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concerning fish and aquatic animals and plants, the modes 

 of catching, increasing, preserving them, and transporting 

 them to market, and the various uses to which they can be 

 put, either as food, or in the preparation of drugs, oils, 

 manure, and other products. Finally the Society would be 

 able to arrange for periodical Fishery Exhibitions to be 

 held at various points around our coasts, thus giving the 

 fishermen on the spot the opportunity of learning those 

 valuable practical lessons which, to many of them, are of 

 far more use than learning imparted by books : and thus 

 it would realise the hope expressed by the Royal Com- 

 mission on Sea Fisheries, and emphasised by Mr. Huxley 

 in his Inaugural Address in this building. 



In all these details the functions of the Society would be 

 purely educational. It should stand at the very antipodes 

 of any scheme for fostering the fisheries by any system of 

 bounties, of premiums, of loans, or in any other way 

 than by encouraging research, and directing practical 

 enterprise. 



It would educate the fisherman to prosecute his calling in 

 the most thorough and intelligent manner, and with the 

 most suitable appliances ; the boat-builder and nautical 

 outfitter to give the fishermen the most roomy, seaworthy 

 and convenient vessels for the purpose ; the curer to 

 prepare the fish in the simplest, most economical and most 

 effective manner for the different markets ; the legislator to 

 frame wise laws for the regulation and, on good cause 

 shown, for the protection of the fisheries, and, while 

 protecting the fish, not to forget the duty of affording 

 protection to the lives of the brave men who run such 

 risks in their arduous and honourable calling ; and last, 

 but not least, it would educate the public generally to 

 insist on proper facilities being given by railways, market 



