Recent F'shery Research. 33 



young fish were crowded together, and where there were com- 

 paratively few old fish. Trawlers were more successful in 

 catching the young fish than the old fish. All he had to say 

 was, if they emptied the nursery he took it for granted that the 

 drawing-room would not be full in a little time. In Lancashire 

 this matter was being considered, and they were regulating the 

 size of the mesh of fishing nets. 



Naturalists had also been considering the food of fish and 

 their feeding habits. A popular belief was that the larger fish 

 fed on the smaller, and so on, but ultimately they found their 

 fishes were dependent on plant life It was the plants that 

 made organic stuff. 



Dealing with the question of artificial baits, the lecturer said 

 some fish distinguished their food by smell almost, others by 

 sight almost entirely. 



The lecturer then referred to the enemies of our food fishes, 

 and pointed out that naturalists were principally engaged on 

 how to get rid of them by encouraging the enemies of the 

 enemies of our food fish. The question arose could men over- 

 fish the seas ? Professor Huxley had been of opinion that 

 this was impossible, and that the damage done by man was 

 infinitesimal compared with what was done by other enemies. 

 It was the last straw that broke the camel's back, and if they 

 put on that last straw it made all the difference, and he 

 thought man could play the part of the last straw. There was 

 a great deal of injury which might be prevented, and it was 

 with that he wished to interfere. 



In conclusion reference was made to the importance of 

 properly equipped marine stations for ihe study of all questions 

 relating to the fisheries, and a hope was expressed that before 

 long such a station might be instituted near Belfast. 



Professor Symington moved a vote of thanks to Professor 

 Gregg Wilson for his lecture. He thought it was appropriate 

 that they should consider on that occasion what could be done 

 in connection with their own fisheries. With the exception of 

 what was being done by Mr. Holt, under the Agricultural Depart- 



