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Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 ^ 1 2 3 ■ 4 ' 1 5 6 m ■ V4 ■■'*' •V ■)"■ vr ■• '^i^«^i^ "W •mn^wm CANADA ^v y SPECIAL REPORTS. • -..■;:.ir^/-j| ) ^v.f^ » if ■■•^.>^^~^l ..._,iJi »•■•■•, '■'!' •^ ■:" ^ « "■ ..■/v'^\ •".Lv • ,, . ••.■ X «■•< vJ » -ti,'- ■ »>.-' .Vfc - 1. • ^ •■'.'-'.-•••,■. .if-i'-Vl. ',•;■• No. I._ON THE USK OF SKINES IN INLAND WATERS. Br Pbofessoh Fbince, Commissionkr of Fisukkiss. t Among many meauures that have been taken for the preservation of the tish wealth of our inland lakes and vivers, the eatabliuhment of close neasontj, affording protection to breeding fish, the liberal stocking of waters with fry from the Govern- ment hatcheries, and the regulation of modes of fishing by mesh restrictions and the like, have proved of direct and substantial benefit. Without such regulations our vast fresh water fisheries would already have been wholly depleted. Canadian fish- ermen on the lakes readily recognize the value and utility of the fishery bws of the Dominion, and an eminent United States authority* testified not long ago to " the greater prolificness of the Canadian waters at the present time in whitefish and trout " when comparing the north and south shores of Lake Ontario. It cannot be denied that measures still remain to be taken to further aid in the recuperation of our fisheries. While protecting full grown fish when about to spawn it is forgotten that protection, too, is necessary for the fry, when newly hatched and during the first months of their existence. The destruction of very young and im- mature fish which were of little or no value to the fishermen, is a source of danger. The fact needs no demonstration that our fisheries really ultimately depend up- on the welfare and abundance of young fish. Anything detrimental to them in their early and defenceless stages afi'ects injuriously the fisheries as a whole. If the young be injured or destroyed the supply of adult fisn in the future will diminish or cease. Artificial fish-culture, moreover, being carried on upon an extensivescale and vastquan- tities of young fry deposited annually, these cannot adequately benefit the fisheries if the liberated schools are disturbed or devastated. Scientific observation has shown that the minute and defenceless fry of the greater number of valuable fishes, fresh- water aud marine, resort to comparatively shallow water during the first months of their existence. The surface of the sea in certain areas has been found to bo alive with swarms of delicate young fish, and the shallow waters in our lakes and rivers are the favourite haunt of multitudes of young. This is so for many rea-sons. The light and warmth necessary for rapid growth are furnished there. At greater depths the water is cold and comparatively dark. Further, safety from the attacks of larger fish is better secured than in deeper water. Some fish are found to prefer shingly beaches, where pebbles abound, attbrding crevices for shelter when danger is near; others choose a smooth sandy bottom, especially in shellored bays and creeks, over which they roam in search for minute food, chiefly infusorians, minute crustaceans, molluscs, &c. The schools of diminutive fish in such regions are of the most varied character including worthless as well as valuable species. A finemeshed naturalist's seine, used in Lake Erie, captured in one haul, very small bass, lake herring, pike- perch or pickerel, and various kinds of suckers and shiners. At certain seasons the shores swarm with small lake herring in the post-larval stage, somewhat larger and mr e active than the delicate and helpless larval stage. Fishery Overseer Boismior (DetroitRivei- Division) lofers* to tlu> abundiince of young fish in the shallows of Detroit Kiver and Lake St. Clair. " It is staled," he says, " that millions of young fish are destroyed by parties seining for minnows in shallow bays." It is also said that *Dr. Hiijrh M. Sinitli, Bull. V. S. Fish noiimiiH.Hi.m, 1,S!»0 p. ]«5. *KfIx>lt (jf thf Dipaitliieiit IS'.lO, Ap]., C, |). l!l». ■T— T— • i: 2 AfA HINM '-I AND FISHERIES. apuwn iH ''at timeH drugged anhnre by th« Heine; but huuIi mubHeH of Hpuwn me probably dialodsed by HlormH, and .ih ty rule the ueinu will not intorferu with Hptiwn, nnleiw io localities choHen by the viiriouH Uindrt of biiHg. It io precisely Huob shallowii u^t those here referred to, with beaches of Hiind or pebble, in which seining is curried on. The net is, as it were, thrown around the nth withiD a short distance of shore, and is pulled to land. Heforu being hauled in both eude are ««cure<l on shore, and the net forms u complete indosuro, capturing everythiog within its sweep and extending in some oases us much us 1,000 feet, with 12 feet dapth in the middle, though the dimensions are often less than these. Capturea in the seine are of a ver}' varied nature, and as the meshes are loose, und not usually fully open, as in a fixed net, like a pound, many Hsh are entangled which are of no value for market purposes. Young tisb, includeu in this mi.xed catch, are mostly injured, and may be thrown ashore us useless. Further, the constant use of eeines, aweeping over the ahallows, has •■• very unfavourable etlect on the shoals of small fish. They are disturbed in theit migratory movements and driven into deeper water, where they are exposed to tue uttacks of larger fish. Indirectly, as well as directly, the schools of fry are injuriously affected. Professor Ramsay Wright hutf referred* to the capture of immature whitefish by herring seine