156 SEA FISHERIES 



think not ; but the idea that it might one day be useful 

 should be sufficient to save it from condemnation. 

 Doubtless Dr. Brandt's theory originated in the study of 

 such data. Nevertheless, from the standpoint of profes- 

 sional technique, we must not, as an orthodox disciple of 

 Auguste Comte could do, subordinate the biology of the 

 fish to the physiology of the ocean. The latter does not 

 necessarily contain or imply all the elements of the former. 

 The practice of fishery is not a necessary consequence 

 of oceanography ; history proves as much. Both sciences 

 must assuredly proceed side by side, and the prudent 

 scientist will act on the inspiration, not only of his own 

 principles and methods, but of the secular experience of 

 seafarers, which he will submit to his peculiar methods, 

 while seeking all desirable improvements of theirs. 



The Christiania programme has been criticised as being 

 too comprehensive. Some have claimed that the experi- 

 ments, instead of being disseminated over so great a 

 surface, should have been concentrated and confined to 

 a limited area. To my mind the two methods should 

 not exclude but complete one another. Certainly 

 research should be limited to clearly defined objects ; 

 to-day science lives by the monograph, which may be 

 said to be a condition of exactitude. Moreover, such 

 limitations impose themselves upon those who undertake 

 marine research work. When M. Albert Glandez, vice- 

 president of the Yacht Club of France, most generously 

 placed at my disposal his yacht Andree for an oceano- 

 graphical campaign, my first care, before sailing, was 

 to trace on the chart the zone of research decided upon. 

 We must not, however, forget that all parts of the sea 

 have a common solidarity, and that detail is often incom- 

 prehensible and unproductive, and remains a dead letter 

 if not elucidated by the whole. 



