134 



NATURE 



[October i6, igig 



pared a scheme for fishery research, statistics, 

 education, and propaganda they took care to avoid 

 this and other obstacles. They recognised that 

 the only logical way of co-ordinating all British 

 agencies for fishery development was by the 

 setting-up of an Imperial authority ; but they 

 also recognised that this ideal was unattainable. 

 Some other statutory body for the co-ordination 

 of research and education would have been agreed 

 upon by the various sections of the British in- 

 dustry, but the committee then found that the 

 fishery Departments were "unlikely to acquiesce 

 in the formation of any central authority other 

 than a Ministry of Fisheries, to be superimposed 

 upon them from without." In the face of this 

 formidable opposition the committee had to do the 

 "next best," and, abandoning any really compre- 

 hensive way of making use, to the greatest advan- 

 tage, of all fishery workers, they have made a 

 compromise that may be practicable. In order 

 that as few people as possible may object, they 

 do not recommend the formation of anything in 

 the way of a "Super-Department." Assuming 

 that the existing fishery authorities are to be 

 properly financed and organised as permanent 

 secretariats, and that each of them will then pro- 

 ceed to set up a scientific branch with a director 

 of scientific work, they propose that the three 

 permanent secretaries shall then sit as a joint re- 

 search board, with such official and non-official 

 assessors as they may nominate. The hope (un- 

 coloured bv conviction) is then expressed that the 

 assessors may form the means of communication 

 between the officials, the industry, and the non- 

 official investigators. 



The joint research board, so constituted, is not 

 to be, in general, an executive body controlling 

 research. Obviously not, for agreement could not 

 be obtained on points of difference between 

 officials, and departmental privilege would be too 

 great a factor. It is to deliberate on schemes of 

 research and transmit plans and estimates pre- 

 pared by the departments. But it is recommended 

 that it shall control the collection of fishery statis- 

 tics, set up a joint editorial board which will pub- 

 lish all results — administrative, statistical, and 

 scientific — in uniform style and with promptitude, 

 and establish and carry on (through an editorial 

 staff) a Fisheries Journal which will be, in the 

 main, popular in character. A strong plea is made 

 for some reform in the manner of publication, for 

 speedy production, for some relief from the 

 exceeding dulness and clumsiness of governmental 

 Blue Books, and for a " break away " from the 

 methods of H.M. Stationery Office. 



Considering the things to be investigated, the 

 Committee recognise five categories of research, 

 and set these out in detail : (i) Practical adminis- 

 trative problems to be studied by the departmental 

 staffs ; (2) fish culture ; (3) industrial research ; 

 (4) speculative research ; and (5) oceanography. 

 Fish culture is obviously work for the depart- 

 ments, and, since the fishing industry does not 

 seem likely to undertake industrial research itself, 

 NO. 2607, VOL. 104] 



this must be done by the Government. Speculative 

 research — a very large category of investigations 

 — ought to be relegated to the universities and 

 marine biological stations, with some other 

 subjects included in the category of industrial 

 research and in that of oceanography. Since the 

 departments must possess and equip sea-going 

 vessels for their practical administrative investiga- 

 tions, it is obvious that they should also 

 carry out the oceanographic observations at sea, 

 but the working up of these should be done by 

 the unofficial State-aided institutions. And so, 

 it is hoped, everybody will be satisfied, and the 

 best use possible made of all the talents. 



A provisional scheme for fishery education, 

 training, and propaganda is appended. This in- 

 cludes the training of administrative and scientific 

 officers, and of men occupying responsible indus- 

 trial posts, by the provision of Government 

 fellowships tenable as post-graduate studentships 

 at the universities ; fishery colleges at Liverpool 

 and Aberdeen; fishermen's classes carried on 

 locally and a scheme of fishery apprenticeship. 

 The latter proposals are most interesting. Imme- 

 diately upon the outbreak of war hundreds of 

 vessels and thousands of men were placed at the 

 disposal of the Admiralty, and, without any 

 special training, the duties of mine-sweeping, 

 patrolling, and escorting were ca.ried out in such 

 a way as to earn loud expressions of admiration 

 and gratitude. There were exceptional losses due 

 to war risks and natural decrease ; the training of 

 lads largely ceased during the period of war; the 

 old system of apprenticeship has become obsolete 

 and, in view of naval defence and in the interest 

 of the industry itself, a better class of lad is no^v 

 desirable. The interesting suggestion is made 

 that a number of the trawl-vessels built during 

 the war by the Admiralty be detailed and equipped 

 as training-vessels, and a scheme of apprentice- 

 ship is recommended. 



This scheme was worked out in detail by the 

 industry as soon as it was seen that peace was 

 assured. It is an integral part of any attempt at 

 fishery reconstruction and naval defence. It was 

 submitted to the Government nearly a year ago, 

 and it has been " under consideration " ever since 

 then ! Meanwhile the .Vdmiralty trawlers are 

 being offered for sale. 



Summary of Main Recommendations. 



(1) That the Government be requested to provide 

 funds for a comprehensive scheme of research 

 statistics for the fisheries of the United Kingdom on 

 the lines set forth in this report. 



(2) That each Fishery Department be provided with 

 a suitable scientific staff under a scientific director 

 with well-equipped laboratories, and with sufficient 

 steamers for research work and for the exploration 

 of our fishing grounds. 



(3) That the Fisherv Departments be requested to 

 adopt the best means they can devise for securing the 

 uniformity of fishery statistics, and the co-ordination 

 of research work throughout the United Kingdom. 



(4) That the Fishery Departments make suitable 

 provision for the rublication of scientific reports which- 



