348 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



first, those relating to international maritime law; second, in- 

 ternational commerce; third, mercantile marine ; and, fourth, 

 fisheries, international and along shore. Under the latter 

 head the following topics were suggested for present and far- 

 ther consideration : 



1. Can the sea, or certain sections of its shore, positively 

 lose in regard to the number of its diverse inhabitants on ac- 

 count of particular methods of fishing? What are the proofs 

 of any asserted diminution ? and might these signify any oth- 

 er result than real numerical diminution ? If there be actual 

 diminution, what measures should be taken local, general, 

 or international to prevent such injury, and, on the contrary, 

 to increase the production of marine creatures ? 



2. How can a series of observations be organized which 

 will tend to establish the fecundity of one or more species of 

 fish, the number of individuals which reach maturity, and the 

 laws of individual growth, together with the seasons and lo- 

 calities most opportune for fishing ? 



3. How can there be instituted in the Mediterranean, in 

 addition to the ordinary hydrographic researches, investi- 

 gations in regard to the temperature, the saline saturation of 

 the water, the flora and fauna of its diiferent beds, and the 

 character of the bottom at all depths, from the profoundest to 

 the shallowest, following its coasts and its depending basins 

 and bays? 



4. Is it necessary to provide for deep-sea fishing by an in- 

 ternational code ? Boston Daily Advertiser. 



STEAM IX HERRING FISHERIES. 



In view of the great waste of labor and the concomitant 

 expense in the present mode of conducting the herring and 

 other great fisheries of England, by means of row or sail 

 boats, the experiment has lately been tried, with a very sat- 

 isfactory result, of tending the nets by means of small steam- 

 boats; and it is likely that before long all the establishments 

 of this kind, of any magnitude, will be provided with auxil- 

 iary steam-power. These boats are generally about thir- 

 ty-seven feet long and niire broad, being well timbered and 

 strong, and capable of standing a heavy sea. They carry five 

 days' provisions, and will steam at the rate of nine miles an 

 hour. The cost of working, including the salary of the men 



