144 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF*FISH AND FISHERIES. 



time to utilize all the results of science, to abandou old prejudices and 

 all endeavors which are only based on accidents. 



The great importance of the fisheries has shown the urgent necessity 

 of scientific investigations, so that they may be carried on in the proper 

 manner and protected from injuries caused by ignorance and greed, a 

 necessity which the government has recognized by making appropria- 

 tions and by instituting a course of investigations.' 



§ 3. A suitable fishery legislation and administration of the fislieries 

 can likewise only be based on a careful scientific and practical investi- 

 gation. It must be remembered that both with regard to the fisheries 

 and other industries it is of importance that the state does not meddle 

 more than is necessary, for by making too many rules more harm than 

 good is often done, as, contrary to all calculations, such rules may fre- 

 quently hinder the free development of any trade. To find the medium 

 in this respect presupposes a thorough knowledge, both theoretical and 

 practical, of the whole trade, and a well-matured plan based on this 

 knowledge, which, without too great difficulties, may be carried out in 

 such a manner that the results can be calculated beforehand with some 

 degree of certainty. Without sufficient knowledge of a trade or indus- 

 try it is not possible to gain any firm basis for legislation or calculate 

 any of the possible results. 



§ 4. Scientific investigations are, as will be shown below, necessary, 

 not only for gaining a theoretical basis for legislation and for successful 

 administration, but also for the furthering of the fisheries themselves, as 

 even with regard to these they may bring to light facts which may i>rove 

 extremely usefuP. A common objection to this view is this : that a 

 trade does not need the aid of science, but that it is best to let it de- 

 velop freely. It is well known that science has proved useful to the fish- 

 eries as well as to agricultiu-e and other trades, chiefly by showing the 

 way in the making of experiments and thus facilitating any improve- 

 ments or new inventions, although the great mass of i)eople who grad- 

 ually reap the advantages of such inventions hardly ever think about 

 the scientific work which necessarily had to precede them. 



Although it is best to keep the fisheries free from too much legislation 

 and meddlesome interference of the government, a complete knowledge 

 of the entire natural history of fish is both useful and necessary, as well 

 as of the proper method of preparing fish for the trade ; and in all these 

 respects science may extend considerable aid. 



§ 5. This whole field should be investigated scientifically even if no 



1 This paragraph, like some of the following, is taken from former articles of the 

 author, viz: "Report on an expedition for examining the salt-water fisheries in the 

 Skagerak and Kattegat, made during the summer of 1871, on board the royal gun-boat 

 Gnnhild," Upsala, 1H73, (partly giveuin "Xordisk TidsskriftforFiskeri," II. Copenhagen, 

 1874, p. 1-14), and "PreJimindr Berdttehe," &c. — Preliminary report on the herring and 

 herring-fisheries on the western and southei-n coast of Sweden. Upsala, 1875. 



'J. MacCtdloch "On the htrrituj" (Quarterly Journal of Science, Literature, and 

 Arts. XVI. London, 1824), pp. 210-211,210,222. 



