FISHERY IMPROVEMENT IN JERSEY. 93 



ernien, and it is one, too, that would be virtually self-supporting. For 

 example, squid is often common in Prance when none is to be had here — 

 and even if a French supply were to fail, the U.S.A. can furnish unlimited 

 quantities, which could be shipped to Southampton or Bristol in one 

 of the refrigerating chambers of a liner bound for one or other of these 

 ports. 



Such a programme as I have outlined above would necessarily take 

 several years to work through. However, I see no reason to doubt that 

 one year's work would be sufficient to accumulate the information 

 necessaiy to settle the majority of the points listed under the head of 

 "Investigations." Such information would then be available for the 

 framing of well-considered bye-laws, regulating the existing fisheries. 

 Some of the simpler experiments might also be worked upon during such 

 initial year, together with the formation of a Fisheries' collection, the 

 delivery of lectures, and other educational matters. 



The second year should be occupied with the due enforcement of the 

 new bye-laws ; with the carrying out of further investigations ; with the 

 prosecution of the more important experiments ; and with lobster 

 hatching in floating incubators on a large scale, should investigation 

 have shown that such may be done here with advantage. The inception 

 of a small Bait-store might also be feasible during the second year. 



The hatching of plaice fry — if considered desirable — together with an 

 attempt at restocking the Grorey oyster beds by inducing a fresh and 

 large fall of spat, might form the chief new items in the third year's 

 work. Thereafter the steady development of these various undertakings 

 and the consistent enforcement of the provisions of the law are chiefly 

 what would be requisite, though new lines of investigation would 

 undoubtedly be suggested from time to time. The circumstances of the 

 hour would, of course, largely affect the order of this programme, as it 

 is impossible to guage accurately the respective durations of the various 

 investigations and experiments. 



The cost of this work is difficult to assess — so much depends upon 

 how many items are attempted in each year, but bearing in mind 

 favourable local circumstances, I believe a grant of £150 would be 

 sufficient, by the exercise of strict economy, to meet the expenses of the 

 initial year's working, inclusive of salaries, boat hire, and minor items. 

 The expenses of succeeding years would depend still more upon the 

 character of the work attempted ; probably £30 extra would be amply 

 sufficient during the second year. 



These figures are, I know, likely to be criticised by outside authorities 

 as absurdly low and quite inadequate to the great range of work 

 sketched out. 



In explanation of this, I wish to state that such critics must 

 remember that we already have in Jersey a Biological Station, which 



