V THE INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES EXHIBITION 201 



State authorities lias been this, namely, that zoologists 

 are occupying themselves independently, and with 

 increasing earnestness, with the investigation of all 

 that relates to the life and growth, the food and the 

 enemies, of the marine and freshwater organisms which 

 form the material basis of fisheries. 



In the present Exhibition, accordingly, w^e see not 

 a few of these scientific results exhibited in the courts 

 assigned to foreign exhibitors ; whilst, on the other 

 hand, in the British department there is very little 

 which comes under the head of zoological science at 

 all, that is to say, which illustrates the results of exact 

 inquiry into the natural history of the fishes and other 

 animals which are such an immense source of wealth 

 and industry to our seafaring population. 



Before proceeding to enumerate and describe these 

 scientific collections, I should wish briefly to explain 

 in what ways it seems probable that the accurate 

 knowledge with regard to fishes which is now being 

 accumulated by zoologists may hereafter be useful in 

 the regulation and management of fisheries. 



In any given area of land or water, under natural 

 conditions, where animals can obtain nourishment, 

 there is found living (taking one year with another) 

 fully as much animal life as can there nourish and 

 reproduce itself. Practically the whole of the earth's 

 surface and of the sea is fully taken up by plants and 

 animals. Many thousands more of most kinds are 

 annually born than can possibly survive to maturity. 

 The number of each kind of animal in natural condi- 

 tions does not increase ; but there is a strict balance 



