COUNCIL — FEBR.-MARCH 1906 94 
On behalf of the Netherlands, Prof. Max Weser stated that his Govern- 
ment laid great stress upon receiving the following reports before July 1907: 
ile 
9. 
A summary of the conditions of the currents at the surface and so far as pos- 
sible of the currents in deeper layers throughout the North Sea; 
A report on the question whether different races of plaice occur in the North 
Sea and if so what is their distribution; x i 
Finally, in case the preliminary researches are sufficiently advanced: 
An expression of opinion as to the minimum size-limits which might be 
adopted for the principal food-fishes in regulations prohibiting the catch of 
undersized fishes. 
On behalf of Russia Prof. O. von Grimm brought forward the following request: 
That the question of salmon hatcheries and their importance in maintaining 
the stock of salmon should be more closely investigated and finally settled. 
“On behalf of the Swedish Government Prof. O. PETTERsson and Dr. 
F. TryBom were authorized to state that special interest was attached to the 
following questions: 
1. 
The relation between the state of the sea and the atmospheric conditions that 
govern the climate of Northern Europe. 
For about 30 years it has been known that the character of the winters 
in Northern Europe is determined by the development of certain areas of 
barometric depression in the Atlantic south of Iceland, in the North Sea 
and in the Norwegian Sea. Later investigations point to the possibility of a 
connection between the atmospheric pressure and the amount of heat stored 
in the warm water-layers of the said areas. In view of this probability the 
following statement was inserted in the program of the Stockholm Conference 
1899 and the Christiania Conference 1901: 
“The hydrographical researches shall have for their object: the distinction 
of the different water-strata, according to their geographical distribution, their 
depths, their temperature, salinity, gas-contents, plankton and currents, in order 
to find the fundamental principles not only for the determination of the 
external conditions of the useful marine animals, but also for weather-forecasts 
for extended periods in the interests of agriculture”. 
The International Council for the Study of the Sea is requested to state 
in what degree the international researches in the Baltic and north-eastern parts 
of the Atlantic, continued at all seasons of the year since 1902, have confirmed 
