COUNCIL — MARS 1920 — 24 — 



Acknowledging his great services to the cause of scientific work and inter- 

 national co-operation, it is a great pleasure to me to second the proposal to elect 

 Mr. Maurice as President of this Council. In doing so I ask permission to add 

 a word in my special capacity as Norwegian delegate. When the war broke out 

 it seemed a critical moment for the Norwegian fisheries; they appeared doomed 

 to ruin and inactivity. They could in my opinion be saved only by the recognition 

 on the part of the Allied countries, and especially of Great Britain, of the hard- 

 ships entailed by the war upon the Norwegian fisheries. At this critical moment 

 Mr. Maurice was the first to make full acknowledgment of the necessity for fairly 

 considering the situation of the Norwegian fishermen, thereby rendering the greatest 

 service both to the country of Norway and to its 100,000 fishermen. Having spent 

 the greater part of my life in the attempt to assist this seafaring population, I 

 count myself fortunate to be offered this opportunity of giving Mr. Maurice my 

 support and also to make this recognition — the only recognition possible at present 

 — - for his great services to my country, and I desire to have these words recorded 

 in the report of the proceedings. 



The election of Mr. Maurice was carried with acclamation. 



Professor Pettersson remarked that it was clear that this election was 

 a popular one. No one understood better than himself the reason for this popularity. 

 The Presidentship of the Council was placed in the hands of Mr. Maurice with 

 full confidence, and they begged him to undertake as the first duty of his new 

 office the expression of their respectful thanks to his Government and to the Chief 

 of the Fisheries Department for all they had done in the past. 



Mr. Maurice, who was received \nth applause, said: 



Monsieur le Président, Messieurs les Délégués, c'est de grand cœeur que je 

 vous remercie de l'honneur que vous me faites. J'accepte très volontiers la charge 

 de Président du Conseil International pour l'Exploration de la Mer, si pleine de 

 dignité et de responsabilité, mais croyez que j'éprouve en l'acceptant, les senti- 

 ments les plus variés: de la fierté que m'inspire votre confiance, de la reconnais- 

 sance pour les compliments plus gracieux que justes que m'ont adressés mes bons 

 amis, M. Kerzoncuf, M. le Dr. Hjort, et vous-même, Monsieur le Président, 

 — de l'inquiétude, étant simple fonctionnaire, de me voir appelé à régler les af- 

 faires d'une assemblée de savants éminents, mais surtout soyez assuré que j'ai 

 la résolution bien arrêtée de ne rien négliger qui soit en mon pouvoir et qui puisse 

 aider au succès des travaux si importants- qui nous occupent. 



Messieurs, je profite de l'occasion qui m'est offerte pour vous exprimer le 

 vif plaisir ressenti par le Gouvernement de Sa Majesté, et particulièrement par la 

 Délégation Britannique, en accueillant à Londres nos collègues des pays étrangers: 

 ceux d'autrefois, et ceux qui pour la première fois prennent part à nos délibérations. 

 Nous sommes fiers que vous ayez bien voulu vous réunir à Londres pour recommencer 