nets, and pointed out that the sarpfus fish are used as manure when the market is glutted. Similarly, Dr. H. M. Smilh.t in his report already referred to, speaks of ground where whitefish formerly spawned in considerable numbers and, wnere the young now appear to congregate at times, on which quantities are taken for bait, measuring 1^ to 3 inches long. The fishermen when using the seine can hardly know theextentof injury they inflict; for when very young, our valuable good fishes are transparent, minute, and almost invisible in the meshes of the not. That valuable fry are thusdisturbefl, injured and destroyed, there can be no doubt. It is impossible to avoid this where so ning is carried on. But ihe destruction of the young of inferior species, usually regarded as worthless, is most harmful. These small fishes, or minnows, are the favourite food of pike-perch or pickerel, salmon- trout and other predaceous fish. The abundunce of these more valuable kinds depends largely on the abundance of smaller varieties on which they largely livri. The term minnow applied to these small fishes is used indiscriminately and embraces nearly twenty species, including some of the more valuable food fishes. As compored with the fixed pound net, inshore, through the meshes of which the very small fry mentioned readily pass without injury, or again, with the gilt-net hanging with fully extended meshes in deeper water, the seine is by far the most injurious from the point of view here considered. •Rep. Ont. Game ftnd Fish Comm., 1892^ p. AW. ■ tBull. U.S. Fish Comni., 1890, p. 210. ,' Al been pi Laborif ThJ has tal in the [ ment i should! und tti made author! Canadil reach« practic fd in the gation I nutchij neceasi fisher have and lifJ ledge if /Tl institui which,! no 80o| marine the api a dozetf Scotch] place8,j Italy, made of the work ?| in cont the wol ' waters r abundt charact while \\ culties I Sir veatiga| searche vestigal student studiesj needed] StAHINE SCtHSTIFIC STATION FOH CANADA. Ill :ii0 ]i.i\vn, ,1 or I Ih.) •.( ii> |unn^ with Itheso. and l.liich I, are |ii>t> oi liilrt of into ^l.V, "« imsftV MOtH, lift IH liUs of ]o the bait, anlly tinliOH Itniibt. |:oii of Those ilmoii- kindn ly live. ir:icoH I which 'ill-not 1; most No. II.— A MARINK SOIKNTIKIO STA'^lO^J l<'OR CANADA. I Bt pRonetiHOR I'hinuk, ('ommissionkk ok FiHiiKuiKd. At the requoHt oftho MiniMttii- of Marino and FishurioH Iho following roport hud bet)u propured embodying certain HUggoitionH touching the foundation of a Marine Laboratory for iho Dominion. There is a growing fooling prevailing that our country, which in ho manyrespeolH hoM taken u leading place among tho ni«tionH in regard to fishery matters, especially in the administratioa of judicious fishery laws and regulations, and the accomplish- ment on an extensive scale of practical fishery objects such as artificial fish culture, should take a position of equality with other countries in the furtherance of marine and fresh water biological research. Proposals, indeed, have fiom time to time been made in this directio;i, and professors in our universities, as well as practical fishery authorities, have given strong expression to views in favor of a biological station for Canada, od the lines of such institutions in other countries. A period has now been reached, it may be justly clairr^ed, when such a suggested scheme should assume practical shape. Pot;Bessed, as the Dominion is, of perhaps the richest and most varied fisheries in the world, the exemplar to other countries in hor elaborate system of fish propa- gation for the replenishment of the groat lakes and rivers, and a pioneer in the hatching of that valuable crustacean, ths lobster, it is not surprising thai the necessity is now perceived for an institution devoted to the accurate investigation of fishery problems, the elucidation and final settlement of perplexing questions which have bafHed practical men, the collection of exact observations on the food, habits, and life-history of fishes, and the accumulation in this way of useful scientific know- ledge in order to promote the prosperity of our coast and inland fisheries. There are few civilized countries which have not already established such institutions. That their value is appreciated is clear from the p?. icy of Germany, which, notwithstanding her limited coast line, bus several marine laboratories, and no sooner became possessed of Heligoland, so long a British possession, than a marine station was founded there by the German Government and equipped with all the appliances for aiding the fisheries of that empire. Directly or indirectly under the auspices of the British Government, about half a dozen marine stations carry on valuable work on different parts of the Knglishand Scotch coasts, at Plymouth, St. Andrews, Dunbar, Grimsby, Millport, and other places, while the splendidly equipped laboratories of the tjnited States, France, Italy, Holland, New Zealand, Australia, and other lands are famous. These have made valuable contributions to our knowledge of fish and fisheries in various parts of the world. Why should the Dominion be unable to do hor part in this groat work ? Is it because Canada offers less field, or has fewer difflouii; problems to solve in connection with her fisheries ? On the contrarj', it is no exaggeration to say that the work done in other countries could be far surpassed by ('anada, and that our waters offer unparalleled opportunities for scientific research, with the certainty of abundant and valuable results. Prolific as our fisheries are, the infinitely varied