COMMITTEE B — DECEMBER 1903 (18) 
Dr. Horx thought it desirable at the outset to say that two feelings were 
entertained with regard to the greater or less speed, with which the work should 
be carried on. Some of the members, knowing that a few years were far too 
short a time in which to expect good results, even when concentrating the work 
of the nine countries upon a few problems, would prefer that they should make 
their arrangements independently of a time-limit. But other members wished in 
accordance with the instructions from their governments, to try at least to arrive 
at some definite results within the three years period, for which general coopera- 
tion was certain. He felt sure however that, whilst the former members were by 
all means quite disposed to assist the latter members in their endeavours, the 
latter, who wished immediate results, would not forget the greater interest of the 
future in their regard for the present. 
(3) Mr. Garsrane proposed that each country should select a minimum of three 
or four fixed stations on a line running as far as possible radially out from 
shallow water towards the Dogger Bank as the central part of the North Sea; and 
that these stations should be investigated at quarterly intervals with a commercial 
trawl of standard size and mesh, so as to bring the biological observations into 
line with the hydrographical programme. If the scheme were kept within reasonable 
dimensions there would still be time for each country to carry out special investi- 
gations with other apparatus. 
Dr. Petersen said he quite agreed with the Convener, but owing to the 
necessity of the two Iceland cruises, was unable to promise more than two 
quarterly investigations within the year (viz. in the winter half-year) and he thought 
that a line from Esbjerg to the Dogger Bank would suit Denmark best as far as 
he could judge at the present stage. 
Mr. Garstane admitted Dr. Prrersen’s difficulty, which, however, could happily 
be met by the fact that the “Huxley” had no hydrographical cruises to carry out 
in the summer, and could take the place of the “Thor” in working over the 
Danish stations during that period. 
Dr. Repere agreed with the proposal to adopt fixed stations. In Holland 
they had first of all made a general survey of the North Sea. Thanks to the 
co-operation of Mr. Borremanne, they had also obtained excellent statistics from 
selected captains of trawling steamers. These steamers had been fishing chiefly 
on four different grounds in proximity to the Dutch coast. After analysing the 
statistics he had carried out a series of scientific trawlings on the same grounds, 
choosing a series of 10 stations at increasing depths and distances from the shore. 
