[ vii ] 



11. Evidence was, also, given as to the actual size of fish in boxes of 



*' small plaice," which showed that in 1902 plaice under 11 inches formed Appendix H. 



63 per cent, in weight, and from 40 per cent, to 54 per cent, in value of the 



total catch of trawlers fishing on those grounds ; and in 1903, 53 per cent. Archer, 165-178. 



in weight, and from 29 per cent, to 40 per cent, in value, the limits being 



the lowest and the highest possible value which could be assigned to those 



below 11 inches. On the other hand, it was shown that plaice of all sizes 



caught by vessels fishing in the same latitudes at about the same period but 



outside those grounds, viz., between 2 deg. and 6 deg. east longitude, formed 



only 6 per cent, in weight and 12 per cent, in value of the total catch in 1902 



and 1903 respectively. This affords strong grounds for believing not only 



that the imposition of a size limit would make it unremunerative to fish on 



the shallow grounds on the eastern side of the North Sea, "but that it would 



interfere very little, if at all, with fishing operations in deeper waters. 



12. It is to be regretted that similar statistics from markets other than D'Arcy Thompson 

 Billingsgate are not available, notwithstanding the fact (1) that £42,000 642-6. 



was allocated in 1902, to be expended within three years by this country Archer, 186-7. 



in the Investigation of the fishing grounds of the North Sea, in conjunction 



with other nations, parties to the International Council for the Investi- Garstang, 2204- 



gation. of that Sea ; and (2) that a special committee of this Council was 



appointed to formulate a scheme for the purpose of dealing with this 



question. The Foreign Office have been informed by His Majesty's 



Minister at Copenhagen that more information on these lines was expected 



from this country, which takes so large a proportion of the catch of fish 



in the North Sea. 



13. It is, however, satisfactory to note that the method of investigation 

 which was adopted by the Board of Trade, and more recently by the Board 

 of Agriculture and Fisheries, and had already received the approval of 

 the Ichthyological Committee, has now been recognised by that Council 

 who, at its recent meeting at Hamburg, passed the following resolution : — 



" The Council considers ii highly desirable that full and careful statistics 

 be collected at the chief port of entry, on the question of the destruction of Archer, 184. 

 small fish, with especial reference to the size, place, and season of capture 

 of young plaice and other flat fish, and desires to bring before the Govern- 

 ments concerned the necessity of allocating out of the funds for fishery 

 research at their disposal a provision sufficient for the thorough carrying 

 out of this portion of the work." 



14. The Bill before your Lordships' House differs from former Bills in that 



it proposes instead of a fixed limit below which fish shall not be sold to Elliott, 32. 

 enable the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to frame Orders for pro- 

 hibiting the landing of any flat fish not exceeding such length as the Board 

 may from time to time prescribe, and subject to such exceptions and 

 conditions as may be prescribed. While some hardship would undoubtedly 

 result to the line fishnrmen and small trawling vessels round the coast if the Catts, 1555-61. 

 sale of undersized fish were entirely prohibited, it appears to your Committee 

 to be possible to make Orders which would have the effect of making Xowse 872 

 it no longer worth while for the large steam trawlers to frequent the 

 eastern grounds referred to during those months when undersized fish are 

 most abundant. 



15. The Secretary of the Fishmongers' Company informed the Committee 



that at various meetings of the National Sea Fisheries Protection Associa- Towse, 884. 

 tion, the representatives of the trade had asked to be defended against 

 themselves. 



16. Sir Thomas Elliott, Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Elliott, 2561-5 

 Fisheries, was of opinion that this could be accomplished by an Order of 



the Board which should prohibit the landing of plaice under 11 inches by Cunnineham 

 steam trawlers, or carriers, or by sailing trawlers of 65 tons and upwards 1193. 



