4 BRITISH FISHERIES 



the evils for which a remedy is to be sought, and 

 what should be the precise form of the remedial 

 measures. On the one hand there is the fisherman, 

 with an intimate knowledge of the condition of 

 the industry — at least so far as his own branch is 

 concerned, but usually knowing little outside this. 

 He is generally a strongly biassed person, and, 

 like most of us, is naturally prone to regard his 

 own immediate interest as of paramount import- 

 ance ; and he is generally in a position which 

 makes it difficult for his views and wishes to 

 obtain consideration in the proper quarters. On 

 the other hand there is the legislator, who is, as a 

 rule, more ignorant of the fishing industry tha,n of 

 anything else. Between the two, then, there are 

 necessary either the administrative officials with 

 expert knowledge, or the Royal or Parliamentary 

 Commission. 



This is the method by which fisheries legislation 

 has usually been elaborated. It has nearly always 

 followed inquiry by some such body. Obviously, 

 its success has depended on the ability and patience 

 displayed by the persons conducting the inquiry 

 and tendering advice to Parliament. That it 

 should often have failed has been due to causes 

 incidental to the nature of the fishing industry, 

 which differs notably in many respects from most 

 other occupations which have been the object 

 of legislation. The success of the sea-fisheries 

 depends almost entirely on the exploitation of 



