THE TRAWLING COMMISSION 39 



regard as being conclusive from a scientific point 

 of view. In shaping their recommendations they 

 seem to have kept sight of both these objects, for 

 they advised that statutory powers be given the 

 Scottish Fishery Board (then the only effective 

 fishery authority in existence in Great Britain), to 

 enable them to regulate or suspend trawling, or 

 any other method of fishing, within territorial 

 waters ; and also that sufficient Treasury support 

 be given them to admit of the purchase of a steam 

 vessel and the prosecution of scientific investiga- 

 tions at sea. The manner in which trawling 

 could be dealt with had previously been suggested 

 by the Fishery Board.^ Two courses were open, 

 they said : trawling should either be prohibited 

 entirely, except to vessels holding the licence of the 

 Board, or the sea should remain free to all, except 

 such areas as might be barred by by-law. Of 

 these two courses, they preferred the latter. " We 

 are against," they said, " making the sea a mare 

 clausum. A public licence to exercise an honest 

 calling is opposed to the spirit of our institutions. 

 The true spirit is freedom, qualified by such 

 regulations as in the common interest may be 

 found to be just and necessary." 



The latter course was the one recommended 

 by the Trawling Commission, and speedy effect 

 was given to it by Parliament. In the same 

 year the Sea-Fisheries (Scotland) Amendment 



1 Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland for 1884, pt. i., p. xlv. 



