104 ANIMAL LIFE UNDER WATER 



-of fact, due to the increasing numbers of large 

 steam trawlers that go increasing distances to 

 fetch fish, with an increased expenditure in fuel 

 and labour, and proves nothing as to the effect 

 of sea-birds upon the fisheries round our shores. 



That our fisheries have been depleted is 

 beyond question. To maintain a fish supply 

 within reasonable distances of our shores, the 

 waters for at least five miles round our coasts 

 ought to be a nursery for food fishes, so far as 

 man can make it. Instead of this, not even 

 reasonable measures are enforced to control the 

 irregularities of trawlers, no encouragement is 

 given to the destruction of predatory fish, and 

 gulls are allowed to increase in such countless 

 numbers that they not only destroy an enormous 

 quantity of food fishes, but have a serious 

 influence upon the destruction of fish food 

 round our shores and in the estuaries of our 

 rivers. 



When an endeavour is made to arrive at a 

 decision upon the influence of gulls on fish life, 

 the expression of opinion of the individual 

 interested in fish must be ignored unless con- 

 : firmed by an examination of the contents of the 

 gull. I would not suggest that fishermen are 



