484 INTERNATIONAL LAWS FOR THE 



Immature fish. A few words on the immature fish question are desirable. 

 The writer believes that all practical men are agreed that 

 the question is to be settled, not, in accordance with the 

 view put forward by some, by the depopulation of the sea 

 of, at least, certain kinds of fish though this can never be, 

 owing to the large extent of grounds, rough or otherwise, 

 which nature has given as a protection to the fish, and 

 which are consequently unworkable but in accordance 

 with the view that, while it is impossible altogether to 

 prevent the destruction of immature fish, steps should be 

 taken as far as possible to minimise it. 



On the Dutch coast, at the period of the year when 

 large quantities of smacks work there, it is a common 

 occurrence to have to use a shovel to throw overboard not 

 only the dross, . shells, and refuse of a trawl-net, but 

 thousands of small soles and flat fish, in one haul only. It 

 is a serious international question, but resolves itself at once 

 into a question of nets. Our Government should lose no 

 time in getting a net so constructed as to minimise this 

 wasteful destruction. They should, as before remarked, 

 give practical men the opportunity of testing the value and 

 results of various ideas, and a suitable net would soon be 

 found. Till this is done, the evil will continue, for, as 

 before remarked, private enterprise cannot afford to pay for 

 such experiments as these. It is to be hoped that the 

 present Exhibition will do much in this direction. 



Fishermen, like sailors, are proverbially improvident, as 

 the various relief funds, which have been from time to 

 time raised, amply prove. The writer, being well acquainted 



Insurance. with the distress and want often caused, is firmly of opinion 

 that this should be a Goverment question, as to whether 

 some fund could not be raised by a small compulsory 

 payment by crews to it, from every 100 earned. In 



