MARINE NATURE NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21360, 13 June 1931, Page 2

MARINE NATURE NOTES

Written for the Otago Daily Times By David H. Graham, F.Z.S. Biologist to the Marine Fisheries Investigation and Biological Station, Port Chalmers. — AIMS, OBJECTS AND WORK OF THE STATION. Since my appointment as biologist to the biological station, numerous visitors have inquired as to the aims and objects of such an institution. To begin with, quite an erroneous impression has been created in the minds of the public, who thought that the station was simply intended for the hatching out ■ of fish eggs to supplement, and increase, the number of fishes round our coast. With the exception of hatching out the eggs of the introduced English lobsters this station is purely for fishery investigation, biological research, and for the teaching of marine natural history to children, students and the general public. N The study of life in the sea has a greater bearing on the welfare of ®New Zealand than the average person realises During the last half-century we have made great strides in the art of stock breeding. The dajry farmer, poultry farmer and the agriculturist have long since passed the old “ rule of/ thumb ” method, and our breeding is now carried out scientifically. In comparison little beyond the work at this station has been done to further fishery research. Even the publication of a book on New Zealand fishes at this stage would be impossible because of the lack •of accurate knowledge of their, habits, habitat and early stages—at least a book that would compare with works on fish in other countries. The publication of a book of this sort needs a great deal of careful work in compiling knowledge of both a scientific and popular nature, and it is with this in view that the writer is collecting all the data possible. One definite objective of this station to which the writer has devoted much time, is the investigation of the structure, habits, habitat, breeding and, last but far from least, the food of our fishes. This is of the utmost importan9e in fishery, research. A) great deal of careful study is required to determine the numerous animals found in various species. The examination of hundreds of ,fish is necessary before one can speakwith 1 accuracy as to what a certain fish feeds 1 on. All fishermen are aware that certain fish feed on crabs, worms, shellfish and other fish, but, before one can use that knowledge these need to be identified and their numbers noted before one can give an accurate estimate.

Another worthy objective is that of searching for and locating new fishing grounds. This work has been done +o some extent by Government trawling expeditions throughout New Zealand, but much remains to be done. Who can say that we have another Dogger Bank oil New Zealand?. Nothing short of a biological survey of our shore- out of the 100 fathom line can supply us with the necessary information of the movements or migrations of our fishes, and the'distribution of our fishing grounds. To carry out such work, men who are prepared to give long hours of work, both in the launch and in the laboratory, are skilled fishermen, and know the ocean as a farmer does his farm, are t the first essentials. Examination of the nursery and breeding grounds of our New Zealand food fishes is of the greatest importance if we wish to stop the depletion of our valuable fish food. To find out the causes which lead to so much fluctuation in fish supplies ns well as the paucity of them at certain times is one of our aims.

Another important work of a station of this nature is that of searching for other lines of commercial value, such as oyster beds, whichfnced careful surveying and examination as to the quantity and quality, and following the sardine and sprat migrations, discovering their breeding grounds, their life histories and food, and their possibility for commercial purposes and food values. Many people of an, inquiring turn ask why our fish are becoming fewer and fewer. They ask a question that even marine laboratories that have been in existence over half a century ~ cannot answer; but a biologist with 10 years’ solid research on the various lines stated in this article may help to pick up numerous missing clues and clear up unsolved mysteries. It cannot be gainsaid that the growth and improvement of a fishing industry depend a great deal on the work of a marine biological station. New Zealand, with over 5000 miles of seaboard harbour, has an abundance of fish and sen foods, yet not only do we have times with a scarcity of fish, but over £70,000 worth of fish and sea products is imported into the Dominion. An important feature of this station is the collecting of information from all sources. Fishermen, sport fishermen, and those in the trade are encouraged to give their observations and knowledge. These are not necessarily taken as conclusive, but are tabulated for reference. f

When one stops to consider the number of persons who spend their energies in assisting in breeding, rearing, fattening and disposing of land animals used as food, the attention given to the edible fish and products' of the sea must be admitted to be infinitely small. Before a person can .breed better animals, he has to obtain an insight and knowledge of the pre-natal, natal and early life of those animals, of their best food, their enemies, and diseases. And so with our food fishes. Before we can increase our output, it is necessary for us to study fishes at every stage, to obtain a thorough knowledge of their life histories, food, habits, migration, diseases and enemies. With this idea in view, this station is accumulating such data. To the ordinary person who eats fish or even catches fish, this may appear of little importance; but we should remember that it has taken Britain over half a century to arrive at the definite knowledge which has enabled her to benefit directly the fishing and fishing industry. The knowledge of fish, the identification of their eggs, of their fertilisation, of whether the eggs are of a floating or submerged nature, of the hatching out periods, of development through each stage, and of their food, is absolutely necessary for the fishing industry in the Dominion, even as necessary as a knowledge of the food of land animals, or the nature of the soil and manure for cropping. If a marine biologist has to determine the food of all the stages of fish, he must have ft practical and scientific knowledge of the/egg and childhood stages of other marine life, i.e., crabs, prawns, shrimps, shellfish, sea eggs, starfish, and many others. These early stages are almost unknown, and unless a biologist can determine the young of that particular marine form he cannot be sure what fish feed on. Thus, only by hatching out every different form in the sea, and making drawings of them, their colourings, and measurements at various stages, can a biologist have a working knowledge of fishery problems. Many people consider this research is unnecessary, but only in this way will a biologist be able to shed some light on the migrations of fish, when they may be expected in certain areas, and generally on the paucity of fish. Another important work begun at this station, which may at this moment show little value but may Jiave a direct benefit on the education of our children and their future is that of stimulating interest among school children in marine science. School teachers are

invited to bring their classes to the station when practical instruction and explanation are given on the common marine animals in the tanks and every assistance is given on how and what to collect, as well as help in identifying the collector’s specimens, and in aiding them in forming better collections. Correspondence has been conducted by the writer with other biological stations throughout the world. A correspondence of this nature is of the utmost value in avoiding errors peculiar to a biologist’s work and in solving difficult problems. Every form of marine life is collected for the benefit of research workers. For collecting and preserving it, special knowledge is required to enable a biologist to preserve the many delicate and difficult specimens. Some are easily prepared whilst others require special treatment so that the delicate tissues may not be damaged. During my short time here, in addition : to working along lines for the benefit of the fishing industry and carrying on biological research, I have been instrumental in encouraging a great number, of scientific workers to conduct research into'many of our marine forms, and they have been supplied with material carefully preserved in proper media. At the present time no fewer than 40 institutions, besides research workers and collectors are being supplied with material. Museums, universities and biological laboratories and research workers throughout New Zealand, Australia, the United States, England, Holland and Denmark are receiving, or are' about to receive, supplies from this station at Portobello. One can thus realise that this station is not only a Dominion asset, but one of national worth and importance. The average person is apt to wonder of what use research on our fauna, conducted, in say Holland or Denmark may be to New Zealand. These research workers are all recognised specialists in some marine form, and by supplying them with material from New Zealand we are having our research work done at little or no cost to New Zealand, as well as keeping us to the fore in the scientific world. For twenty-six years the station at Portobello has. been working. Ijb is the only marine biological institution in the southern hemisphere, and it behoves New Zealanders to do all in their power to maintain it.