SOME NEW BOOKS. 



"TO COUNT THE SEAS ABUNDANT PROGENY." 



The Resources of the Sea as shown in the Scientific Experiments to test the 

 Effects of Trawling and of the Closure of certain Areas off the Scottish 

 Shores. By W. C. MTntosh, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., &c. 8vo, pp. xvi. 

 + 248, with illustrations and 32 tables. London : C. J. Clay and 

 Sons (Cambridge University Press), 1899. Price 15s. 



" There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it "' is apparently 

 Professor M'Intosh's matured opinion, and he would probably add — "and as 

 many." He has had great opportunities, given to few, and from his very 

 extended connection with fisheries' investigation he, if any one, is entitled to 

 hold opinions of his own on the matter. So, as what we want on all fishery 

 questions is light — more light, and free discussion, and especially facts, we 

 welcome this book even although (not because) it may be interpreted by some 

 as an attack upon the methods and conclusions of the Fishery Board for Scot- 

 land, with which Professor MTntosh was at one time connected. We hasten at 

 once to remove any possible false impression that our last statement may give 

 rise to, by saying that we do not for a moment mean to indicate that the author 

 shows any undue hostility to the Board. On the contrary, he seems to us to 

 be at least animated by a fair and judicial intention in his treatment of the 

 Board's statistics and reports. He is, however, severe in his occasional remarks 

 upon the inefficiency of the Board's steamer, the Garland, and the general 

 feebleness of her performances compared with the commercial trawlers ; and 

 his conclusions as to the state of the fish population round our coast, and as to 

 the effects of trawling and of closure of areas, are diametrically opposed to those 

 given in the Board's recent blue-books. 



Professor M'Intosh's assumption of the judicial aspect is so marked in places 

 that one is reminded of the gods sitting up aloft distributing merited censure 

 and approbation with an even hand upon the mere mortals below who have had 

 something to do with fishery matters — upon scientists at biological stations 

 from Plymouth to Japan — upon chairmen of Boards, county gentlemen and 

 sheriffs — the work of two of the English Sea-Fishery Committees even is mentioned 

 with approval. All will concur, however, in the well-deserved tribute of respect 

 which Dr. MTntosh pays to the memory of Lord Dalhousie, "the popular states- 

 man who was at the head of the Royal Commission (1883-85)" ; and it would 

 be well for those engaged in fisheries work always to bear in mind Lord 

 Dalhousie's wise caution, " Remember others will follow, criticise, and check 

 every step taken." We believe that those responsible for the scientific work of 

 the Fishery Board for Scotland will, looking at the matter in this spirit, welcome 

 Professor M'Intosh's criticisms of their methods and conclusions. But we do 

 not for a moment suppose that they will accept his views, or leave his state- 

 ments unchallenged. The Board, or their able scientific secretary, Dr. T. \V. 

 Fulton, will probably have a good deal to say in favour of their own reports, 



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