17 
nature has provided no frontiers for the watery inhabitants, 
and the immensity in which they live manifests eloquently 
the interest which ought to be taken by nations to maintain 
this richness of production. 
It is necessary for this that men of all countries who 
devote themselves to the study and administration of the 
different branches constituting this industry, should com- 
municate one with the other to compare observations, 
resolve their doubts, and give statistics ; it is necessary, too, 
that they should follow the example of England and seize an 
occasion to facilitate the interchange of products of all coun- 
tries concerned ; and it is necessary, lastly, that congresses 
should be held at which may be elucidated technically all 
points of controversy, thus founding a basis for international 
treaties. 
Spain has established fishery boards in all her maritime 
provinces, and the Administration of these in the Ministry of 
Marine will gladly enter into relations with all the Com- 
missions now established, or to be established, for the 
mutual interchange of matters tending to facilitate a 
knowledge of this important industry. 
This community of interests is more apparent among 
nations of the same continent, since in the exercise of fishing, 
interests are affected in a reciprocal way, in the case of 
emigrants or passengers along the shore, and even the 
sedentary coast inhabitants. Many practical examples 
could be cited of common injuries, but I will limit myself 
to one. 
The French fishermen used to fish in free waters off 
Arcachon with a trawling-net which they call “chalut,” and 
the places they dragged they thought to be a bank or 
natural bed of sea bream and other shore species. Seeing 
that in Spain there was a diminution of these species, the 
[29] C 