character of our maritime resources has yet to be fully understood and developed, while le'-islalion in regard to the lishorios would bo no longer hampered by diffi- culties and drawbacks, were a body of Mcientifically ascertained knowledge available. Sir William Dawson, Mr. J. F. Whiteaves, and their colleagues, by their in- vestigations in the Gulf of wSt. Lawrence, and Professor Ganong and others by re- searches in New Brunswick waters, have shown what a promising field for in- vestigation exists. But the fact that year after year professors and bands ot students from the United States resort to Canadian shores to carry on marine studies, preferring our prolific waters to their own, clearly proves, if proof were needed, that a Marine Station in Canada would be able to accomplish great results MAtttSE Aifh FlHHKIittSS The liiU I'roru^Hor MnitelHy, of Orloid, imturtilist on tho f'umoiiM "Clialloiti<ttr " oxptMlitiDii, oiu;u iluclitroil liiN conviction that no fisheriurt oi/uhi be i-ikrri«)l on with iiil«<|uatM HiicevHrt iin<l re^ultitud witli rtuoniity unlesn ii ^uittnliHu knowled^u of their vonditionn nn<l churiictui had henu ohtuinod hy the ruHonrcho.i of Hcittntitli; obrturvuii. " I do not think," he declured, in London, March ^iUt, lijH4, " tbut any invuHti^ation not ol u Alrictly ■cientiHc chaructur is of much vuiuo with rnjrard to practical le- nultM. ft in only by the n>i>il thorou;;h Hcinntitlo vvoi k tliut wo Hhall uvur arrive ut the IncreHtting, for example, of our HUp|dicr* of oyMtorw aii<l lobrttorH." l'rofeM«or MoHeUy had almont uniMiuallt'd opportunities, duritii; lliu cruirte of II. M. ij. 'ChullengtT,' for rninine an iiiiii^ht into th«t life ot the Hoa in the inotit diverxe reeioHH ot the globt), and it wax clear to him that for the "ifuty of thtt fitthin^ induH- tnen themnulved, and for the proxpcrity of lhonH eni^aj^od in them, u thoroughly accurate knowledi^e of the conditionii of life in the watorn, the j^jrowth, hpawninu period.'*, and migrutiormof the more valuable tiHhun wa.s(d'pikramount importance, (f It be the duty of (lovernment to protect and foHter the tirihurieH in all logitimute ways, it ih equally the duty of (lovornment to inveHtij^ate the causes which ren- der Huch protection nt^cessary; and to oHtabliHh Huro and unqauHtionnble grounda for action. An opinion has nrevailud to a lamentable extent that tishery quostionx are all purely practical, and the lui's that Hcitnice tnterferea the better. Uut no greater error <« posaible. Year after year nerptoxing probleniH and diilicultiea have arisen in connection with the flshttrius, and in onler to gut at the facts and causes involve<J, uommisNions of inquiry have been institute<i. Such commissions have collected the views of various parties, and, on the opinions obtained, have often taken action. Bat opin'f.ns vary. There is hardly any unanimity, amongst those chietty intoroslod, upon any fishery question, and the views expressed aro ofteti so (ipposed to each other, that etHoient action in the way of legislation has not been possible. Protective laws, regulations as to close seasons, restrictions as to tra|)s, nets and methods of fishing, can never be satisfactorily framed if based merely upon opinions and the varied views of those interested. Men engaged in chemical industries, in engineering, farming, &c., have sought the help of science and received prac- tical aid of the utmost value. Why should the fisheries not rocoivo similar aid from science, and make progress under the reliable guidance of accurately ascertained knowledge? The migrations of fi>hes, the fluctuations observed in their abun- dance from season to season, their reduced numbors, or in some cases, total dis- appearance in certain areas, and their unex|)ected appearance or increased abundance in other waters, are at present largely matters of conjecture. But such movements, and such decrease or increase in the quantity of fish depend upon causes which cm be discovered, and their discovery would place in tho hands of fishermen the powei- to carry on their work to the best advantage and not Oy mere chance or luck. Observations on the abundance and nature of the food on the floor of the sea wouM no doubt be a certain guide to the movements of fishes, while changesof temperature at the sea bottom, and other conditions are of groat importance. Professor Mcintosh, u leading Kuiopean fishery authority, has shown from laborious investi- gations conducted at St. Andrew's Marine Laboratory, Scotland, that with the pro- gress of the year there is a regular sequence in the kinds of animals which people the waters of the sea in certain areas. These animals aft'ord food for the fishes, young and adult, and that the abundance and character of the food directly affects the numbers and kind of fish frequenting certain waters needs np demonstration. Kach month, indeed, seems to be characterized by the appearance of special forms of marine life. This fruitful field of investigation has never yet been entered upon in tho waters of the Dominion. Tho first steps have yet. to be taken in this and a host of other lines of study. Tho foundation of a marine station upon the coast would rendei- possible the prf)secution of such necessary researches. The individual efforts of naturalists can never lead to the rapid accumulation of facts necessary to a science of the Canadian fisheries. Only a proj)erly equipped marine station can accom- plish fruitful results. It would form a centre of operations whence systematic work could be carried on; where by appropriate appliances and instruments, with the ■killed