242 BRITISH FISHERIES 



legislation be very unpopular : would it | not lose 

 the Government a considerable number of seats ? — 

 That is for the Government of the time being to 

 consider." 



The report of this Committee, then, left the 

 question of the fishery statistics in almost exactly 

 the same state as it was. No new plan was re- 

 commended ; no further powers have been sought 

 from Parliament ; and no further resources have 

 been given the local committees to obtain statistics, 

 either for the Board or for themselves. The old 

 system was maintained, except that additional 

 attention is being paid toi two or three large ports 

 on the east coast of England. Whereas, before 

 1902, about £joo a year was paid to the collectors, 

 after that date about ^^1400 has been paid. But 

 it was also recommended that an additional jTiooo 

 a year be provided, to enable the Board to under- 

 take the supervision of the persons collecting the 

 statistics. 



It has been observed that the official fishery 

 statistics — and, I may add, the changes and reforms 

 of the central English administration — are de- 

 scribed by the French phrase, " Plus 9a change, 

 plus c'est la meme chose." 



