SCIENTIFIC WOBK IN THE SEA-FISHERIES. 213 



late Mr. Ritchie, was appointed in connection with the Imma- 

 ture Fishes Bill. It reported a diminution of flat-fishes in the 

 North Sea, probably due to the destruction of immature fishes. 

 The Bill, however, was rejected. 



Lastly, the Committee on Ichthyological Research appointed 

 by the Board of Trade sat in 1901, and made various recom- 

 mendations of importance in regard to improved statistics, in- 

 crease of steamers for scientific work, establishment of a scientific 

 department at the Board of Trade, a national Fishery Museum, 

 and a co-ordination of the various administrative and scientific 

 bodies. 



At this stage it would be well to retrace our steps to 1883 

 — viz. the commencement of the scientific period — in order to 

 review another phase in the scientific treatment of the fisheries. 

 At this time (1883) the floating or pelagic condition of the eggs 

 of the sea-fishes was almost unknown to scientific men in this 

 country, though Prof. G. 0. Sars, of Norway, about twenty years 

 previously, had shown hat the eggs of the Cod, Haddock, and 

 Gurnard were pelagic, and others had subsequently added the 

 eggs of the Pollack, Bib, Pilchard, Mackerel, Flounder, Dab, and 

 Plaice to the same category. No attention had been given to 

 the subject in Britain, the most eminent men, indeed, believing 

 that the floating or sinking of such eggs might be due wholly to 

 the temperature of the water ; whilst others deemed that the 

 buoyancy was caused by the oil-globule, overlooking the fact 

 that many were without such. As the investigations for the 

 Trawling Commission advanced it was found how universal this 

 pelagic or floating condition was. Moreover, steps were at once 

 taken to put our knowledge of this important subject on a more 

 creditable basis by constant observations with nets (including the 

 large triangular midwater and bottom net of 10 ft. bars*), trawls, 

 scrutiny at low water-mark, and by the co-operation of liners and 

 trawlers. Now this country is, to say the least, not behind any 



* We read of a " new era " in fisheries' work being inaugurated the other 

 day by the use of a square net of this description. The era will have to be 

 antedated by twenty years at least. Dr. Nansen took one of the St. Andrews 

 nets to Greenland. They can be used at any depth, the finest hauls of young 

 fishes of all kinds being obtained about a fathom above the bottom — say, in 

 twenty to thirty fathoms of water. For inshore flat-fishes another form, like 

 a beam-trawl, is employed. 



