FISHERY INVESTIGATIONS 333 



his far-reaching machinery ; but the oceanic waters can 

 never be so utterly ransacked as to lead to the possibility of 

 the total extermination of the supply of valuable food fishes. 

 This view may, indeed, be disputed, and has been resisted 

 by some, though not by the most eminent and experienced 

 authorities in the world of fishery science. 



TRAWLING COMMISSION WORK 1884 



The scientific conclusions of the well-known Trawling 

 Report of 1884 have not only received the sanction of the 

 most eminent men of science in various countries, but have 

 been confirmed by the later researches carried on, at great 

 expense and with great elaboration, in the various fishing 

 areas of Europe and of America. The conclusions were 

 indeed carefully drawn at St Andrews, and, as just stated, 

 have stood the test of the succeeding twenty-seven years, 

 during which time successive able workers not only at home 

 but abroad have entered the field. The scientific reporter, 

 who carried on his work under the Trawling Commission's 

 instructions in 1884, recommended the closure of certain 

 bays for experimental purposes. This was done, and the 

 work involved in tests and observations was placed by Lord 

 Dalhousie in the hands of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 

 This Board for ten years carried out, by means of the steamer 

 Garland, the investigation of the areas set apart. These 

 investigations were made at stated intervals, and on prescribed 

 lines, as arranged by the original reporter (Professor M'Intosh). 

 Later, the Scientific Superintendent of the Board reported and 

 compared the first five with the last five years, but, it is to 

 be noted, that in contrasting the periods which differed 

 essentially in regard to seasons of work, he made a somewhat 

 serious error, for the first five years' work was done mostly 

 in the warmer season, and the last five mainly in the colder 

 season of the year. Accordingly the conclusion resulting, 



