44 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



the sea-bottom. It is probable, moreover, that the false 

 inferences would be corrected by the accumulation of a 

 greater number of statistics. It might be made out from 

 further observations that electric cars are liable to become 

 massed in various parts of the town; and have no necessary 

 connection with Aldermen, and that policemen are widely 

 but sporadically distributed. The more numerous our 

 observations, the more our statistics accumulate, the less 

 chance is there of erroneous conclusions. 



My contention, then, is that such an investigation of 

 our seas must be made, that it is urgent and should he 

 made now, and that the Irish Sea is favourably situated 

 and circumstanced at present to be made a test case before 

 undertaking the much wider and still more difficult 

 expanse of the North Sea, complicated by International 

 questions. The Irish Sea is of moderate and manageable 

 dimensions. It is all bounded by British territory and by 

 sea fisheries authorities who might be got to agree as to 

 their regulations. It is a ' 'self-contained " fish area, con- 

 taining spawning banks, feeding grounds and ' 'nurseries." 

 It has several marine laboratories on its borders which 

 would form centres for investigation, and it is controlled 

 by two or three powerful Sea-Fisheries Committees, 

 provided with excellent steamers, which might combine in 

 the work. All that is required, beyond a carefulfy con- 

 sidered scheme of work, is authority from the Government 

 to the local Committees to carry out such work, and a 

 subsidy for say five years to meet the increased expense. 



The Select Committee of the House of Commons, 

 which considered the Undersized Fish Bill last summer, 

 clearly recognised in their report the need of such a 

 scheme of investigations, and they recommended that a 

 Government Department should be equipped to carry it 

 out. I am of opinion that the matter would be better 



