CHAPTER XII 



STATE AID AND FISHERY RESEARCH 



THE question of the organisation by the State of scientific 

 research into problems affecting the sea fisheries of these 

 islands is of paramount importance. Properly to under- 

 stand the present position, it is necessary to amplify the brief 

 statement contained in the previous chapter. It is unnecessary to 

 recapitulate the names of the various organisations and authorities, 

 international, national and local, engaged in this important work. 



The present position and future prospects can only be correctly 

 appreciated by a slight historical retrospect. 



Since the commencement of the century no less than three 

 Departmental Committees have inquired into, and reported on, 

 the facilities for scientific research into questions affecting, or 

 likely to affect the sea fisheries of the British Islands. The first 

 of these, known as the Committee on Ichthyological Research, was 

 that appointed by the Board of Trade in 1902. In 1907 the then 

 Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Asquith), appointed a Committee 

 to " inquire into the scientific and statistical investigations now 

 being carried on in relation to the Fishing Industry of the United 

 Kingdom by the Fishery Departments of the Government, the 

 Sea Fisheries Committees, the International Council lor the Ex- 

 ploration of the North Sea, and the Marine Biological Association ; 

 and to report what work of this character is required in the interests 

 of the Fishing Industry, and by what methods or agencies it can 

 be most usefully and economically carried out in future." This 

 Committee reported the following year, and is generally known as 

 the Committee on Fishery Investigations of 1908. 



The third Committee was appointed in 1913 by the then President 

 of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr. Runciman), to advise 

 the Board on questions relating to the elucidation through scientific 

 research of problems affecting fisheries. This Committee issued its 

 " first report " early in 1914. No second has appeared, or is likely 

 to appear. 



It will be noted that the first two of the above Committees took 

 cognisance of the fisheries problems affecting the whole of Great 



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