the inland waters and the waters immediately contiguous to 

 our coasts ; and then, on the wide sea, the great shipping 

 interest, with its questions of lighthouses, harbour-accommo- 

 dation, " rules of the road," and so forth. 



Most of these individual points have already been dealt 

 with in the various papers read before the Congress, and it 

 is needless, therefore, even if it were possible, in a short Paper 

 like this, to do more than touch the fringe of this far- 

 reaching subject, in which each detail, — like the thousand 

 threads in the weaver's loom, where a vast fabric of various 

 colours and intricate pattern is being woven, — has its allotted 

 part to play. A few illustrations will serve to show the 

 opening there is for a duly qualified central body to gather 

 up the various threads, many of which lie ravelled and in a 

 confused heap, and to work them, each in its due order, into 

 a complete and harmonious whole. 



First, then, as to the natural history of fish. It is obvious 

 that, before the fisherman can set to work satisfactorily to 

 catch the fish, he must know when and where they are to 

 be found. Before he can arrange to follow them, he must 

 find out whether they are migratory or sedentary in their 

 habits ; and he will find it necessary to discover the 

 causes which lead to their migration ; whether, for instance, 

 the state of the weather has any influence upon them ; or, 

 whether their movements are affected by the presence or 

 absence of food, or of enemies. Before he can arrange the 

 length and depth of his lines and nets, he must be assured 

 whether the fish swim near the bottom, or close to the 

 surface, or midway between the two. Before he can select 

 his bait, he will want to know what is the favourite food of 

 the particular fish he is intent on hooking. But, though the 

 fishermen number among them many acute observers who 

 are able, after long experience, to judge of the prospects of 



