248 THE SEA FISHERIES 



covered the applications of the local authorities. The second 

 report of the Development Commissioners (September, 1912) 

 contains some guarded reference to these matters. They say that 

 they considered the Board's application, but as they understood 

 that a number of applications relating to fishery matters had been 

 addressed to the Treasury by scientific bodies, local fishery 

 committees and other authorities the Commissioners thought it 

 desirable to obtain these before proceeding with the consideration 

 of the Board's scheme. Not being able to approve the Board's 

 scheme, they suggested that its application should take the form 

 of a comprehensive scheme, prepared in consultation with the 

 Scottish and Irish authorities, for the acquisition of further know- 

 ledge of the fisheries of the United Kingdom. Interim grants were 

 recommended to a number of local bodies, but of the £78,000 asked 

 for by the Board only £4,100 was granted. 



Shortly after this (January, 1913) the third Committee of inquiry, 

 referred to above, was appointed by Mr. Runciman ; while they 

 were considering the situation, the Development Commissioners 

 issued their third report (August, 1913). 



The Board's application, which had now been under consideration, 

 was very different to their original scheme. The " special com- 

 mission to inquire into the grievances of the inshore fishermen " 

 is now dropped, as is the poHcing scheme, and application is made 

 for the provision of three research steamers, estimated to cost 

 £10,000 each, annual grants of £10,000 for maintenance and £6,500 

 for the collection and study of material. The Development Com- 

 missioners agreed in principle to this scheme, but thought it best 

 to defer a grant for the construction or acquisition of the vessels 

 until the scheme for which they are primarily required has been 

 settled by consultation among the fishery authorities of the United 

 Kingdom. The advances to the local authorities were in the mean- 

 while continued, the dole to the Board being increased to £6,300. 



The fourth report of the Development Commissioners (August, 

 1914) annotmces the receipt at last of the " comprehensive scheme," 

 but as it was received too late to come into operation in 1914-5. 

 the Commissioners continued their grants to the local bodies in 

 England and Wales, increasing the grant to the Board still further, 

 to £8,600. 



The combined scheme provided for an expenditure in the case 

 of England and Wales of £60,000 and £25,800 annually, of which 

 £6,000 annually was to be devoted to grants to local institutions for 

 local investigation and specialised research, e.g. experimental work on 

 and in connection with trade products. Scotland asked for £24,050 

 and £11,850 annually ; Ireland £23,410 and £10,810 annually.^ 