aii lie. liOgl Hornewhaf flicting Special t( hlbited, \^ at ditfereif though oi have eveij effect of I Bi7,e of in tho ci been Just be settled! basis of p[ carried oif able mat] various would fall upon th J tion ofthJ the thorol mi nation calculatec most valil groiindn, before hii deteriorati fish, these work oarti gation sh( methods ' of great most app{ the food, tl enemies uJ growr.,, ik\ for scieni of the Euil suggest it been mad (I No doubt r ment, anc London equate is Pleuronecl so high (J wealth to alive to tl Norwegiail this deficitl ranking hi fishingresij the thoroui on from srj ery of fia cognized >] iletermine.] T |alloit;,'er " on with J «t' their |eiiti&(!itioii Icticnl re- iirrive at I'rofeMsor H. M. S. \yt diverse n<( iiulus- |:ioroiighly spawning Irtiince. If jlcgititnate vhich ren- Irounds for Ins iive all lio greater lave arisen i involved, ccted the Jen action, li I) te rested, Tod to each li possible, nets and ill opiniona biistrius, in tved prac- |r aid from Iscertained lieir abun- k total dis- Jfibuudance liovements, I which can J the power |e or luck. sea would Iniperature Professor Ims investi- I'.h the p ro- ll (;I> people I the lishes, ■tiy jilfects J )iisiration. Ill forms of id upon ill iiud a host |)!iKt would luiil etfort.s [u a science [:iin acconi- In.'Uic work- ^ with tlio MA RINE SCIENTIFIC ST A TION FOR CA NA DA . 5 skilled aid of officialu, the results could be put into shape for the service of the pub- lic. Legislation has done much ir. regard to the fisheries, but it has often proceeded somewhat hazardously anrl without a trustworthy basis of knowledge. Hence con- flioting regulations, alterations and amendments havn too frequently followed. Special forms of fishing apparatus have been encouraged, others discouraj^ed or pro- hibited, while the meshes of the various nets have been altered, according to law, at different times. Such legislation may have worked harshly in many instances, though OD tne whole it has been admittedly beneficial, yet no adequate experiments have ever been carried on with the object of demonstrating for instance the actual effect of meab regulations. On the one hand, it has been argued that the size of mesh has little effect upon the capture of particular sizes of fish, in the case of certain species; while on the other hand the opposite view has been just as strongly urged. It is patent that such disputed questions could readily be settled by experiments carried on at a scientific station and an unquestionable basis of proved facts provided foi- fut ire legislative action. Scientific investigations carried on by competent experimenters, would decide, once and for all, these debate* able matters. The comparative efficiency, destructiveness. and wastefulness of various methods of fishing, could be ascertained in the same way. Other work would fall within the scope of a marine station, all having a most dii-ect bearing upon the practical and mercantile aspects of the fishing industries. The investiga- tion of the resources of the vaiious aveas along the lengthy coast of the Dominion, the thorough examination of extens.ve regions of the sea 'bottom and the deter- mination of fishes and special proc'ucts, peculiar to these various regions, are calculated to place in the fisherman's hands precisely the information which will be most valuable to him. Such knowledge directs him to new and unsuspec'ceu grounds, saves him from fruitless trials of unproductive aj-eas, und may even bring before him valuable fishes of whose value and abundance he was not aware. The deterioration of areas once productive, the partial or total disappearance of certain fish, these and other .^roblemri can only be solved by the accurate and systematic work carried on froia some central station on the coast. The results of such investi- gation show the causes of deterioration and may lead in some cases to practical methods of restoration to former productiveness. The introduction of new species of great market value and the creation of new industries is one of the readiest and most apparent ways in which science is able to benefit the fisheries. The nature of the food, the conditions of breeding and embryonic life, the presence or absence of enemies and hurtful influences, in short, all the conditions influencing the welfare, growth, and increase of such transferred or newly introduced species, are matt'^rs for scientific investigation, preliminary to practical stops. The introduction of the European sole (Solea vulgaris) is one of the first experiments which wou.'d suggest itself, after the preliminary investigations had been completed. A trial has been made in the United States, but the results have not proved very satisfactory. No doubt many sandy areas, on our own coast, are well adapted for the experi- ment, and the English sole is now one of the most valuable of food fishes. The London market is being supplied from Norwegian and more distant waters, so inad- equate is the aupply obtainable in British waters. It is a species, like all the Plouronectidse, extremely tenacious of life, tvnd its value in the Eni^lisb mark^ls is so high that the introduction of such a fish, if successful, would prove a source of wealth to the fishing population on our coasts. Soles could no doubt be conveyed alive to the London markets, for the voyage is liUie longer than that of the Norwegian boats, which at present carry on a highly remunerative British trade in this delicious and esteemed fish. But the experimental introduction of new fishes, ranking high in economic importance, is secondary to the