SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 87 



seas had fallen off, and was likely to continue to fall off. The 

 restrictions that were in the minds of the delegates were, of 

 course, legal size-limits and perhaps a closure of part of the 

 " Flemish Bight." There was no general agreement as to the 

 precise shapes of the restrictions — the Dutch delegates, for 

 instance, adopted their traditional, national attitude of evasion. 

 As to whether the restrictions that were in question could have 

 been enforced — that question did not appear to matter. The 

 discussion had, in fact, that kind of tone which one calls 

 " academic." Obviously the closure against trawling, by steam 

 and motor-driven trawl- vessels, of a large area of the North 

 Sea well outside the territorial limits ; the prevention of landing 

 of plaice of less than 20 or 22 cms. in length, according to 

 the season, and the closure of the spawning area in the Flemish 

 Bight would involve a rather considerable international police 

 service. Whether it is practicable to provide this at a reason- 

 able cost, and to render it efficient, was not considered. 



The Herring Fisheries. 



The Council took up the question of the " Herring Races " 

 where it had been left in 1914. It was resolved that the bio- 

 metric investigations that were in progress then should be 

 renewed. It was decided to undertake an historical enquiry 

 into the fluctuations of the fisheries for herrings which have 

 been experienced in most European seas during the last three 

 centuries. The Norwegian and Danish fishery services under- 

 took the organisation of these investigations. 



The Hydrographic Research. 



The position of affairs was discussed in the hydrographic 

 and plankton sections, and although arrangements for the 

 resumption of the work, on much the same lines as it was 

 conducted before the war, were thought out nothing practical 

 has, so far, been done. As the Committee are aware, the 

 periodic cruises made by the " James Fletcher " during the 

 pre-war years have not been resumed, nor have the regular 



