XIV PROCEEDINGS OB^ THE 



•• lis. The evidence tends to show that over a. period of years the average size of the fish may 

 decrease, and the larger fish become less plentiful, and that consequently a limit which would be 

 efficacious to-day might require in the future to be either raised or lowered : while if the prohibition 

 were limited to the class of vessels that fish the eastern grounds now, other vessels which do not at 

 present go there might be tempted to take advantage of the prohibition imposed on the larger ones. 



" 19. The ideal manner of protecting these grounds would, without doubt, be an International 

 agreement, but up to the present there has not been much disposition shown by [other nations to 

 a'iopt this policy. 



" 20. Your Committee have reason to hope that such a consummation may be ultimately 

 attained, and, at any rate, the first step towards its attainment is the passing of this Bill, inasmuch 

 as the International Council have passed the following Resolution : — ' The Council resolves that it 

 is desirable that, in the event of a law being passed in Great Britain giving powers to make 

 experiments for restricting the destruction of undersized flat fish, powers be also taken by the 

 various Governments concerned to make experiments for restricting the destruction of undersized 

 flat fish.' 



" 21. Your Committee were informed that there is comparatively little market for under- 

 sized flat fish on the Continent, and that foreign trawlers would find their best market for under- 

 sized fish in England, which, of course, could be prohibited by an Order of the Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries. 



" 22. In view of the expression of opinion not only from the ports at which the smaller trawlers 

 are registered, but even from Grimsby itself, that some limitation should be placed on the absolute 

 powers of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to make orders, your Committee are of opinion 

 that such orders should not be made until the draft thereof has lain for a period of 30 days oefore 

 each House of Parliament, and they have therefore added at the end of Sub-Clause 1, a proviso to 

 effect this object. 



It is moved that the said Draft Report be considered. 



The same is agreed to. 



Paragraph 1 is read, and agreed to. 



Paragraph 2 is read and agreed to, with an Amendment. 



Paragraph 3 is read, and agreed to. 



Paragraphs 4, 5, and 6 are read, and agreed to, with Amendments. 



Paragraph 7 is read, and agreed to. 



Paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are read, and agreed to, with Amendmen . 



Paragraphs 17, 18, and 19 are read. 



It is moved by the Lord Tweedviowth to leave out the said paragraphs and to insert in lieu 

 thereof the following new paragraph, viz. : — 



"Your Committee are of opinion that powers should be given to the Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries to make orders prohibiting the landing from steam trawlers, steam carriers, 

 and sailing smacks of 65 tons and upwards of turbot and brill not exceeding 13 inches in 

 length, and soles and plaice not exceeding 11 inches in length, and, further, that the Board 

 should have similar and concurrent powers with the sea fisheries district committees for the 

 regulation of the various methods of fishing practised in the territorial waters of England, and 

 power to make orders requiring the respect of bye-laws made by the Fishery Boards of Scotland 

 and Ireland in English ports. The ideal method of protecting the fishing grounds in the North 

 1 lea most frequented at certain seasons of the year by young and immature fish would be by an 

 international agreement between all the Powers whose fishermen fish in that sea, but up to the 

 present time little disposition has been shown by the Governments of those nations to enter into a 

 convention for this purpose." 



On Question, That this Amendment be agreed to : 



Contents (1). 1 Non-Contents (6). 



Lord Tweedmouth. ! Marquess of Abercom (Duke of 



Abercorn). 

 \ Earl of Onslow. 



Earl of Yarborough. 



Lord Meldrum {MarquesH of 



Huntly). 

 Lord Xorthbourne. 

 Lord Heneage. 



The said Amendment is disagreed to. 



Paragraph 17 is again considered, and agreed to, with an Amendment. 



Paragraph 18 is again considered, and agreed to. 