full development of the fishing resourcesof our waters as they atprcsent exist. There is every probability that the thorough and systematic investigation of the fauna of our Atlantic coast, carried on from such a Marine station as Canada ought to possess, would lead to the discov- ery of fishes of economic value at present existing in our waters though unre- cognized and unappreciated. The anchovy has been recoi-ded, though probably determined on insufficient grounds, on the Pacifio coast of the Dominion. Itishigiily m ^ 6 MAIUNE AND FISHERIES. probable therefore that thia tiuh occurs in our Athintic wnters, and it '» one of the moat delicate and highly esteemed of our Hahes. If bu, a new and valuable industry Would be readily opened up, just as in the smelt fishing recently developed in certain rivers in the Maritime Provinces. The value of the nmelt wan not appreciated until within the last few years and in such a river as the Miramichi the smelt fishery hoA risen to the position of a highly remunerative industry. From investigations pursued at the Ffymouth Marine Laboratory it has been shown that on the south ooast of England anchovies are plentifully captured in sprat and pilchard nets, and it has been pointed out by scientific workers at that laboratory that a regular fishery could be established. On the coasts of Holland, France, Spain and Italy, such an anchovy fishery has long been carried on with profit to the fishermen. The an- chovy migrates and schools much after the fashion of the mackerel, and they are netted in a similar way, when coming into the sh.'iliow waters. Whether fishee: of econotnic value such as the anchor y, the pilchard, the sprat &c., really inhabit our waters or not, cannot be decided in our present state of knov/ledge. At certain seasons vast schools of small fish, roughly classed aa " Britt " or regard^ as "Tinkers," invade particular portions of our littoral waters, and a thorough study of these smaller forms must yield important knowledge and throw light upon tl^e productive- ness and range of oar fish supply. Becent fishery investigations have more and more clearly demonstrated that a knowledge of small fishes, whether small species i.e., distinct kinds, or merely the young of larger and familiar forms is of supreme value. And it is precisely of these smaller and often despised fishes that exact know- ledge is most lacking. It is possible in a great degree to foretell the probable abun- dance or scarcity of fish in future seasons, from observations on the schools of young fish which make their appearance in certain areas. At present it is a matter of little interest to those whose living depends upon the prosperity of the fisheries, what the precise nature of these young fish may he, and their presence in the coastal waters has not been regarded as of much importance from a practical point of view. But it is not ao. The studies of the scientific observer have proved the fallacy of this common opinion, and have established, beyond doubt, that these schools of fry direct- ly and indirectly indicate a good or bad fishing season. Directly they do this bo- cause when these schools are carefully examined by competent authorities they often prove to be the fry of fish most valued as food, or again if not themselves the young of such fishes, they form a favourite food of esteemed kinds. In the warm summer months vast schools of minute fishes — one or two inches in length, occur oft' the Bay of Chaleur and further north. The local fishermen regard them as young mackerel, others as herring, others as cod and hake. As a matter of fact these important schools of small fry have never been studied by any observer, and of what kind of fish they really consist has never been decided. More than this, the work carried on in ot'mr countries has shown that we can never understand the fisheries, the con- ditions of their prosperity or decadence without a knowledge of the eggs and spawn- ing grounds. Almost nothing is known of this great subject so far as Canadian waters are concerned. I^or can such studies be successfully carried on until a pro- perly equipped hauls of operations has been provided in a ma* ine station where this work could be prosecuted. On the foundation of such a stat .on these important problems would be attacked at once and much desired knovvled< e obtained. Not only is a knowledge of the distribution and comparative abundance of th« economic fishes in our waters needed, but the general condition.: and the probabili- ties of success iu stocking new waters, or it may be re-stocking depleted waters, require to be studied. The discovery of unnoticed or unknown species and the intro- duction of now and valued kinds are not only possible, but under scientific guidance may be matters of certainty. The capture of a new and valuable food fish, the tile fish, off the New England coast, in 1880, shows that useful kinds offish may remain still to be dlscovei'ed and that the treasures of our waters have not yet been fully made known by the operations of fishermen. Further, the e.^tirpation of predatory kinds which destroy nets, food-fishes, and are a terror to the fi iherman, would be a matter of study.* * III l.Silli iiiyriiicl.t of M)|-aciims i1<ijffi-ih {ArnnlhiiiA upfn^aivd in tli>- Kiiy of Kiiiidy iti tlif ninnth i>f lV-hni:irv. grel salt! cool cani watl attrf retul Sucf fish aau,, Soutl adva manl ketsJ prov( our gresB from I povvel the b| is to fisheil reseai II u{v)n i.