Xll PREFACE. 



also made important advances by means of the able researches 

 of W. Heape, J. T. Cunningham, G. C. Bourne, W. Bateson, 

 W. Garstang, E. J. Allen and others. Lastly, under the Rev. 

 W. S. Green and Prof Haddon, an important survey, especially 

 of the food-fishes in the deeper water, off the west coast of 

 Ireland, was made by the St Andrews workers, Prof. E. Prince 

 and E. W. L. Holt. 



Prof. Herdman on the Lancashire coast has in recent years 

 inaugurated modern methods in the fisheries with success, 

 while Mr Meek at Cullercoats on the opposite shore has also 

 made a commencement in the department. 



In the criticism of the work of the Fishery Board for 

 Scotland and its methods in regard to closure, it must not be 

 supposed that the author has other feelings than those of 

 respect for that body, from whom in former days he received 

 much courtesy. It is sufficient to mention the names of Sir 

 Thomas Boyd and Mr P. Esslemont — the former distinguished 

 by his wide experience, the latter by his remarkable adminis- 

 trative powers, to indicate how ably the duty was done by each 

 in the office of Chairman, with the support of such well-known 

 members as Mr Maxtone Graham of Cultoquhey, Mr S. William- 

 son, Mr J. J. Grieve, Mr William Boyd, and Sir James Gibson 

 Maitland of Howieton. The position and talents of the sheriffs, 

 again, and their intimate acquaintance with fishery laws and 

 administration, gave the Board both strength and prestige. 

 The loss of the counsels of Sheriff Guthrie Smith, Sheriff Forbes 

 Irvine, Sheriff Thoms and Sheriff Makechnie to the fisheries 

 and the public cannot be over-estimated. To the energy and 

 ability of the Board's Superintendent of Scientific Investiga- 

 tions (Dr T. W. Fulton) the author would also pay a just 

 tribute of commendation. 



Nothing, however, has been allowed to interfere with the 

 faithful discharge, to the best of the author's ability, of a public 

 duty, and in relation to a question of such vital importance in 

 the department. 



It is a source of regret that the popular statesman w^ho 

 was at the head of the Royal Commission (1883 — 85) has not 

 lived to see the result of these experiments in which, from 



