COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 1912 — 40 — 



in the work of the International Investigations will wish to give expression to the 

 regret, which I am sure we all feel, for the necessity under which he finds himself 

 of severing his connection with this International Council. But I should be glad 

 if I might be allowed to take this opportunity, first to express the sorrow with 

 which Mr. Akcher's former colleagues in England learned that they were to be 

 deprived, through ill health, of his services, and secondly to deliver a message with 

 which I have been charged by my President. 



Mr. Archer has given the whole of his energies and his health to the 

 fisheries. Of his work in connection with this Council, others have a better claim 

 to speak than I; but as regards his work at home I would say that the loss of 

 his help and counsel is to us a matter of serious concern. For my part, I am 

 very glad to have had the honour of taking part in these proceedings, but I had 

 hoped, nevertheless, that Mr. Archer would have been able to accept the invitation 

 of the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in England to undertake 

 for one more year to act as one of the British Delegates to the International 

 Council. For I felt that by this means the steady progress of your investigation 

 would be assisted, while I should be left free to grapple at home with those more 

 intimate problems which, as Mr. Archer's successor, I am called upon to handle. 

 The President's invitation was, indeed, pressed upon Mr. Archer, but, to our 

 regret, he felt too little confidence in his health to undertake the duties of British 

 delegate for a further term, and (as he has explained to you) he felt that it would 

 better comply with the convenience of the Council that they should now meet 

 his successor. 



I have, therefore, been nominated to act as a British delegate in conjunc- 

 tion with my friend and colleague Professor D'Arcy Thompson. But 1 am instructed 

 by my President to say that the appointment of a new delegate in Mr. Archer's 

 place does not imply any change in the views or the policy of the British Govern- 

 ment. The British Government, while preserving, naturally, an open mind, are 

 aware at present of no reason why the existing programme of International Re- 

 search should be changed in any material respect and willingly adhere to their 

 undertakings with regard to investigations of the value and utility of which they 

 are fully convinced". — Applause. 



Professor Pettersson now rose and spoke as follows: — "I feel sure that 

 I should fail in my duties as chairman if I let this moment pass without remark; 

 the moment when Mr. Archer resigns his office as president of the Council. I feel 

 it incumbent upon me, both as a matter of duty, and also of sincere personal 

 feeling to say a few words in the recognition of his work during the many years 



