THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF 1893 63 



trawling on certain defined grounds in the North 

 Sea,^ on which small fish were particularly 

 abundant. This self-denying ordinance is said to 

 have been voluntarily observed for two seasons, 

 after which it broke down. In 1891 an un- 

 official international Conference was held in 

 London, at which representatives of the fishing 

 trade in the North Sea countries met and dis- 

 cussed the question, and agreed that investigation, 

 scientific and otherwise, should be instituted. 

 These investigations were never made. Finally, 

 in 1892, the Annual Conference of the Association 

 suggested definite legislation, and agreed to request 

 the Government " to enact a law to prohibit the 

 sale of undersized flat fish in British markets — 

 undersized flat fish being as follows : — Brill, under 

 1 2 inches in extreme length ; lemon soles, 1 1 

 inches ; plaice, i o inches ; soles, i o inches ; turbot, 

 12 inches." A deputation from the Association 

 afterwards waited upon the President of the Board 

 of Trade, and urged the appointment of a Select 

 Committee to consider the expediency of prohibit- 

 ing the landing of undersized flat fish. This was 

 done by a motion in the House of Commons in 

 March 1893 ; and the fishing trade obtained the 

 comfort of an inquiry, though, to be sure, they are 

 still waiting for legislation. 



1 The defined area was bounded on the east by the German and 

 Danish coast, on the west by the meridian 7° 30' E., on the north by 

 latitude 56°, and on the south by latitude 53° 50'. 



