jnarke table fish are present. There is no doubt that the minimum 

 sizes then would have to be considerably higher than previously 

 had been suggestedj, io e©, higher than 30 to 35 centimeters o This 

 means that much fish which ordinarily would be considered as 

 marketable, must be thrown back© While destroying of roiondfish 

 could be limited somewhat by a very large mesh width=-for plaice 

 that is not practically possible© We consider such large minimtim 

 sizes unnecessary and economically undesirable© 



The London Conventions of 1937 and 1946 observed a limit 

 by regulating only the sizps for fish and mesh widths of netSe 

 It is questionable that such limitations are completely satis= 

 factory if they do not include a limitation of the fishing 

 intensity© We think that minimum sizes alone have some value 

 although they are certainly not sufficient to prevent overfishingi 

 nor do they lead to a satisfactory rational fishing© 



Minimtmi sizes are valuable in that more fish have the oppor- 

 tunity to become marketable and bring a higher prices the fishery 

 remains profitable longer and overfishing appears at a later 

 period than when fish of all sizes are taken by the fishery© 

 Moreover;, there will still be a reserve of young fish present 

 when, by intensive fishing of the marketable part of the fish 

 stock, overfishing has appeared and the fishery thereby becomes 

 unprofitable© The fish stock will be able to rebuild itself 

 from this reserve,, as soon as a diminishing of the fishing 

 intensity gives it an opportunity to do so© 



If the minimum size does not exist then the largest part 

 of this reserve will disappear in the fish=meal factories and 

 in the stomachs of ducks, making the recovery of the fish stock 

 much more difficult© If there are no minimum sizes, then 

 fishing will continue until the sea practically has been 

 emptied and the chance of recovery has b ecome minimal© 



The fact that overfishing of plaice along the Danish coast 

 was delayed==causing a less serious problem than in other parts 

 of the North Sea<==undoubtedly is due to the higher minimian size 

 which the Danes had set for themselves© 



Therefore, minimiam sizes alone are a small step in the 

 direction of intelligent fishing© The greatest need, however, 

 is to obtain as soon as possible a limitation of the fishing 

 intensity© 



On the other hand one may ask if it is still necessary, 

 with a limitation of the fishing intensity, to protect the non- 

 marketable fish© As long as adequate fish become sexually mature, 

 the setting of minimum sizes does not appear essential from a 



