BUCKLAND 167 



of the existing laws regulating the fisheries. 

 One of the most important witnesses was Frank 

 Buckland, to whose exertions then and in his 

 strenuous after-life the position of the industry 

 to-day is largely due. The report appeared 

 in 1866, and embodied four main conclusions : 

 (1) that the supply of fish upon the British 

 coasts is increasing and can be further increased 

 by legislation ; (2) that beam-trawling in the 

 open sea is not injurious to the industry ; 

 (3) that all existing Acts should be repealed, 

 and " unrestricted freedom of fishing be per- 

 mitted hereafter " ; (4) that all fishing boats 

 " should be registered and licensed," and to 

 that end should bear letters and numbers by 

 which each should be distinguished. 



Two years later, by the Sea Fisheries Act 

 of 1868, the recommendations of the Commis- 

 sion were carried into effect, and the registration 

 of fishing boats was regulated by an Order in 

 Council during the following year. 



Buckland's appointment as Inspector of 

 Salmon Fisheries in 1876 had results far exceed- 

 ing the limits of his official position. The 

 dream of his life had been the improvement of 

 British fisheries and fishermen, and in his visits 

 to seaports and rivers up and down the 

 country he was enabled to add to his exhibition 

 of objects connected with the fisheries at the 

 South Kensington Museum and to pave the 

 way for the International Fisheries Exhibition 

 of 1883. In 1878, moreover, he, with Messrs. 



