134 BRITISH FISHERIES 



in any one country can pretend to be satisfactory 

 which does not include some mention of two 

 of the most notable research organisations in exist- 

 ence — the German " Kiel Kommission," and 

 the United States " Commission of Fish and 

 Fisheries." 



The Kiel Kommission 



The German " Kommission zur Wissenschaft- 

 lichen Untersuchung der Deutschen Meere in 

 Kiel," usually known as the Kiel Kommission, 

 was established in 1870, at the suggestion of the 

 Deutsche See-Fischerei Verein, a powerful and 

 influential fisheries society. The German title 

 " Kommission " must not be interpreted according 

 to our English notions of the functions of a 

 " Commission," Royal or otherwise. In this 

 country such a body is generally constituted for 

 the investigation of some matter of administra- 

 tion, and I have already given some account of the 

 great Commissions, appointed either by the Crown 

 or by a public department, which, from time to 

 time, have inquired into the condition of the 

 British sea-fisheries. The methods of a British 

 Royal Commission are fairly well known. It does 

 not generally make any investigation on its own 

 account, but contents itself with the examination of 

 a great number of witnesses, partial or otherwise ; 

 and from the mass of opinions so accumulated it 

 sifts out what it regards as the truth concerning 