-j one of the filtlo inilustiy |j»o(lini;ertaiu In'ciatfd until ,niolt fishery ' iivoHti,L;ationN I'dii the south hd nets, and it Tilt u regular 111 Italy, such 1 1 en. The an- lul they are I nether lisheH ['loally inhabit At certain ..3"Tinkera," jSiidy of these io productivo- 3 ive more and '^rnall species .^i^ of supremo Titoxuct know- • obable abuu- ^iools of young 'is ii matter of ■'"'ilie tisheries, ' in the coastal |^))oint of view. r t'lillacy of thiti r ^ of fry direct- >i'.y do this be- " tic.-; they often ves the young A arm summer 'SirotFthe Bay '^imj' mackerel, lOso important what kind of work carried leries. the con- Iti f rgH and Bpawn- l?jr as Canadian I .M> until a pro- ^it;^tion where le^c important .:iilioi|. 'indance of the *^' theprohabili- pleled waters, . ami theintro- 10. *\ nlidc truidance ,. A ti.sh, the tile lie I ' J -h may remain yet been fully L' m of predatory r.ui, would be a III tlie llinlltll lit MA HINE SCIENTIFIC STA TION FOR GANA l>A. 7 A complete biological survey of the coastal walei's of the Dominion is a great task, and could only be accomplished gradually. But such a work would fall within the operations of a marine station, and would be gradually pushed forwai-d season by season until the phynical conditions, the biological characteristics, the fauna and flora of every arc„, wherein the fishing industry is proi^ecuted, are made known and are available for the guidance and information of those actively engaged in fishery pursuits. Other work of a highly practical nature would come within the .-tcope of the proposed institution. Methods of preserving and traiisporting tiuh, improved means of drying, salting, canning, and refrigeration — in short, all the modes suggested by science for conserving the best and most attractive elements of fish food, would be thoroughly tested, and new improvements, or novel and unsuspected raethala made known. The growth within recent years of a vast industry which has proved a source of wealth to many districts, viz., the preservation of orchard fruits, is an indication of the success which may attend nev methods of "putting up" economic products, and the pre- serving offish in attractive marketable form is a line of industry in which very little progress has hitherto been made. The utilization of fish rue, livers, skins, and waste products, at present of comparatively small value, is a promising field there can be no doubt, if economical and ready methods be discovered of turning them to account. It remains to be seen how far existing modes can be improved, or new methods adopted, with a prospect of commercial success. The preservation offish on new plans is a most piomising field, and one which could be without difficulty carried on experimentally in a marine station. No one acquainted with the incredibly rapid progress of the preserved fruit industry already referred to, the great strides which it has made in the Dominion, and on somewhat different. lines in Great Britain, can deny that such methods, if applied to the preservation of fish, would mark a new era into the fisheries of our country. While the neatly packed products of the orchard and fruit garden find their way to the tables of all classes of the community in Britain, the United States, and other countries, and the canned lobsters and os'slers prepared on our coasts are hardly less widely used, the roughly dried and salted fish of the Dominion are far less gen- erally sought and used in our provincial cities and towns, and are unknown to a great part of the population in Britain. In appearance and comestible qualities, salt fish, dry and pickled, have not appeared to recommend themselves to English cooks and housekeepers. Yet the quality of our cod, haddock, mackerel and herring cannot be questioned — indeed it may be doubted whether the fish of any other waters are of equal excellence. Experiments leading to a superior and more attractive method of preparing and packing these fish would yield pecuniary returns more than proportionate to any exira trouble or expense in preparation. Such prepared fish would ta.<e possession of markets never yet reached by our fish merchants, and would prove much more lucrative than the coarsely prepared, and, to" many, offensive, forms of cured fish, which at present are shipped to the South American, West Indian and other markets. Norway has made great advances in this direction and her attractively prepared fishery products, including many entirely novel foods, have already secured much favour in the British mar- kets. The enterprise of Canadian merchants would not be lacking if experiments proved that new and superior met,hod8 of preserving fish could be readily applied in our own fisheries. Science alone can afford sure ground for advance in the various lines of pro- gress indicated in the foregoing remarks. The fisheries have largely stood aloof from scientific aid, or rather the means of scientific aid have been wanting, and its powerful influence in the way of prospering the fisheries has not been realized. But the benefits of fishery science are no longer matters of doubt, and all that is required is to afford means for pursuing exact scientific research, and for spreading amongst fishermen and others, actively engaged in the fisheries, the beneficial results of such researches and new knowledge. It is important that a scientific fishery station should be centrally situated upon the coast, that the conditions of marine life should be favourable, so that 8 . MARINE A2fn FISHERIES. materinla for study wuuld be at hand aud obtained without difficulty or Iohs of time. Again, it should be within easy reach of areas in which important fisheries are car- ried on, that