COUNCIL — MARS 1920 — 14 — 



The Danish Delegate Captain Drechsel then referred to the memorandum 

 about the plaice question by himself and Dr. A. C. Johansen. He mentioned the 

 results arrived at by previous investigations and the resolutions as to an inter- 

 national minimum size limit for plaice in the North Sea, further the publications 

 issued during the war about the plaice question by Professor d'AncY Thompson 

 and Dr. Fulton for Scotland, Dr. Mastekman for England. On the whole the results 

 arrived at by these authors confirm the previous results, only Dr. Masterman's 

 show an increase of medium and small plaice during the years from 1906 — 12, 

 not ascertained by previous investigators. 



It was pointed out that the proposal of the Council as to a minimum size 

 of 22 — 23 cm was not satisfactory and that it should now be examined whether 

 better and more effective results could be attained. 



The stock of plaice in the North Sea had in all probability been considerably 

 affected by the strong and continued restriction of the North Sea fishery caused 

 by the war. Many observations and measurements of plaice had been carried out 

 during the war with the result that plaice and other important flat fishes, as well 

 as haddock seem to be very abundant and of considerable sizes in the North Sea. 

 The present moment and the present situation are therefore very favourable for a 

 revision of previous results. Measures should be taken as soon as possible because 

 very likely the plaice fishery in the North Sea will before long be carried on very 

 intensely, and if the stock of fish thereby should again be reduced the Council 

 would then have to face the same difficulties as before the war in carrying through 

 effective restrictions of fisheries. 



In recommending the adoption of a high size limit for plaice the conclusions 

 of the Council, agreed upon in 1913, were referred to. Besides the size limit it was 

 then suggested that the best way to protect the fish in the North Sea would be 

 by closed areas. The chief nursery grounds should be closed to steam trawlers. 

 This question ought to be dealt with now very carefully. 



The French interest in the North Sea fishery was dealt with and the hope 

 expressed that the French Government would share the desire of the Council 

 to obtain international protective laws for the North Sea Fishery. Finally the 

 questions which were thought useful to deal with now were formulated as follows: 



1. Whether a common minimum size for plaice of 25' — 26 cm. total length for 

 the North Sea is regarded as desirable. 



If not, whether a minimum size of 25 — 26 cm. for steam trawlers and of 

 22 — 23 cm. for sailing crafts can be adopted. 



2. Whether on the whole a minimum size for plaice can be considered sufficient 

 for the protection of young plaice, even if the size agreed upon should be 25- — 

 26 cm. 



