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The Memorandum is divided into two parts: 



1) The objects, programme, and organisation of the International Investiga- 

 tion of the Sea. 



2) The work carried out, and some results of same. 



From the information given in the following upon these points, it will be 

 seen that by means of the International Investigations very considerably increased 

 knowledge has been obtained with regard to the biology of a great number of 

 economically important species of fish, their development at younger and older 

 stages, their migrations, feeding and propagation, while a much fuller view has 

 been obtained, by statistics, of the whole character of the stock of fish and the 

 influence of fishery upon the same, the increase and decrease of fishery, etc., than 

 was formerly available. 



In these respects, excellent results have been obtained by the careful studies 

 and investigations which have been made on several species of the cod family, and 

 on the herring. The same applies, in some degree, to the mackerel and the sardine. 

 Particular attention has, however, been devoted to observations of the plaice in 

 the North Sea and Kattegat, and to the question of overfishing of this economically 

 valuable species, with the object of obtaining the necessary data for international 

 legislation directed towards protection or improvement of the plaice fishery. 



Entirely new light has been thrown by the International Investigations upon 

 the biology of the eel. Problems have been elucidated, and knowledge obtained, 

 which has already proved of importance in practical life. 



Other important questions are being dealt with, such as a system of inter- 

 national exchange of information regarding the quantity of cured fish produced at 

 any time; also the pressing question of the extent of damage caused by the em- 

 ployment of the trawl during the last years in the herring fishery. 



Together with this work, the investigations in the fields of hydrography and 

 plankton have furnished detailed information as to currents, and the physical 

 conditions under which the organisms of the sea live at different places and times. 

 Moreover, a very considerable amount of material has been collected for the 

 purpose of determining the influence of the ocean upon climatological conditions, 

 and dependent phenomena. The plankton investigations have furnished extensive 

 and detailed contributions to our knowledge of the geographical and seasonal 



