220 BRITISH FISHERIES 



depends on the study of " samples," whether 

 these be samples of sea-water, plankton, or fishes 

 or invertebrates trawled from the sea-bottom. 

 Naturally, the value of the deduction made from 

 the study of such samples depends on their 

 number, and it did not appear probable to the 

 members of the Committee that these samples 

 would be numerous enough, " We feel bound," 

 the Committee pedantically state, " to express our 

 grave apprehensions of the danger of using in- 

 adequately substantiated quantitative conclusions 

 as a basis for action or regulation of fisheries — 

 for if ' samples ' misrepresent the actual con- 

 ditions, or inadequately suggest the causes of 

 those conditions, they may prevent the possibly 

 quite legitimate grievances of the fishermen being 

 redressed, or they may be detrimental to the 

 supply of fish generally." Now, such a criticism 

 is theoretically sound enough, but it may be 

 urged, to some extent, against any scheme of 

 fisheries research ever undertaken, or which may 

 be suggested.^ There is always the chance that 



1 An alternative scheme of North Sea fishery investigations was 

 suggested by the Chief Inspector of Fisheries. In this it was 

 proposed that a number of " rehable captains " of trawlers should 

 furnish returns of their fishing operations to the Fisheries Department. 

 At the same time sample boxes of fish would be bought from these 

 vessels at the port of landing and examined by " trained experts," and 

 if necessary these fish would be sent to the biological laboratories. 

 Observations at sea were not apparently regarded as an essential 

 part of the work. {Report, Ichihyological Committee, 1903, Evidence, 

 Q. 1585, p. 7 J •) 



