The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12
WAYS OF THE FISHES.

London Globe.

London Globe.
Parliament has talked, commissions
have sat, and the nation has conferred on
the all-important subject of the capture Of
immature fish; even the exclusive atmos-
phere of the House of Commons has been
invaded by small place brought there to
convince skeptical legislators of the dan
gers involved in the constant netting of
understood fish and of the necessity of do
ing something to conserve and so, If pos
sible, improve what has been so well called
the harvest of the sea-" The outcome Of
all the discussions and deliberations is
united effort on the part Of the powers
whose territories border on the North sea
to secure evidence scientifically tabulated
and collected of q prearranged system
which may tell US more of the habits of
the jewellers in deep waters, and throw
light on the important points of growth
and migration of the food fishes; and SO in
dictate means whereby international action
may stop the feared depletion of supply
and help toward a yearly crop from the
ocean which shall be safe and certain for
all time. III - $780,. .
The foregoing is the outcome of the
conference of Christiania last year which.
took a more practical view of the problem
than was indicated at the international
gathering at Stockholm in 1SO9 and the
trimbuilt trawler which has just steamed
away from the mouth of the Thames repre-
sents one-half of this country's contribu-
ton to the work of research on the sea.
The government has commissioned the
Scottish Fishery Board and the Marine
Biological Association to undertake the
task Jointly, the former dealing with the
northern and the latter with the southern
portion of the British area, a grant of
IAs.<- .Ig...- 49,
A generous member of the Council of the
Biological Association purchased trawler
and placed 1t at the disposal of those COM
missioned to undertake the task, and this
vessel, converted below decks out of all
recognition, and appropriately named the
Huxley, has just gone on its first practical
cruise to the fishing grounds of the North
ern Sea. The old fishroom of the trawler
is now saloon accommodating three or
four naturalists (chtef of whom is Mr.. w.
Garstang, and a coal bunker is now a
small fish hold necessary for the new work
to be undertaken on board A deck
house, with good light, has been built
for the purposes of laboratory II con-
tains glass table for measuring the live
fish, the measure showing through under
meath, and so being safe from the salt
water inseparable from such an operation.
Here it will be possible to measure 500 or
600 fish day, make entries of their dimen-
siOns In books kept for the purpose, label
the fish, and then return them to the sea
to await events. In the storeroom below
investigation, with artfully arranged cup
boards of preserving jars.
1t was Professor Heinicke, of Heligoland,
who first sought to systematic measure
ment. He found that by taking the dimen-
sions of several thousands of fish, results
were obtained which seemed to point to
possibility of classification respecting age.
This is one of the methods which will be
followed regularly during the Huxleys
cruises TO study the Economies of the ages.
In seeking to trace the migration of fish
the system of labelling which has been
agreed upon will, 1t is hoped, yield i'm
portant results.
AS Mr.. Garstang pointed out, the exact
method may differ on the ships OF the vari-
Gus countries. Germany, for instance in
serts a metal. ring near the tail bearing
initials and a number corresponding with
the entry in the ships books. The English
plan, after capturing and measuring the
fish, is to pierce silver pin carrying a
metal disk just below the dorsal fin; this
is securely riveted on the other side, "E. -
standing for England, and the ledger num-
Der is engraved and then the captive is
restored to the sea. Effective steps are be-
ing taken to make all fishermen acquainted
with what is going on. and they know that
Is will be given for a whole fish so
marked with the label intact and a shill-
ing for information and the label where
the fish has been eaten or destroyed while
If the catch is valuable-a large plaice or
turbot, for instance-the market price is
proffered in addition to the reward. The
board of trade statistics reveal the fact
of dminution in the annual catch of fiat
fishes, especially soles and turbot and to
some extent plaice, but Parliament has de-
cided that until further scientific investi-
cation has been carried out the question of
size limit and other protective measures
cannot be regarded as ripe for legislation.
So far, of course, but small results have
been derived from the labelling of the fish,
but IL Is anticipated that the Huxley will
mark and liberate about 5000 each year
and the hope is that about 10 per cent will
be recovered. Then, If the fishermen give
proper aid, the locality of capture can he
compared with that of fishs release, mi
gratory tendencies noted, growth can be
measured. and. indeed. a scientific watch
kept over the life of the fish
subsequent to its capture. That the
work of the international govern
ments needs to be made widely known
was evidenced in the case of a German
marked fish. Ii was caught off Denmark
who caught IL, sent the startling intelli-
gence TO a local newspaper, and, although
the fish had been eaten. measurement had
been made, and the label preserved, so that
Mr.. Garstang was able 10 come 10 the res
cue of his German confreres. Part of the
duties OF the Huxley will be TO undertake
quarterly photographic cruises in the west
ern half of the English channel headauar-
ters being then shifted from Lowestoft to
Plymouth, where the association also has
a laboratory, In the channel the floating
life of the will be investigated. The
water, as Is known, Is full of small or
ganisms, and certain fishes. notably the
herring, which filters them through an
arrangement in its gills. feed entirely upon
due, Ii Is believed, TO the migration of the
herring and the mackerel. and here il an
| other fascinating subject for the iuyesti-
cation OF the research trawler.