which they already sufifer at the hands of other interests. 

 The fishing industry is so closely identified, either to its 

 detriment or to its advantage, with so many other interests — 

 mining, manufacturing, agricultural, navigation, sanitary — 

 that an almost illimitable field lies open for the watchful 

 operations of a National Fisheries Society. I have not 

 space to refer to the way in which the Society could aid 

 the fisheries by directing meteorological research in or- 

 ganising a system of storm warnings ; by pointing out 

 improved means of communication between fishing-boats 

 and the shore, and, by telegraph or otherwise, between 

 localities where fish may happen to be, and the ports 

 where the boats may happen to be lying. These and many 

 other subjects will suggest themselves as fit points to engage 

 the attention of such a body. 



It may be said that, in many of the questions referred to, 

 such a body would be usurping the functions of the 

 Governments. I venture to think that the Government 

 would be well advised if, imitating the example set by the 

 Governments of Canada and the United States, it were to 

 consolidate or afifiliate the various departments charged 

 with the administration of the fishery laws, enlarge their 

 functions, and enable them to study and deal with the 

 various questions connected with the fisheries in a com- 

 prehensive manner. If it did no more than provide ma- 

 chinery for the collection of accurate and detailed statistics 

 it would be taking a comparatively small but most im- 

 portant step. At the present moment the only fisheries 

 of which we have anything like really useful statistics are 

 the Scotch herring fisheries ; less complete returns are 

 furnished of the cod and ling fisheries of Scotland ; and 

 approximate returns, of a very imperfect character, are 

 supplied in regard to the English and the Irish salmon 



