EFFECT OF LEGISLATION UPON OCEAN FISHERIES. 43 



CONCLUSIONS. 



The total supply of fish obtained upon the coasts of the United Kingdom has not diminished of 

 late years, but has increased, and it admits of further augmentation to an extent the limits of which 

 are not indicated by any evidence we have been able to obtain (cvi). 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



In consonance with the conclusions enumerated above we humbly submit the following recom- 

 mendations to Your Majesty: 



We advise that all acts of Parliament which profess to regulate or restrict the modes of fishing 

 pursued in the open sea be repealed and that unrestricted freedom of fishing be permitted hereafter. 



The folio wing is from a lecture by IF. W. Duff, member of Parliament: 



Is there any ground for the statement we sometimes hear that the sea is being overfished? I 

 believe investigation will prove that there is no cause for alarm. I believe it can be proved that our 

 constant fishing has had no appreciable effect in diminishing the number of fish in the sea. 



Did time and space permit we would be glad to quote more from the late Prof. 

 Baird of the destruction of fish by blueti.su and of the increase of scup, notwith- 

 standing the great increase of engines of destruction. Also from our present Com- 

 missioner showing that there has been no diminution of the menhaden. 



Of ocean fishes peculiar to our locality none have a more important place than 

 the menhaden. Although not classed among our edible fish, they contribute the 

 means to supply many tables with edible fish and other edibles as well. Their great 

 commercial value is in the oil taken from them and the fertilizing quality of the residue 

 after extracting the oil. This product has, by the aid of improved methods, built up 

 a large and important industry where none before existed ; and it appears that none 

 would take its place were it destroyed. 



The menhaden is one of the wandering ocean fishes that visit all parts of our 

 Atlantic coast and often show great abundauce at one point and scarcity at another, 

 massing at certain points in a way that is phenomenal; but we have not learned that 

 at any time they were entirely absent from our coast during a season. That such may 

 have occurred is very probable, as they were never considered a very desirable edible 

 fish, and very few fish sufficed for all the wants of early times, when no means existed 

 of preserving and the slow methods of transporting practically narrowed the market 

 to a very restricted limit near the coast. 



Their use for manure — and later, oil and manure — led to the development of the 

 purse net, first from boats, then small sloops and schooners, and finally steamers, and 

 in the last there has been a great advance over the first. The year 1890 was the 

 culminating point in the history of this fishery in Rhode Island. Later years unfavor- 

 able fluctuations of numbers in our waters or restrictive measures by some of the 

 States caused a small catch that if continued would soon destroy permanently the 

 business. It becomes a very serious question to those who have large investments in 

 this industry whether their property can be utilized again in this business, or must be 

 sacrificed. 



This particular fishery differs from all others, inasmuch as the fish differ in their 

 habits and the business can not well be confined to the narrow limits of one State. No 

 State could profitably conduct the business wholly within its limits, owing to the 

 capricious movements of the fish. 



