Lnternatonal Fisheries FEexhibition, 
LONDON, 1883. 
CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1603, 
His Excellency the Marquis DE CASA-LAIGLESIA, the 
Spanish Minister, in the Chair. 
THE BASIS FOR LEGISLATION ON 
FISHERY QUESTIONS. _ 
WHEN we speak of the depletion, or complete exhaustion 
of fisheries, it must be understood that these terms are not 
used in an absolute sense, but only so far as they affect the 
supply for the use of mankind, or, in other words, the output 
of the industry. The quantity of fish may be diminished 
in two ways, in the one case, when the catch exceeds the 
reproduction, and in the other, when the fish are frightened 
away from the haunts of the fishermen. I quite agree with 
the views so often expressed as to the difficulties which 
have hitherto stood in the way of a proper study of the life 
and habits of the inhabitants of the sea, which is the only 
thing that would conduce to an early solution of the 
problem ; but the experience gained from ascertained facts 
concerning fisheries, throws enough light to induce a 
conclusion, in any rational mind, in one or the other 
direction. ; 
With regard to sedentary species, I do not think there is 
the least doubt that these caw be exhausted by being 
overfished, or by improper methods of fishing, since it is 
[29] Bis 
