382 EXAMINATION OF THE PRESENT STATE 
I believe that the result was not entirely satisfactory to either the 
East or South Coast trade. Unfortunately no attention seems to have 
been paid to a most sensible amendment, moved by Mr. Mallock, M.P., 
to the effect that the Conference recognised “ the fact that the 
limitation as to the size of fish in different localities must vary.” 
However, in the above-mentioned resolution we have a definition to 
which the whole English trade, in so far as it was represented, 
pledged itself. 
The sizes were not altered at any subsequent conference, and were 
more or less generally supported by the trade before the Parliamentary 
Committee in 1893. That august body did not, however, see fit to 
adopt them, considering that the size limit ‘‘ should approximate to 
that already adopted by foreign countries,” with the result that 
they recommended a limit of 8 inches for soles and plaice, and a 
limit of 10 inches for turbot and brill. 
It may be useful to recapitulate the different standards : 
| 
ae sae, a) trade lintit: Select 
Biological | Biological Pade ae London Committee, | 
| limit for limit for Ply- Giikerene Conference, House of 
North Sea. | mouth area.* | 1890 2) ONES SHURsAG. Commous, 
: 1892. 1893. 
ae eee es = a | — Nero = 
| 
Turbot ; ; : F 18 18 1, 12 10 
Brill. . : : : 15 | 15 12 12 10 
: 
Sole. : 5 : : 12 | 12 10 10 8 
| 
Plaice. : . ; .| a 13 12 10 8 | 
| 
Lemon sole. ; : 3 12 | 7 | _— 11 — | 
| | 
Reference will be made in the last chapter on Proposed Remedial 
Measures to the probable results of the imposition of these various 
size limits. 
Cuape. I]1.—Tsae Evipence or Dersriorarion IN THE Norra SEA 
TRADE AND [rs ALLEGED CAUSE. 
A. The evidence of Deterioration in the North Sea Trade. 
Since my acquaintance with the North Sea trade only dates. from 
the commencement of 1892, it is obviously impossible for me, of my own 
knowledge, to say what amount of truth there may be in the state- 
ments that have been put forward as to the diminution of the fish 
supply during the last fifty years or so. Much of the evidence that 
has been at my disposal has been made public by the Parliamentary 
* Mr. Cunningham's figures would appear to yield averages approximately as given in 
this column. 
