XXX THE SEA FISHERIES 



be a supreme administrative authority for the fisheries with head- 

 quarters in London. The Scottish Fishery Board would continue 

 as an emasculated authority, and the Local Committees in England 

 and Wales would be abolished. Ireland can please itself. The 

 decision must naturally be left to the future ; for the reasons set 

 forth we think the scheme outlined on pp. xxiii-xxv the best. 



Although we believe the European war will have no serious 

 permanent effect on the British sea fisheries, it is useful to record 

 the statistics of the fisheries during the war's duration. 



The following table affords a comparison of the year 1913 with 

 the period 1914-18. It would require a special volume to give an 

 adequate account of the role played by the fisheries during the war. 

 Most of the trawling grounds off the British Isles, including prac- 

 tically the whole of the North Sea, were closed to fishing by 

 Admiralty orders. At the close of the war no less than 3000 steam 

 fishing boats were engaged in naval operations of one kind or 

 another. Practically all the physically fit fishermen of military 

 age were similarly engaged, between 40,000 and 50,000 in all. 

 These were all trained and experienced seamen. Many fishing 

 vessels were lost in naval operations and many were sunk (or in 

 the earlier phases of the war captured by the enemy) while peace- 

 fully engaged in fishing. According to one official statement no 

 less than 670 vessels were lost when actually engaged in fishing. 



Taking all this into consideration it is a matter for surprise that 

 the sea fisheries of this country have been so well maintained. 



