STATISTICAL COMM. — MARCH 1906 ( 68 ) 
ments which Germany had undertaken was sufficient, but he should like Dr. Kyte 
who investigated the material to give his opinion on the matter. 
Dr. Kvce did not think the German material was sufficient unless Prof. . 
Henxine could guarantee that it was quite representative of all the classes of plaice 
landed in Germany. 
Prof. Henxine said he was of course unable te do so: it would be necessary 
first to make out, what the precise meaning was He quite admitted the impor- 
tance of the continuation; in Germany the question had been, however, first of all 
to work up the rich material and to consider what improvements were to be made 
in the method hitherto followed. From that he would conclude in what line to 
advise its recommencement for Germany. He should be glad to hear how the 
representatives of the other countries managed with regard to practical details 
and in which countries the measurements were to be continued. 
Dr. Hork thought this a very useful subject of discussion and he would 
therefore ask the representatives of the various countries to explain their methods 
of working. 
Dr. Masterman on behalf of England stated that they were taking continuous 
measurements at three ports on the east coast of England, Grimsby, Lowestoft and 
Ramsgate at the rate of 8 boxes a day for each port. The method now adopted 
was to hire the fish at a fixed price per box representing deterioration and cartage; 
the fish were rapidly measured and returned to the buyers in time to be sent to 
the London market as usual. In this way they obtained their measurements much 
more cheaply than by purchase and re-sale of the fish. Two men of the class of 
fish-packers were employed on the work at each of the three ports under the 
supervision of an inspector, who visited the ports and personally verified 
the work in progress. After a little experience the measurements could be ; 
made with great rapidity, a box of about 200 fish being dealt with by two men 
in about 12 minutes. To facilitate the weighing of the fish, the men had a number 
of tins into which they sorted the fish of each size after measuring and then 
weighed the whole. As the weight of the tins was known, it was quite easy to 
find the total weight of the fish in each tin. [Further details were given of the 
measuring boards and weighing apparatus, and of the means adopted for ascer- 
taining the place of capture of the fish.] 
Prof. Gison said that he had experienced some difficulty in Belgium in get- 
ting the fishermen to allow their fish to be measured. He had now succeeded 