is to say, the fisheries in actual o) oration should be easy of access from such a station, in order that all the practical knowledge of the fishermen may be made available aud suggestions or information conveyed from the scientific station to those engaged on the fishing grounds. There are many points upon the Atlantic seaboard which might be recommended for sQch a marine station. The richness and varied character of the fauna in the more southerly shores of the Dominion cannot be lost sight of. To Passnmnquoddy Bay and the prolific waters around Grand Manan and the Western Isles, scientific workers from the United States have been accustomed to resort season after season, and very valuable and substantial contributions to our knowledge of the sou's resources have been made by Canadian investigators in this area. A location further north presents, however, many advantages. The lobster fishery, with the various perplexing and difficult questions connected therewith, is carried on upon the greatest scale there, and with a marine station in close proxi- mity, the life-history, habits, migrations and breeding of that valuable crustacean could be thoroughly investigated. The mackerel fishery, however, is carried on at a most important period of the year in the more northerly waters, and the cod fishery, though not pursued to its fullest extent off Prince Kdward Island, affords material for interesting and valuable inve>< ligations respecting the food, breeding, growth, and movements of the various members of the cod tribe, all of economic importance. Areas, with the most famous nnd prolific oyster beds extending over them, would be readily accessible from such a station ; and the bays and inlets of the Quebec, and New Brunswick shores and north shore of Nova Scotia abound with smaller fishes, such as the smelt, capelin, etc., while the fry of various species occurring there require study in order to throw light upon the future development of the fishing industry. The fauna and flora may be less rich and varied than off the southern coast of Now Brunswick; but that remains to be ascertained. Certainly points might be named in the northern area, bordering on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which offer facilities most favourable for experiments on retaining young and immature lobsters in ponds until their defenceless stages are passed, and for repeating under strict scientific supervision, the work carried on with such apparent success in Norway by Captain Dannevig, whose achievements in rearing cod and other marine fishes to an advanced and robust stage aro well known. A marine station favourably situated and properly equipped has a great work before it in Canada. The linei along which that work would, without question, progress are infinitely varied, and no sketch, however full and comprehensive, can aim to do more than indicate their nature and direction. They all end in supremely practical results, and bear directly upon the welfare and prosperity of the great fishing industries. All who have been associated with fisheries in anj way realize keenly the lack of accurate knowledge on the most vital and important points. Legislation has often been hazardous on account of this lack of ascertained fact and the existence of contradictory opinions. Primarily, a marine station would be a centre for investigation and research for the promotion and diffusion of knowledge. Without interfering with this first and most important work, such a station might be also a school for teaching and for scientific study. This latter line of work would enlist for it the bynipathy and help in various ways of the universities, many professors and students from which might be expected to aid in the fishery investigation carried on. There is no field so fascinating and fruitful for the biologist as the sea, and dis- tinguished zoologists and students would no doubt desire, as volunteer workers, to help in the investigations, viewing the fine opportunities for research as aaiply re- paying them for their labour. In this way, directly and indirectly, fishery science would gain and the fisheries of the Dominion receive that light and knowledge which in various directions is greatly needed. No doubt pure scientific lesearch, that is reseaich with no direct practical end in view, must be carried on by private rather than public support, and the work of marine stations, like those in Scotland and elsewhere, must have sole regard to practical questions and utilitarian ends. In other c«| has helped restrictioni*J was wholh with the fisi! views were fl to the spawJ could no do| eries Protecl precise natuj work of coll tion of fish only by la provided i It is I mout of a the neces of the litt more norf great wor in a simih; ' life in the».> benefits of '. alone lead u floating mar coast to ano such subsidi adjuncts in »' VI 2 9] v| n el h\ ) J ai II I z' >,s uf time. I'H arc cin'« ijcOMH from |n miiy be [tic station bmmended |nu in the fiiumioddy , Hcieritifio ^or iieason, the seu'tt [ii lobHtei- prowitb, is lio.se proxi- Iceun could ti at u roOHt led fidhery, |b material ^', growlh, Inportance. V would be lo, and New lieti, 8ucb as li'o require induHtry. last of Now II be named lor facilities Irs in ponds scientific I or way by >e fishe.-* to »reat work It question, nsive, can supremely the great Iway realise jtant points, led fact and would be a I knowledge. ttion might hvork would professors flion carriotl [•ca, and dis- 1 vvorkera, lo IS amply re- liery science knowledge lie research, |i by pi'ivate in Scotland flarian ends. ■^'l'- •\'.:y.;i . ■' MARINE SCIENTIFIC STATION FOR CANADA. 