SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 149 



that it will now, in the light of the arguments as to the 

 importance of such work which I have urged above, 

 receive further consideration, and become as soon as 

 possible an important part of the monthly work of the 

 steamer. I reprint the scheme verbatim from the docu- 

 ment privately issued in November : — 



" Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries. 



" Dr. Herdman's Scheme of Investigations. 



"Preston, 1900. 



" To the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee. 

 "From Professor W. A. Herdman, D.Sc, F.E.S., 

 " University College, Liverpool, 



"October, 1900. 

 " If there is one point more than another that the 

 numerous Fisheries Congresses and Enquiries of recent 

 years have made quite clear, it is that what we now need 

 most for a proper understanding of the condition of the 

 Sea Fisheries of North- Western Europe is a much more 

 detailed knowledge than we have of the populations of all 

 parts of our seas. Such knowledge can only be obtained 

 by trawlings and other observations conducted regularly, 

 frequently, and according to a definite scheme. Accurate 

 practical work of this kind is usually called k scientific 

 investigation,' but it must be remembered that science is 

 merely organised common-sense ; and that any observa- 

 tions made accurately, and intelligently directed towards 

 the ascertainment of facts, are scientific. The Select 

 Committee of the House of Commons refused, last 

 summer, to recommend the Sea Fisheries Bill because of 

 the want of statistics based upon such • scientific investi- 

 gations.' It is thus evident that the systematic scientific 

 investigation of our seas is of practical importance, and 



