— 17 — COUNCIL - SEPTEMBER 1922 



The results both of transplantation and of restrictive measures should be watched 

 and controlled by scientific observations as closely as possible. 



In recommending, subject to the above observations, the measures proposed 

 by the Plaice Committee the Council recognises that the enforcement of restrictive 

 measures without the sympathetic support of the industry may present difficulties. 

 Their practicability, however, appears to the Council to be a matter for the con- 

 sideration of the Governments of the countries concerned. At present no course 

 other than that recommended by the Committee presents itself to the Council as 

 likely to procure the results required. 



This proposal was adopted by the Council, and the President congratulated 

 the Council upon the fact that at length they had reached a definite conclusion on 

 this subject, which had engaged so much of their time and attention during the 

 past twenty years. 



Prof. Hjort said that there was a general feeling in the Bureau that a few 

 words of congratulation should be addressed to the Plaice Committee on the con- 

 clusion of their labours. Belonging to a country which had taken little part in the 

 plaice investigations he was in a position to speak complimentary words. The 

 criticism had often been made during the 20 years of these investigations, that the 

 work was leading to no definite practical results. He thought that looking back 

 upon the development of ideas on this subject they ought to take quite a different 

 view. When the work started, ideas as to the depletion of the fisheries were vague 

 and unsatisfactory; remedial measures like fish hatching were recommended, and 

 many baseless theories were put forward about the exhaustibility or inexhausti- 

 bility of the stock. Accuracy and precision had been given to all our ideas by the 

 international investigations of the last 20 years. 



It was right in this connection to remember those, who had contributed to 

 this revolution of ideas. First Prof. Garstang, who was the original Convener of 

 the Committee and carried out those valuable experiments on transplantation, 

 and first drew attention to the problem of overcrowding. Then Prof. Heincke, 

 who succeeded Prof. Garstang as Convener and carried out the heavy task of 

 preparing a General Report on the investigations made before the war. Their col- 

 league and friend Dr. Petersen must also be mentioned, whose marking experi- 

 ments broke new ground and whose analysis of the effects of the intensity of fishing 

 was so valuable. 



In spite of the great progress in knowledge and methods achieved by these 

 workers the problem might not yet have been solved, had it not been for the 

 great experiment provided by the war. Great credit is due to the Plaice Committee 

 that they understood the great importance of studying without delay the effect 

 of war conditions. If any name could be singled out in this connection he thought 

 that especial credit should be given to the President, Mr. Maurice, who, representing 



