392 SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, 



upon the life and wanderings of food-fishes. The steamer which they 

 had specially built and equipped for these inquiries had proved satis- 

 factory in every way. As a consequence of their first investigations a 

 new outlook had opened up for their fatherland, with its extensive sea- 

 board and its rich fishing-banks : the prospect of obviating disappoint- 

 ments, the loss of time and labour, and the distress which followed 

 in their train. 



Eepeating his wish that the labours of the Conference might lead to 

 a satisfactory issue, Mr. Steen formally declared the opening of the 

 proceedings of the Conference. 



Dr. Herwig (Germany) thanked the Prime Minister for his good 

 wishes, and spoke of the vast scientific and economic importance of the 

 work which the Conference was to take in hand. As regards Germany, 

 he was glad to say that she was contributing to the work not in name 

 only but in deed, the National Assembly having voted both the money 

 necessary for the construction of a special exploring vessel, and also 

 a sum sufficient for the participation of the Empire in the scientific 

 researches for a period of five years. 



Prof. D'Arcy Thompson (Great Britain) and Dr. Knipowitsch (Eussia) 

 addressed His Excellency on behalf of the other countries represented, 

 and associated themselves with Dr. Herwig's expression of thanks, 

 recognising at the same time the active collaboration of the Norwegians 

 in these scientific researches. 



Upon the proposition of Dr. Herwig, Prof. Nansen was elected 

 President of the Conference with acclamation. 



Having taken the chair, Prof. Nansen thanked the Conference for the 

 honour they had done him. He proposed to proceed without delay to 

 the nomination of Vice-Presidents, one for each country represented, and 

 for the sake of continuity proposed the re-election of those who had 

 been Vice-Presidents at Stockholm ; viz. Dr. Herwig (Germany), Capt. 

 Drechsel (Denmark), Prof. Hoek (Holland), Prof. Pettersson (Sweden), 

 and Dr. Knipowitsch, in the absence of Prof, von Grimm (Pussia). As 

 regards England, he proposed to await the arrival later in the day of 

 Sir Colin Scott Moncrieff, Under-Secretary for Scotland. The Belgian 

 delegates had not yet arrived. 



These proposals were unanimously accepted. 



The meeting adjourned at 1.15 p.m., to meet again at 2..30 p.m. in the 

 reception room of the Grand Hotel, where the business of the Con- 

 ference would be transacted. 



2.30 p.m. Prof. Nansen (Norway) in the chair. 



Present : All the delegates except those of ])elgium and Prof, von 

 Grimm, who was prevented by illness from attending. The British 



