, 1872-11-06
COD FISHERIES.
The Supply in Canadian and New
fOundland Waters

The Supply in Canadian and New
foundland Waters
From the Toronto Leddsr-
Fears are sometimes expressed that Canada's
eries, will, in time, become exhausted, and the m
enormous fish colonies around the shores will,
by overhshing, become so reduced in numbers
that the tolls OF the fisherman Will cease to be
our fishing grounds are falling of in productive
ness, and while the number OF fishermen are
increasing, the cod and seals are decreasing
We believe there is no foundation, in fact, for
such an opinion. The quantity Of fish taken
out of the sea By the hands Of men is so small,
in proportion to the whole or to the numbers de-
stroyed by their natural enemies, that the ab-
straction could make little or no impression on
the immense shoals in the ocean. The fecundity
of fish is enormous, and is Natures compensa-
cannibl propensities Of the fish world.
In the world of waters it would seem as il
shoals Of one species Of fish had no other
object in life than to chase another with
q view to eat them, but in proportion to the de-
struction thus carried on ia the power Of repro
duction with which they are endowed. Perhaps
sixty or seventy millions Of Goldfish are taken
from the sea annually by the toilers OF the sea
around the shores Of New Found1and. But what
is the quantity when ne consider that the cod
yields three millions and half Of eggs each
season, and that even eight millions have
been found in the roe Of d single cod! Other
fieh, though not equalling the cod, are also
wonderfully reproductive. herring six
or seven ounces in weight is pro-
yided with about 30,0 900 oraria. After making
all reasonable allowances for the destruction OF
eggs and of the young, it has been calculated
tIat in three years . single pair Of hernngs
would produce 154, 900, ,000. Button said that if
a.pair Of herrings were left to breed and multi
ply undisturbed for period of twenty years
they would yield q fish bulk equal to the whole Of
the globe on which We live. The cod far surpass
the herring in fecundity. Nothing can compare
with the prolific power Of fish in any other
species Of animals, except, perhaps, the white
ant, which produces eggs at the rate OF hfty per
minute and goes on laylngfo period Of un-
known duration. The common domestic bug,
against which popular prejudice is so strongly
pronounced, has great reproductive powers, as
It is said to become q great grandmother IN
twenty -four hours. 1t is nothing, however, to
the house-fy, which produces twenty millions OF
eggs in season, or the little uphldes OF tho
garden, one OF which produces hundred thon-
sand millions OF young.
In the case of one Of our cod that yields three
millions and half OF eggs in season, Of course
vast numbers never come to life at all, either
from the want Of the fructnying power, or from
being devoured by enemies. Then OF the eggs
that ripen, it has been calculated that so per
cent OF the young fish perish before they are 6
months old. We're it not for this destruction Of
life. fish would so multiply that it would be i'm
possible for boat to move in the sea. Fish
n1rey extensively upon each other, indeed the
yery element in which they move, is, in sense,
great mass of living matter, and it doubtless
Affords, by means OF minute animals, wonder
full source Of supply.