THE PROBLEM 8 



can only claim a three-mile limit from 

 the coast, and in this belt of water it is 

 not, in peace time, desirable to trawl, since 

 the coastal waters are recognized as a 

 reservation for immature fish. The out- 

 side waters are international. How can 

 the Empire Resources Development Com- 

 mittee claim that the British State should 

 control the fisheries in those areas ? To 

 control the work of British fishermen and 

 trawler-owners with a view to State profit, 

 is tantamount to levying a tax on home 

 products, and food products at that, for as 

 our fish supplies are not imported from 

 any other country they surely should 

 rank as home manufactures. The project 

 stands in the same category as a tax on 

 home-grown wheat, and this proposal 

 emanates from Imperialists ! It is argued 

 that the fisherman or trawler-owner has 

 no rent to pay for the waters in which he 

 procures his harvest. Granted that the 

 waters are rent free, have these gentlemen 

 considered the difficulties and hardships 

 which have to be overcome in fighting 

 Nature in her wildest moods. Let them 

 pause to think of the arduous journeys 



