SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 93 



view of sewage pollution, but it ought also to include a natural 

 history survey. The present trade in mussels as food com- 

 modities appears to be coming to an end, and nothing can 

 prevent this but a rational attitude with regard to questions 

 of pollution and a satisfactory standardisation of public health 

 practice. This depends on research. Along with this must go 

 further investigation into the methods of cleansing sewage- 

 polluted shellfish, and the development of means of preserving 

 these animals in one form or other. The latter remark applies 

 also to the trade in shrimps and prawns. This is limited, as 

 a trade in fresh or potted fish, and some more permanent 

 methods of preservation must be devised. 



One of the troublesome questions which the Committee 

 may have to consider in the near future is that of size-limits 

 with regard to plaice, and possibly other Irish Sea fishes. 

 The matter does not seem to me to be urgent, for, just now, 

 there is a marked decline in trawling, both with regard to 

 steam vessels and smacks. Inshore fishing has also fallen to 

 a notable extent, and the effect ("if any ") of this slackening 

 in trawling ought to be equal at least to that of any restrictions 

 on the size of fish that may legally be landed. It does not 

 appear, then, that there is any good reason for the imposition 

 of such restrictions — at the present time, at all events. 



It is even doubtful (or at least, so I think) whether or not 

 restrictions on the sizes of plaice landed on the North-west 

 Coast of England would do any real good. If they benefited 

 anyone at all it would be the steam trawlers and smacks fishing 

 offshore in St. George's Channel and in the Irish Sea. Whether 

 or not they would do so is not certain, and I don't think the 

 benefit to the large vessels would be very apparent. Size- 

 limits of 20 or 22 cms. in the Irish Sea would certainly be very 

 difficult to enforce, and the present police organisation would, 

 I think, fail in such an attempt if the inshore men offered any 

 serious resistance. 



