CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1883 



His Excellency the Marquis DE CASA-LAIGLESIA, the 

 Spanish Minister, in the Chair. 



THE BASIS FOR LEGISLATION ON 

 FISHERY QUESTIONS. 



WHEN we speak of the depletion, or complete exhaustion 

 of fisheries, it must be understood that these terms are not 

 used in an absolute sense, but only so far as they affect the 

 supply for the use of mankind, or, in other words, the output 

 of the industry. The quantity of fish may be diminished 

 in two ways, in the one case, when the catch exceeds the 

 reproduction, and in the other, when the fish are frightened 

 away from the haunts of the fishermen. I quite agree with 

 the views so often expressed as to the difficulties which 

 have hitherto stood in the way of a proper study of the life 

 and habits of the inhabitants of the sea, which is the only 

 thing that would conduce to an early solution of the 

 problem ; but the experience gained from ascertained facts 

 concerning fisheries, throws enough light to induce a 

 conclusion, in any rational mind, in one or the other 

 direction. 



With regard to sedentary species, I do not think there is 

 the least doubt that these can be exhausted by being 

 overfished, or by improper methods of fishing, since it is 



