40 



re-assviriug as to the future prospects of fisheries work, 

 tliat it is pleasant to recall them. On the 10th June, 

 1902, in replying to the arguments put forward by the 

 Noi-thumberland, the North Eastern, the Devon and the 

 Lancashire and Western Committees in favour of " The 

 establishment and maintenance by the Goverument of one 

 or more laboratories for carrying on the work of fishery 

 research, or, failing that, the provision from Imperial 

 sources of the Funds necessary to render more efficient 

 and useful the laboratories which at present exist," the 

 President (Official Report, p. 18) said : — 



" I have listened with great interest to the observations 

 that have been made, and for myself I have great 

 sympathy with the remarks that have been addressed to 

 me upon this subject. At the same time I would refrain 

 at present from expressing any final opinion upon the 

 matter, and especially upon the matter in detail, and for 

 this reason, that it is one of the subjects which, as I 

 observed in my opening remarks, comes so clearly within 

 the reference of the Ichthyological Eesearch Committee 

 that it is really necessary to wait for the report of that 

 Committee before we make up our minds what ought to 

 be done. But you may be sure that, so far as my 

 influence is concerned, if anything can be done in pur- 

 suance of the report of that Committee to assist scientific 

 investigation by giving aid to laboratories or otherwise, 

 I should be most happ}^ if that result could be achieved." 

 While we must approve of Mr. Balfour's caution, in the 

 earlier part of this statement, in refraining from 

 expressing more than " great sympathy " until he had 

 before him the report of the Ichthyological Research 

 Committee, we may all rejoice, now that that Committee 

 has reported favourably, at the declaration he makes in 

 his final sentence that his influence will be given in 



