11 
of the lamented death of Sir Courtenay Boyle, he referred 
to communications between them on the subject of the 
best means of “improving and following up that scientific 
research into the life and habits of fish, the practical 
importance of which is coming to be more and more 
recognised.”’ Then, in referring to the Report of the Select 
Committee on the last Immature Fish Bill, he said, ‘‘ It 
came to the conclusion that it would not be expedient to 
press forward the Bill in the absence of further information. 
It fully recognised the danger we were running of having 
our seas depleted of fish. It further recognised that one 
cause of such depletion was the capture and destruction of 
small, immature fish.” And then he went on to point out 
the recommendations of that Committee, which were briefly 
(1) the international regulation of the North Sea, and (2) 
the effective pursuit of scientific investigation, and said 
‘In the face of the conclusions arrived at by the Select 
Committee and of those recommendations, I think it is 
absolutely essential now that we should proceed upon the 
lines indicated by them before attempting any further 
legislation.”” He then referred to the action of the Govern- 
ment in international negotiations, with the view of arriv- 
ing at some agreement as to protected areas, which has not 
yet resulted in any definite conclusions; and proceeded as 
follows :— 
‘Next with regard to scientific investigation of the life 
and habits of fishes. The Board of Trade are at the 
present time arranging for a Departmental Committee, of 
which Sir Herbert Maxwell has undertaken to be Chairman, 
with the following reference which I will read out. ‘To 
inquire and report as to the best means by which the State 
or Local Authorities can assist scientific research, as 
appled to problems affecting the fisheries of Great 
