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have developed from the steam fish transports (carriers), how their numbers 

 have increased, first in England, then also in Scotland and Germany, and last 

 in Holland, how the oldfashioned and clumsy beam-trawl has given place to 

 the infinitely better fishing otter-trawl ; how the improvement in the conditions 

 of sale by auction, and the extension of the railway traffic have contributed 

 to further the capture of fresh fish, and how all the North Sea states have 

 gradually come to take up this fishing with increasing energy. 



During the last forty years a complete revolution has taken place in 

 this industry, and an enormous development has been the result. 



This development has, however, been of such great extent and has 

 attained such proportions, that no one with any knowledge of the subject 

 would now be Hkely to deny that the fishery may exert an influence on 

 the stock of fish, and thus on the future production ; experience in the North 

 Sea, which is fished with such exceptional industry and regularity, has led 

 both fishermen and ship-owners, as well as fishery experts, so alter their 

 views on this subject. A careful view of the position will suffice to convince 

 anyone that the apprehensions which have been felt with regard to the 

 fisheries of the North Sea are not wholly without foundation, and it may 

 prove desirable to impose restri(;tions upon these fisheries or some parts of 

 them in order to prevent a progressive decrease in their yield. It is no 

 matter for surprise, that in circles interested in the fisheries there has long 

 been a considerable movement in favour of some restriction. 



The desirability of some restriction of the fishery being admitted, however, 

 the question arises, as to where such restriction should begin. The problem is 

 one of extraordinary difficulty, not only because the only possible solution 

 would have to be based upon international co-operation, but more so because 

 the different nations taking part in the fishery are interested therein to different 

 degrees and employ methods not always and everywhere the same. Each nation 

 would naturally desire to avoid, as far and for as long a time as possible, 

 the hampering by such restriction of its own fishery, and the diminution of 

 the yield of fish for human consumption falhng to its own share. For the 

 value of fish as an article of human food has probably never been so important 

 an item as of late years. 



Any restriction which it may be decided to impose should therefore, if 

 possible, affect only such methods of fishing as may cause the destruction of 

 great quantities of young fish not yet suitable for human consumption, thus 

 prejudicing the future production of fish, or such as may generally damage 

 this fish production to a degree out of proportion to the actual advantage 

 immediately gained. 



It is no easy matter to formulate proposals as to the measures to be 



