ii2 BRITISH FISHERIES 



nor inclination for original observation of the con- 

 ditions of the fisheries. It must have happened 

 frequently that highly technical questions have 

 been submitted to the officials of the department, 

 and apparently there have been no resources avail- 

 able for the study of these. It is true that the 

 Treasury makes an annual subsidy to the Marine 

 Biological Association of from 500 to 1000, 

 on condition that the scientific men in the service 

 of the Association should advise the Board on 

 fishery matters, should occasion arise. I am 

 not aware, however, that this advice has often 

 been invited. There is everything to be said 

 for the employment, under the Board, of scientific 

 men with a special knowledge of the conditions 

 of the fisheries, who might undertake the in- 

 vestigation of any questions arising in the con- 

 sideration of the working of the local committees, 

 or in the preparation of legislative remedies. 

 This defect in the constitution of the Board 

 has been noticed very frequently in the various 

 reports of public inquiries into the fisheries. 

 " As regards investigation," reported the Select 

 Committee of 1900, "your Committee feel that 

 the materials for forming a just conclusion upon 

 such matters are not what they might be. . . . 

 Your Committee were particularly struck by the 

 fact that not only is there much doubt as to 

 the precise position of foreign law in regard to 

 restrictive legislation affecting fisheries and its 



