1898] NOTES AND COMMENTS 149 



Another question pressing for scientific solution is the condition 

 of the fisheries relatively to former years. There are many factors 

 which beset this question with difficulty, but there is no doubt that 

 in certain districts, for one reason or another, there has been a 

 diminution of the fish-supply. From Jersey, for example, comes 

 a plain statement by Mr Hornell upon the decadence of the local 

 fisheries (Nouvdle C%ronigue de Jersey, March 1898). This was 

 further borne out by the statements of Mr Renouf at the meeting of 

 the ' Etats ' and resulted in the appointment of a special committee 

 ■to consider the whole subject. In this particular instance the de- 

 cadence is, according to Mr Hornell, more due to local destruction 

 of young fish than to the more customary British scapegoat, the 

 trawler. 



The April number of La Pisciculture Pratique contains the 

 presidential address of the ' Conseil superieur de Pisciculture.' Mr 

 Bellesme has to repeat the old tale of science versus politics. His 

 indictment against those in political power is sweeping but perhaps 

 not undeserved. " All their actions are subordinated to the desire 

 of remaining in power and of providing handsomely for their families 

 and for those who keep them at the top of the tree." This is with- 

 out doubt, telling the truth " franchement et sans circonlocution." 

 The June number contains a very interesting article in connection 

 with the successful introduction of the Californian salmon. At 

 Vicence, the young salmon of 1895 have been reared in a lake near 

 the laboratory and artificial propagation from these is now about to 

 be attempted. Mr Bellesme, in an able paper, points out the method 

 of procedure which should be adopted in order to ensure success. 

 The same writer contributes a general account of the rearing of 

 larval fish. 



Steam-Trawling off Jamaica 



The Carribean Sea Fisheries Development Syndicate, Limited, is an 

 imposing title. The body bearing this name was subsidised by the 

 Jamaica Legislative Council for 1896 to institute preliminary experi- 

 ments with a steam trawler in Jamaican waters. Jamaica has to 

 draw very largely upon Canada and the United States for its fish- 

 supply, and it was thought that the adoption of the latest methods 

 of steam trawling in the local waters might be attended with success 

 in the way of profit to those pursuing the industry and of gain to 

 the community of the island. To this end the steam trawler " Capri- 

 cornus," from the Iceland Fisheries, equipped with well, otter-trawl, 

 and a Grimsby crew was chartered and worked through the district 

 for nearly three months. The record of the log demonstrates pretty 

 clearly that the method of steam trawling is impracticable for this 

 area. The customary ending to each haul appears to have been a 

 torn net, and the actual number of fish caught seems to have been 



