BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 337 



Vol. Ill, Mo. 22. Washington, ©. C. Oct. 18, 1883. 



5fi.-FISH.€n-T3 T RE AS SEEN AT THE LONDON EXHIBITION, WITH 

 SPECIAL REFERENCES TO ITS HISTORY, APPARATUS, AND THE 

 METHODS USED IN THE UNITED STATES. 



By A. A. W. HIJBBECHT.* 



w Neglected" is an ugly word; wherever it is spoken, the idea of 

 "neglect of duty' 7 seems to be implied.t Whenever a public interest 

 is referred to, such neglect of duty can only be laid to the charge of the 

 Government. This does fortunately not yet apply to the subject of 

 which I am going to treat. The Government of the Netherlands has 

 for a loug number of years taken a lively interest in everything relating 

 to our fisheries. Many measures taken by our Government show that 

 it has at all times not only watched over the interests of our fisheries, 

 but has also occupied itself with the question so intimately connected 

 therewith, viz : Are our rivers, our inland waters, and the lakes along 

 our coasts sufficiently supplied with fish; and, if not, how can the num- 

 ber of fish be increased ? If there can be any question of neglect of a 

 public interest, this can surely not be laid to the charge of our Govern- 

 ment. Now, however, is the time to strain every nerve, if we desire to 

 reap the fruits of the seed which has been sown here and elsewhere, and 

 not to allow ourselves to be outdone by others. 



If any one wishes to be convinced that a great public interest of the 

 Netherlands is in danger of being neglected, unless the matter is taken 

 in hand speedily and energetically, let him this summer visit the In- 

 ternational Fishery Exposition in London. 



After having left the Exhibition road, you turn to the left, and, by 

 paying a shilling, are privileged to enter the portals of this world's exposi- 

 tion, the seemingly endless hall extending before you, in which the Brit- 

 ish exhibitors have placed on exhibition innumerable models of ships 

 and fishing apparatus. 



About half-way up this hall you turn to the right, and you soon find 

 yourself between the Netherlands' and the Danish exhibit. Whilst the 

 former, with its large number of nets, gracefully arranged, immediately 

 makes you feel that you are in a Fishery Exposition, the latter, through 

 its Arctic colonies, represented by skins and fishing apparatus from the 

 cold North, forms a suitable transition to the Newfoundland exhibit, 

 where ice bergs and seal-hunting will engage your attention. Turning 

 again to the right, and proceeding a few steps, you find yourself in that 



* Em verwaarloosd Vulksbelang, in a reprint from "deGids," No. 7, Utrecht, 1883. 

 Translated from the Dutch, by Herman Jacobson. 

 t The title of this article in the original was " A neglected public interest."— Editor. 



Bull. U. S. F. C. 83 22 