1J.' I In other countries the existence of marine Hta'iuns has proved benuticial and has helped in wise and serviceable legislation without the risk oc vexutioui restriotionH. They have bhown in numberless instances that common opinion . wa6 wholly untrustworthy and that the eviiiente of those prai.ticully connected with the fishing industry was frequently far uatray, and that commonly expressed views were the reverse of actual factH. Etpocially bus this been the case with i eupuct to the spawning and growth of marine food tiuhes. Government rnurine Htations could no doubt rely for much aid tipon certain of the cruiters engaged in the Fish- eries Protection Service, but the main work of the station being of a delicate and precise nature must be carried on in the rooms of the laboratory. Apart from the work of collecting and making obsf^rvations on the food, migrations and distribu- tion of fishes, and the modes of capture, tho more important results can be obtained only by laborious and piolonged work, with the aid of tho instruments and books provided in the laboratory itself. It iu not too much to anticipate that the benefits resulting from the establish- ment of a marine station ut some central ^ >iiit as indicated, would make obvious the necessity of others. The vast extent of coai>t and the varying character of the littoral waters would imply such a development of this work. Certainly a more northern and a more southern murine station in tho future would promote the great work of thorough investigation. The value and extent of the lake fisheries, iu a similar way, would call for un inland slatioh, in order that the conditions of life in these vast inland seas might be better understood. Certainly the practical benefits of a more trustworthy knowledge of our marine and fresh water fisheries can alone lead to their prosperity and growth in the future. Holland has established a floating marine istation which can be moved season by season from one point of the coast to another, and with one permament marine station as a central institution, . such subsidiary stations, migratory or otherwise, might be found useful as secondary adjuncts in a work so extensive. ^^; J RINE AJSri) FISHERIES. t hand and obtuined without difficulty oi- lot)8 of time. ' reach of ai-eau in which important fisheries uro cur- iries in actual 0[ oration should be easy of access front 1 the practical knowledge of the fishermen may be . or information conveyed from the ticientific station ; grounds. n the Atlantic seaboard which might be recommended e richness and varied character of the fauna in the ominion cannot be lost sight of. To Passaniaquoddy )und Grand Manan and the Western Isles, scientific i have been accustomed to resort season after season, antial contributions to our knowledge of the scu's Canadian investigators in this area, presents, however, many advantages. The lobster exing and difficult questions connected therewith, is icale there, and with a marine station in close prozi- Bcrutionsand breeding of that valuable crustacean could 'he mackerel fishery, however, is carried on at a most u the more northerly waters, and the cod fishery, .■4t extent off Prince Kdwurd Island, affords material re-^tiajutiuns respecting the food, breeding, growth, nomt)ers of the cod tribe, all of economic importance, id prolific oyster beds extending over them, would be tatiou ; and the bays and inlets of the Quebec, and New ore of Nova Scotia abound with smaller fishes, such as the fry of various species occurring there require ipon the future development of the fishing industry, s rich and varied than off the southern coast of Now be ascertained. Certainly points might be named : on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which offer facilities 8 on retaining young and immature lobster.s in ponds e passed, and for repeating under strict scientific on with such apparent success in Norway by vements in rearing cod and other marine fishes to ro well known, y situated and properly equipped has a great woik along which that work would, without question, nd no sketch, however full and comprehensive, can lelr nature and direction. They all end in supremely ctly upon the welfare and prosperity of the great tre been associated with fisheries in an} way realize nowledge on the most vital and important points, rdous on account of this lack of ascertained fact and opinions. Primarily, a marine station woiild be a aarch for the promotion and dift'usion of knowledge, rst and most important work, such a station might 1 for scientific study. This latter line of work would p in various ways of the universities, many professors be expected to aid in the fishery investigation carried ting and fruitful for the biologist as the sea, and dis- its would no doubt desire, as volunteer workers, to ing the fine opportunities for research as aaiply re- in this way, directly and indirectly, fishery science f the Dominion receive that light and knowledge reatly needed. No doubt pure scientific research, :)ractical end in view, must be carried on by private the work of marine stations, like those in Scotland regard to practical questions and utilitarian ends. lu other o«| has helped restrictionc , was wholl with the fii views were to the spaw' could no do' eries Pi-otec precise natu work of col tion of fish only by la: provided i i It is I meut of a the neces of the litt more nort great wor in a simiL ' life io thes'j benefits of :. alone lead u floating mar coast to ano such subsidi adjuncts in i (tl nl el b( t Ml ai