COUNCIL — SEPT. 1910 — APPEND. D — 60 — 



M. Fabre-Domergue said that the mackerel fishery in France was of 

 great importance, but as a matter of fact not so important as others. It 

 extended from Finisterre to the Channel and North Sea and was the prin- 

 cipal means of livelihood of the small coastal fishing boats. The small 

 mackerel appeared towards May and were taken in drift nets and small 

 trawls. These mackerel were chiefly used for preserving in oil. Later, the 

 coastal fishermen took them also on lines and in June the large mackerel 

 appeared in abundance. 



With regard to investigations, he pointed out that the conditions of 

 reproduction on the French coast were practically unknown, and he would 

 ask for a definite programme of investigations which he might lay before 

 his Government. He hoped from this that he would soon be able to take 

 his place as an active collaborator in the International Investigations. 



The Chairman expressed the thanks of the meeting to M. Fabre-Domergue 

 for his communication. 



Dr. Hjort gave information on the mackerel fishery in Norway, which 

 had shown somewhat similar phenomena to those displayed by Dr. Smith. 

 As a rule, the mackerel coming from the Atlantic strike on the south-east 

 of Norway, but during 1 — 2 years large quantities had appeared in the far 

 north, at the Lofotens, where they were such rare visitors that the fishermen 

 at first did not know what kind of fish they were. He also pointed out, 

 that through the endeavours of the International Investigations certain 

 methods of investigation had been developed and he would suggest them 

 for the consideration of Dr. Smith. These were the determination of the 

 spawning places by means of the eggs, the analysis of the stock according 

 to age and the investigation of races. 



At the suggestion of the Chairman Dr. Hoek then brought forward a 

 definite resolution, that a reporter should be appointed for certain migratory 

 fishes of economical importance, in the first place to report on our present 

 knowledge with regard to the sardine, anchovy and mackerel. 



Prof. Ehrenbaum said that he would like first of all to say a few words 

 on the mackerel, which is of great importance in German waters. He him- 

 self had made a long series of investigations on the mackerel from Heligo- 

 land and had also observations to hand from other parts of the North Sea, 

 especially off the Scottish coast. He believed that the occurrence of the 

 mackerel in the North Sea depended on their spawning requirements, and 

 as a working hypothesis he put forward that the mackerel showed no tan- 

 gible racial characters, but was one race which undertook extensive migra- 



