300 SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFEIIENCE, 



ent nationalities attached importance. Prominence has been given to 

 questions concerning the irregular lluctuations in the yield of the line 

 and drift-net fisheries, to the alleged impoverishment of the traveling 

 grounds, and to the destruction of immature (undersized) fish. The 

 physical and biological investigations which the Conference has resolved 

 upon in connection with these matters are minutely detailed in the 

 programme, which is subdivided into sections according to the character 

 of the work proposed. A characteristic feature of the biological pro- 

 gramme is its division into obligatory and optional sections — an arrange- 

 ment which provides the elasticity necessary for so large an undertaking, 

 while adequately safeguarding the international character of the funda- 

 mental inquiries. The investigation of the distribution and destruction 

 of immature (undersized) fish forms part of the obligatory programme. 

 The general idea of the international programme is as follows : — 



I. To obtain an accurate knowledge of the seasonal and other periodic 

 changes in the waters of the North and Northern Seas, both as regards 

 the distribution of temperature, salinity, etc., and also as regards the 

 course and distribution of the currents. (Recent scientific observations 

 on a limited scale have rendered it probable that in some years Arctic 

 water, and in others Atlantic water, predominates in the North Sea 

 basin, — changes of such magnitude that obviously the distribution of 

 food-fishes and of other animals throughout this area must be pro- 

 foundly affected.) 



II. To determine the amount of variation in the character and abund- 

 ance of the food-supply of food-fishes, whether floating (i.e. plankton) or 

 on the sea-bed. 



III. To determine the variations in the abundance and distribution 

 of food-fishes, both in the egg, young, and adult conditions. 



IV. To determine the extent to which these variations are due, either 

 (a) directly to natural physical causes ; or (h) indirectly to the same 

 causes through fluctuations in the food-supply; or (c) to the operations 

 of fishing-vessels in modifying the natural conditions of reproduction 

 and growth. 



V. To provide other information necessary for the consideration of 

 remedial measures ; e.g. artificial propagation, effect of special fishing 

 implements, new methods, places and seasons of fishing, size limits. 



In order to carry out the international programme each of the 

 participating countries needs its own local organisation and equip- 

 ment, and a central international office and staff' is required for co- 

 ordinating the work in general under an International Council. 

 Provision for the latter is made in the Eesolutions of the Conference 



