70 THE SEA FISHERIES 



consist entirely of small plaice, most of which would have to be 

 discarded and the labour and risk would add to the actual loss in 

 percentage. The limit of 29 cm. is considered to be needlessly high, 

 especially for the initial experiment. He concludes, " It remains 

 to be seen, when the results of the investigations of other countries 

 are ready for comparison, what limits are found practicable for 

 their own interests, and for an adjustment to be made by mutual 

 consent." 



One of the main objects of the International Council for the 

 exploration of the North and neighbouring seas from a fishery 

 standpoint, was the investigation of the life-history of the plaice, 

 and a special Committee of the Council was established for this 

 purpose. The Committee met from time to time, and at a general 

 meeting of the Council held at Copenhagen in September, 1913, 

 the results of the plaice investigations came up for consideration. 

 It was thought that a sufficient protection of the young of the 

 plaice would best be obtained by imposing an international size 

 limit of from 25 to 26 cm. Having regard to the interests of the 

 plaice fisheries of the various countries, it was, however, considered 

 advisable to commence with a somewhat lower size limit, as fixing 

 an international limit would be in the nature of an experiment. 



These considerations had been confirmed at a conference of the 

 Plaice Committee previously held in London (June, 1913). At 

 this Committee consideration was given to the summary of Professor 

 Heincke's general report,^ and all the other available evidence upon 

 the plaice and plaice fisheries of the North Sea. The conclusions 

 and recommendations of the Plaice Committee adopted by the 

 International Council were : — 



(i) There has been for many years a decrease in the larger sizes 

 of plaice in the North Sea. 



(2) The number of small plaice shows great natural variations 

 from year to year, and this is expressed in the landings of plaice. 



(3) The number of plaice of the smaller sizes in the landings has 

 increased. There has been a recent tendency in some cases to bring 

 to market smaller sizes than previously. 



(4) It would be desirable in the interests of the fishermen and of 

 the public generally that these smaller sizes of plaice should be 

 preserved on the grounds until they have grown to a larger and more 

 valuable size. 



(5) The most effective method of doing this so far as steam 

 trawling is concerned, would probably be by direct closing of the 



1 Investigations on the plaice. General report by Dr. F. Heincke I. PlMce 

 fishery and protective measures. Preliminary brief summary. Conseil. perm, 

 internat. Copenhague, 1913. 



