HISTORY OP SEA-FISHERIES. 215 



Science may therefore be said to occupy as yet 

 but neutral ground, proving indeed by its deduc- 

 tions the fallacy of statements advanced with 

 more confidence than reason, but unable to substi- 

 tute facts and vouch them to be true with that 

 authority which, in other branches of knowledge 

 brought under modern investigation, have obtained 

 for them the results and benefits of certainty. It 

 is to be hoped that, in this age of progress, the 

 time may not be far distant when a matter of such 

 national importance as the herring fishery will not 

 remain the sport of that blind conjecture which, 

 catching hold of chance or local peculiarities, treats 

 them, however dissimilar they may be, as the cause 

 of fluctuations almost universal ; and that instead 

 of vague and fanciful views, the peculiarities of 

 the fish may be determined, and their habits and 

 migrations fully explained. 



The year now reported on (1859) is the first 

 application of the fee upon the brand established 

 by Act 21 and 22 Viet. cap. 69. It may be said 

 that the experiment has answered beyond expec- 

 tation. So far as the limited experience of one 

 season can be a test, the imposition of the fee has 

 not affected the demand for the brand. 



