xxvi THE SEA FISHERIES 



Fishery Education 



Before the war there were practically no special arrangements in 

 Great Britain or Ireland for fishery education. This statement, 

 however, is not strictly accurate as regards Ireland (see p. 187). 

 The chaotic condition of the education of fishery circles will naturally 

 be intensified when the new Education Acts for Scotland and 

 England and Wales come into operation. Although the Fishery 

 Council can hardly be expected to take a close interest in the 

 primary or lower secondary education of the fishery classes of the 

 conunimity, it ought to provide or take some steps to provide the 

 necessary qualified staff which will be required when the great 

 extension of education becomes an accomplished fact.^ The present 

 position (or rather the pre-war position) will be seen on reference 

 to Chapter X. It would be absurd to describe these conditions as 

 in the slightest degree satisfactory. Not only is there practically 

 no proper provision for the training of deep-sea or inshore fishermen 

 to become better and more expert workmen, but the question of 

 training (e.g.) persons engaged in the preparation of cured products 

 or in the utilisation of by-products and waste in the fish trade 

 seems never to have been considered. 



To go into elaborate detail at this stage either as to the duties 

 of the Fishery Council in regard to scientific research or educational 

 problems would be unwise, the general consideration of the fimctions 

 and constitution of the Council would be lost in the criticism of 

 points of detail. 



For this reason the outline given above with reference to scientific 

 work was made as brief as possible, and one feels strongly inclined 

 to make no further reference to educational matters. 



There are, however, two or three outstanding matters of urgency 

 which must be referred to, and since the educational S3^tems of 

 Scotland and England and Wales are distinct, each may be taken 

 separately. 



Commencing with Scotland where the fisheries play a relatively 

 greater part in the life of the people than in England, the great 

 outstanding necessity is an institution of University rank which 

 should be devoted to the furthering of education and research in 

 all matters connected with the sea and inland fisheries. 



It is with due diffidence that a Southron presumes to comment on 

 Scottish educational matters, but, put briefly, the following seems 

 to outline the main points for consideration. 



* The first course of instruction (in England and Wales) for intending teachers 

 of " fishery " subjects was established in August, 1919, by the Lancashire and 

 Western Sea Fisheries Committee at their marine laboratory, Piel, Barrow-in-Furness. 



