Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-16
CLEAR. CRISP AND CLEAN
RESTOCKING THE SEA


n thought that the time would ever
IL come when the restocking of the
sea with edible fish would be seriously
authority? Yet this audacious scheme
is exactly what has been proposed by
George M. Bowers, the United States
commissioner of fish and fisheries.
In the National Geographic Magazine
Mr.. Bowers, writing under the title of
planting Fishes in the Ocean," re-
views the results which have followed
the most extensive projects for artifi-
cial propagation. Experiments in cod
waters have been conducted for many
years. In discussing the cod hatcheries
Mr.. Bowers writes:
''It was about 1889, some ten or twelve
years after cod cultivation was syste-
matically begun, that the first results
began to be manifested. Schools of
small fish of marketable size appeared
on ipshore grounds that either had
never before had runs of cod, so far as
limited numbers of such fish. Careful
observations, conducted by the bureau,
had traced the annual growth of the
artihcially Matched fry in the coast
wise waters, and had left little doubt
that the immense bodies of cod that
had recently appeared were the direct
outcome of the hatchery work. Further
more, a most lucrative small boat
fishery has been built up on the shores
of New York and New Jersey"
There are no longer as good fish in
the sea as ever yet were caught" at
least not in commercial quantities. Not
only has there been seen the advis-
ability of propagating cod and other
varieties of swimming fish, but atten-
tion has been directed in recent years
to the salvation of the lobster, oyster,
crab and clam. Mr.. Bowers reports
that it is only within the past year or
two that the work of his bureau has
been able to arrest the decline of that
toothsome article of diet, the lobster.
A few years ago the best authorities
were agreed that the end of the nasty,
Gravity green thing of the oceans bed
men had paid no attention to the laws
supposed to protect understood lob
sters; and if they had other protection
was needed for the full-grown fish was
disappearing as rapidly as his children.
Even egg-bearing Holsters were not
permitted the joys of motherhood.
A few years ago the fisheries bureau
persuaded various states to enact laws
permitting fishermen to keep the "ber-
ried" Holsters to be collected and paid
for by agents of the federal bureau
In this manner the government hoped
to save not only a share of the adults
but their progeny as well, paying a
round sum in ransom. Now practically
the entire New England coast is pa
trolled by agents of the bureau in quest
of seed Holsters, the work being limited
only by the attitude of the fishermen
and the facilities and funds available.
AS result, says Mr.. Bowers, there
is now considerable evidence that the
increasing output of the hatcheries is
bearing fruit. Fishermen are reporting
more undersized Holsters than they have
seen in many years, and in various
places where fishing had been aban-
doned because it did not pay the fisher
men are now making good catches"
Here are some facts in regard to the
lobster which the Pacific coast will do
well to bear in mind Within the past
two or three months plans for the
propagation of the eastern lobster IN
Pacific waters have been made, and
hopes have been held out that in time
the fish that is so highly esteemed by
easterners will become common in the
markets OF California. But it will be
seen that something more than the
planting Of the seed is essential to an
abundant supply of this succulent and
dainty article for the table. We must
plan to cooperate with the federal
government. to the end that the wanton
slaughtering Of this crustacean shall
not be permitted. For we cannot eat
our lobster and have him too.