director's report. 297 



bodies, who have to rely on private support or Government subsidy, 

 should not be expected to make fishery investigations of national 

 importance on the chance that the legislative machinery of the 

 Government can be brought into action. England has her Worshipful 

 Company of Fishmongers, her National Sea Fisheries Protection 

 Association, and the investigating body for which I have the honour 

 to act as Director. Fishery Conferences are held and resolutions 

 passed ; but the misfortune is that these resolutions are not passed 

 by a body with power to legislate, nor can they be placed before a 

 body whose special function it is to investigate their importance on 

 behalf of the Government. 



Yet we must continue our investigations and acquire more and 

 more knowledge, so that if at some future period the suggestion 

 thrown out at the British Association meetings be realised, we may 

 be found ready at once to supply the scientific data necessary for 

 the production of thoroughly sound fishery legislation. 



W. L. Caldeewood. 



