COUNCIL — SEPTEMBER 1912 — 16 — 



"Although I do not belong to a country represented in the Committee nominated 

 to consider Geheimrat Heincke's General Report on the plaice question, I should 

 be obliged for some information about the work in this direction and should like 

 later on to take part myself in the consideration of this question. Before the 

 Committee commence their work I should, however, like to draw attention to the 

 fact that this matter has not only a scientific side, but must also be considered 

 from an administrative point of view. Much criticism is at present appearing 

 against scientific work, not only in my country, but also in Europe generally; 

 scientific investigation has even been called "sport" by the critics, because they 

 did not realise its value and success. Here is, however, a report showing results 

 of scientific work. Some Governments are now anxious to have the views of the 

 Council and of the Experts expressed regarding the contents and conclusions of 

 Geheimrat Heincke's report. From an administrative point of view I would, how- 

 ever, beforehand suggest that the Council should not be bound to base their pro- 

 posal to the Governments only on the views and report of the Committee nomin- 

 ated to consider same, as these will be given mainly from a technical point of 

 view. I think copies of the report ought to be forwarded to people interested in 

 the various countries, who should be asked to return them to the Council with 

 their views. Based partly on these views and partly on the report and perhaps 

 on recommendations of the Committee instituted for this subject the Council should 

 then make the final proposals to the Governments. This is similar to the way of 

 proceeding occupied by my department in Norway, as also by other countries. 

 When I am asked by my Government about a matter, I must express an opinion 

 or indicate a preliminary proposal ; I then ask the people interested for their more 

 detailed views, and partly based upon these I make my final proposal to my 

 department. Geheimrat Heincke has given a most interesting report, and the Com- 

 mittee will render their views on it, mostly however from a technical point of 

 view; but would it not be best and most practical, before making definite pro- 

 posals to the Governments, to also obtain the views of people specially interested 

 in this question, in order to avoid great objections later on for not having been 

 in contact with and learned the opinion of the fishing industry? When we have 

 tried to obtain the views of the people interested and of the representatives of the 

 Governments, we cannot be criticised later on, even if they have not taken the 



