324 
NATURE 
[May 28, 1914 
stituent. In order to explain the production of both 
kinds of rays, the authors suggest that the series 
may branch at uranium-X into UrX, and Act, with 
the discharge of B rays, and that in one series so 
produced the #-ray change is followed by the a-ray 
change, and in the second the reverse takes place. In 
a second paper th:v confirm the discovery of UrX, 
by Fajans and Cchring, and describe a simple method 
for its preparation, which consists in filtering the 
UrX, solution ‘through a layer of moist tantalic acid. 
The latter retains the UrX., whilst the UrX, remains 
in solution with the thoriun. This process is based 
upon the relations of UrX, and UrX, in the periodic 
table. Bae 
THE REORGANISATION OF THE FISHERY 
AUTHORITIES.1 
"] HIS report presents the results of the latest 
of a long series of inquiries into the produc- 
tivity and administration of the British Sea 
Fisheries. In many ways it is the most important 
document of its: kind presented to Parliament 
during the last twenty years. Former fishery in- 
quiries usually considered the fishing industry as 
it is carried on on the high seas, and international 
questions so greatly complicated any possible 
action, both with regard to scientific investigation 
and administration, that might have been taken 
that little in the way of legislation resulted from 
them. The Committee now reporting was ap- 
pointed little more than a year ago; it has con- 
sidered domestic, rather than international fishery 
matters; and there is every indication that its 
utterance represents an official desire for legislative 
action. Altogether the recommendations are of 
greater significance than those of any Committee 
or Commission since 1885. 
These recommendations are almost revolu- 
tionary. They presuppose a coordinated and 
reasoned scheme of scientific investigation of the 
fisheries of the three kingdoms, and at the same 
time they urge the establishment, in England, of 
a public Department possessing the status, 
personnel, and equipment now enjoyed by the 
fishery authorities of Scotland and Ireland. In 
these countries there are strong central fishery 
departments regulating and investigating the 
national industries with the assistance of money 
directly voted by Imperial Parliament. The 
English Department possesses no power actually 
to regulate the fisheries, and until a few years ago 
it carried out no scientific investigation. Regula- 
tion was entrusted, in 1888, to local committees 
created on the initiative of county and borough 
councils, and deriving their revenue from local 
rates levied on the maritime counties. Eleven of 
these local committees exist at the present time, 
but, with the exception of the Lancashire body, 
they have done little to regulate methods of s< 
fishing, and nothing at all to investigate and de- 
velop the industry. Only by the cordial cocvera- 
tion of the wealthy inland boroughs, and by 
amalgamation with neighbouring counties h-s 
Lancashire been enabled successfully to rey ate 
1 Report of the Departmental Committee on Inshore Fisheries. Vols. 1. 
and ii., Report, Appendices, and Minutes of Evidence. [Cd. 7373 anc 7374.] 
(x914.) 
NO* 2320, VOL+ oa) 
and investigate its local fisheries, and even there 
scientific work has been carried on precariously 
and with little promise of continuity... Two lines 
of advance were suggested to the departmental 
committee, first, the amalgamation of the local 
authorities on the south-west, south, and east 
coasts into two or more bodies similar to the Lan- 
cashire committee, and secondly the abolition of 
the local committees and the transfer of their 
powers of regulation to the Fisheries Branch ot 
the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. 
The latter course is that recommended. The 
local bodies are to continue to exist as small ad- 
visory councils deprived of the power of rating, 
or of appointing officers. Their staffs are to be 
transferred to the Board, along with the power 
of initiating and enforcing restrictions and pro- 
hibitions of methods of fishing. Local resident 
inspectors will be appointed to supervise the work 
of regulation, and to place the fishermen in touch 
with the local advisory committees on one 
hand, and the Board on the other. To all these 
functions will be added that of the organisation 
and development of inshore fishing. How this 
work of development will be carried out is only 
vaguely suggested in the report, but in the first 
place a Fisheries Organisation Society, on the 
lines of the Agricultural Organisation Society, will 
be founded, and will be financed by public funds. 
This body will promote the idea of cooperation 
among fishermen, will assist them in marketing 
their produce, in securing better means of trans- 
port, and in obtaining credit for the provision of 
boats, motors, and other gear. Its work will be 
largely propagandist at first. The Central Depart- 
ment itself will undertake the task of improving or 
constructing fishery harbours and piers, and better 
channels and breakwaters ; of organising the shell- 
fisheries by means of regulating and _ several 
orders, and the provision of plant whereby such 
molluscs as mussels and cockles can be freed from 
dangerous pollution; of intervening where the 
rights of fishermen are threatened; and of the 
dissemination of intelligence of value in the dis- 
posal of the produce of the fisheries. 
Scientific investigation will be maintained and 
amplified where it exists and instituted on those 
parts of the coasts where it is not yet carried out. 
This will be controlled and coordinated by the 
Board, and it is now generally known that a scheme 
for the adequate investigation of the fisheries of 
all three countries has been prepared, and only 
awaits sanction and the provision of very large 
initial and annual grants of money by the Develop- 
ment Commissioners before it is put in operation. 
That the importance of research and statistical in- 
vestigation has been recognised by the Committee 
is apparent, but that it is all-important before be- 
ginning the task of repealing and simplifying 
regulations, or of the further development of the 
shell-fisheries, or the working-out of an exhaustive 
system of obtaining fishery statistics, has not been 
clearly apprehended, we think. Yet experience of 
the huge mass of futile restrictive legislation built 
| up in the past should have taught them to he 
i 
