has been shown that othei' kinds forsake their usual haunts,
and are in fact driven out by these foreign intruders. Recently the carp has been
planted in Lake JMichigan near Chicago, and competent authorities, including practical
fishermen, hold that other fish will be driven out of these waters.

6. They ruin the waters which t iu y freiiuenl by destroying ve.getation, rooting up the

Ponds and waters which were clear and

roily," and the bottom soft and
tenacious by the grubbing aciions of the carji. Such ponds have been changed into
disgusting mud puddles. A Ivansas authority who cariies on (iri\ate lish-culture opera-
tions recently wrote of the carp: — "The carp is a fus.sy fellow, and when not trying to
pick a light with some of the other denizens of the pond, is ploughing up the mud along
the bottom of the wat -rs and constantly keeps the pond in a roily and unpleasant state."
The ill effects of i irp upon other e.si)ecially high grades of lish caimot be exaggerated.

7. They are destructive spawn eaters like all the tribe of sucking fishes. No
spawning ground is safe from their attacks. There are predacious fish like the pickerel
or dore, the pike, the salmon trout, >S:c.. but these lish have their sjiecial haunts and the
sjiawning grounds of whittjlish and other kinds do not usually suffer scsriously from theii-
depredations. Not so with tlu! carp. It lias no favourite ov special haunt.s, and every
spot where lish eggs or other edibles are to be found will hardly fail of a visit from
tliese marau('ing poaciiers. "I am (juite certain," said the late i\lr. Auckland, "that
carp will eat their own eggs ami very probft,i)ly their young."' No doubt this charge may

3>MM)«I1IM

77//!,' I'LAChJ OF CAR/' IX FIsnCULTUIiE.

35

lie made against many (islics, hut tlio peculiar rovini,' tendencies (if the carp make it
('s]iccially injurious, as few deposits of s)>awn can escape its iniiuisitivo searcli.

(8.) (ierman carp are especially subject to parasites and coiita,i,'ious diseii.s<'s. From
their omnivorous and letliari,'ic habits no fish are so readily attacked by diseases and
parasites as carp. 'I'he " ti.sli leprosy," described by Ulake as a funj,'oid fjrowth whicli
spreads over the whole skin, turnin;,' tiie tisii while anrl reiideiini,' it most uidiealtiiy
and a souice of disease to all other lisli, is essentially a disease of the Oerman carp.
Frank iJuckland studied some of the disease-; of these tish, and amongst others enumer
ated one malady which lie called smallpox in the carp.

Tapeworms and other disgustinii eiido-parasites occur most plentifully in carp.
One described by Jfarrington K(H!ne taken from a carp of 10 pounds wtMght measured no
less than 45 feet in length. Of all fresh water fishes the German carp are tlie most
subject to external and internal disea-;es. 'L'his is, in fact, unavoidable in a family like
the carps, with sluggish hai)its, a fondness for coarse and loathsome food, and a pref(>r-
ence for muddy and almost tepid waters.

Whatever may be urged in favour of the carp, and, as already indicated, some c<m-
siderations of weight have been put forward by various authoriti(>.s, it cannot be (jues-
tioned that the jiointr. inifa\ourable to cai-p-culture, so far as Can idian waters are
c(mcerned, deserve .serious attention, ("ertainly no fish culturist should determine to
introduce these li.sh or .set alxjut artificially rearing them without fully considering the
grave? possibilities associate i with the raising of (Jei-man carp.