42 American Fisheries Society 



under official, semi-official or private auspices. In Japan, 

 especially, which has become the leading fishing nation 

 of the world in respect to number of persons engaged, 

 quantity and value of products taken, etc., the technical 

 or professional instruction of the fisherfolk is regarded 

 as an indispensable factor in the industrial prosperity. 



The fishermen hold the balance of power in many 

 states, and dictate legislation affecting water products. 

 In various states the majority of the fishermen are of 

 foreign birth, and owing to ignorance or prejudice are 

 not always in sympathy with conservation and other 

 measures that are for the benefit of the community and 

 themselves. This condition of affairs has already re- 

 sulted in enormous waste of aquatic resources and loss 

 to communities, and in some fishing regions has reached 

 a stage where the perpetuity of an important industry 

 and the welfare of many people are threatened. 



The fishing population, even when in the most enlight- 

 ened communities, are proverbially difficult to reach and 

 influence. Their prejudices are traditional, strong and 

 deep-set, and it is only rarely that any remedial measures 

 for their own benefit or for the betterment of the indus- 

 try that supports them are originated or strongly backed 

 by themselves. The state fishery officials are often looked 

 on with suspicion owing to the fear, sometimes well- 

 founded, that increased attention from the state means 

 increased taxation. 



No greater work in the cause of conservation of nat- 

 ural resources can be done than to bring to the notice 

 of the fishermen of each community, by means of 

 personal narration and demonstration, the life history 

 of the creatures on which their livelihood depends and 

 the treatment those creatures should receive at the hands 

 of fishermen and legislators. In the case of the vanish- 

 ing lobster, for instance, it could be guaranteed that a 

 course of talks and demonstrations in 50 to 100 commun- 

 ities in New England would so educate the fishermen and 

 produce such a change in sentiment and prejudice as 

 to lead to immediate ameliorative measures in every 



