2
J. E. SHELBOUZUNE
before. A similar increase in abundance, with little effect on growth
rate, followed fishing restrictions during the second world war (Margetts
end Holt, 1948). We may conclude, therefore, that when intensive
fishing prevails, as it does today in our near-water trawl fisheries, the
food biomass available to fish is not fully exploited.
For almost 100 years, fishery biologists have been concerned about
the effect of uncontrolled fishing on future supplies of fish. Their
concern has intensified as hunting techniques have improved , unaccompanied by effective international legislation to conserve stocks. It is
not an easy matter for nations with diverse gear, ships and market
requirements to reach agreement about protective measures ; one of
the main tasks of fisheries science is to find a way through present
difficulties-a way acceptable to all. Governments are naturally
disinclined to impose controls on their fishermen, if these are at all
likely to produce hardship and instability, even of a temporary nature.
It is perhaps for this latter reason that ambitious programmes of
artificial propagation were promoted in North America and some
European countries towards the end of the last century. A great deal
was expected of this .movement, as a means of counteracting local
depletion of fish stocks. These expectations were not fulfilled; the
movement lost impetus and finally came to a halt after the 1939-46
war. Despite setbacks, the idea that we might, in some way, be able
to augment the natural reproduction of important marine fish species,
is by no means a lost cause.
In this paper I shall endeavour to sketch in the history of the
marine fish hatchery movement from ita origins to the present day;
to review some of the arguments for and against the practical value of
sea-fish hatching; to describe recent advances in the technique of
marine fish rearing ; and finally to comment on possible future developments in the direction of marine fish farming.
11. HISTORY OF THE MARINE FISH HATCHERY MOVEMENT
The artificial propagation of sea fish on a commercial scale had its
origins in the New World and was the consequence of achievements in
freshwater fish rearing. According to Professor E. E. Prince (1906), the
first attempt to breed fish artificially on the North American continent
was made in 1863 by a Dr. Theodatus Garlick of Cleveland, Ohio. He
trmsplanted Canadian brook trout eggs from Ontario to his own
establishment in Ohio, and his exhibits of hatchery fish were a feature
of agrioultural exhibitions in the various states bordering on the
Great Lakes.
In 1871 , fish culture became a reaognized department of work under
J. E. SHELBOUZUNE
before. A similar increase in abundance, with little effect on growth
rate, followed fishing restrictions during the second world war (Margetts
end Holt, 1948). We may conclude, therefore, that when intensive
fishing prevails, as it does today in our near-water trawl fisheries, the
food biomass available to fish is not fully exploited.
For almost 100 years, fishery biologists have been concerned about
the effect of uncontrolled fishing on future supplies of fish. Their
concern has intensified as hunting techniques have improved , unaccompanied by effective international legislation to conserve stocks. It is
not an easy matter for nations with diverse gear, ships and market
requirements to reach agreement about protective measures ; one of
the main tasks of fisheries science is to find a way through present
difficulties-a way acceptable to all. Governments are naturally
disinclined to impose controls on their fishermen, if these are at all
likely to produce hardship and instability, even of a temporary nature.
It is perhaps for this latter reason that ambitious programmes of
artificial propagation were promoted in North America and some
European countries towards the end of the last century. A great deal
was expected of this .movement, as a means of counteracting local
depletion of fish stocks. These expectations were not fulfilled; the
movement lost impetus and finally came to a halt after the 1939-46
war. Despite setbacks, the idea that we might, in some way, be able
to augment the natural reproduction of important marine fish species,
is by no means a lost cause.
In this paper I shall endeavour to sketch in the history of the
marine fish hatchery movement from ita origins to the present day;
to review some of the arguments for and against the practical value of
sea-fish hatching; to describe recent advances in the technique of
marine fish rearing ; and finally to comment on possible future developments in the direction of marine fish farming.
11. HISTORY OF THE MARINE FISH HATCHERY MOVEMENT
The artificial propagation of sea fish on a commercial scale had its
origins in the New World and was the consequence of achievements in
freshwater fish rearing. According to Professor E. E. Prince (1906), the
first attempt to breed fish artificially on the North American continent
was made in 1863 by a Dr. Theodatus Garlick of Cleveland, Ohio. He
trmsplanted Canadian brook trout eggs from Ontario to his own
establishment in Ohio, and his exhibits of hatchery fish were a feature
of agrioultural exhibitions in the various states bordering on the
Great Lakes.
In 1871 , fish culture became a reaognized department of work under