298 SEA FISHERIES 



consider the greater yield of this method of fishery ; and 

 at the same time the steamers ensure a much greater 

 measure of safety than the sailing vessels. . . . The 

 advent of the new method of fishery affords a fruitful 

 occupation to the men who found it difficult to obtain a 

 profitable engagement ; and if the proposed dues were 

 voted the owners of the trawlers would be forced, as they 

 have stated, to reduce their crews, which reduction would 

 press hardly upon their inscripts. The latter perhaps 

 grudge the capital invested in these steam-fishery under- 

 takings because it is not their own ; but ought they not 

 to be thankful to see capital come their way at all ? In 

 the strict letter of the law the capitalists are encroaching 

 upon the privileged domain of the inscripts. It would be 

 only common sense to demand the suppression of this 

 privilege, together with all the antiquated legislation 

 which surrounds and restricts them ; and let them beware 

 lest the capitalists, who were so badly treated at the 

 Congress of Douarnenez, withdraw from an industry 

 which was already decaying precisely because it had so 

 little capital at its command." 



This campaign bore fruit. The Commission de la 

 Marine of the Chamber of Deputies decided to go no 

 further with M. Lamy's proposition, which did not fare 

 well in the debate. From that time forward it was 

 possible to exploit fishing-grounds far removed from 

 French or even from European waters ; to conquer new 

 submarine regions, and to despatch therefrom, rapidly 

 and in good condition, large quantities of fish. 



Steam-fishery had won its case. But the victory was 

 late and bitterly contested, and was therefore less of a 

 victory : for in matters of economics delay is the worst of 

 misfortunes. While the French inscripts were fruitlessly 

 opposing the shipowners and paralysing the sources of 



