THE SALT-WATER FISHERIES OF BOHUSLAN. 159 



have no connection with the point in question. Many a practical and 

 scientific investigation has by its result proved the truth of this assertion. 



It is, furthermore, necessary to have as complete as possible an outfit 

 of all the required apparatus of the best construction 5 for as the expenses 

 are small compared with the result, one should not, through negligence 

 or foolish saving, run the risk of obtaining incomplete or incorrect results. 

 Ko expense, labor, or care should therefore be spared to make the aj)- 

 paratus as complete and as ef&cient as possible ; for the result of the 

 investigations to a large extent depends on this. 



We need not mention again, in conclusion, that such numerous and 

 exhaustive investigations must be continued without interruption for a 

 long period of time, and that no grand results must be looked for after 

 a few years, or expected from the work of one person 5 for the different 

 portions of the investigation ought to be distributed among a consider- 

 able number of persons. 



§ 32. A rich field is thus opened for scientific investigations and for 

 practical experiments, which must be Avorked up in aU its parts before 

 that knowledge and experience can be gained which is the essential con- 

 dition of an entirely satisfactory arrangement and management of our 

 salt-water fisheries. Even if the time when this point shall have been 

 reached, as regards our knowledge of the nature of fish and of the sea, 

 is far distant, we should not hesitate to make use of the little knowledge 

 we possess for improving the condition of our salt-water fisheries and 

 further their success by legislative and administrative reforms, always 

 bearing in mind, however, the incomplete and insufficient character of 

 that knowledge on which our reforms are based. The consciousness of 

 the small extent and iusufificiency of our knowledge should not make us 

 indifferent or indolent, and we must not forget that a clear knowledge 

 of difficulties is a good step forward towards overcoming them. 



If a basis has to be found for legislation on which the welfare of thou- 

 sands of human beings depends, no mistakes should be made ; least of 

 all such as could easily be avoided by uprightness and a little self-criti- 

 cism. Our actual knowledge of the subject is unfortunately still so lim- 

 ited that there can be no question of demanding one or the other axiom, 

 which has been by no means fully proved an infallible basis for legis- 

 lation ; but it is i-ather a duty to point out the defects in our knowledge 

 and endeavor to remedy them as soon as possible. In saying this we do 

 not mean that our knowledge, insignificant in itself, could not serve as a 

 basis for wme improvements in our legislation ; for it must not be for- 

 gotten that as long as perfection cannot be reached we must endeavor 

 to make the best use of what we possess. It is, under all circumstances, 

 the duty of the scientific investigator, in a field like the fisheries, to give 

 all the facts just as they are, and not, from a desire to appear as a great 

 discoverer, or from fear of censiu-e, to hide the naked truth. 



