SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 125 



The Future of British Fisheries Investigation. 

 By Professor W. A. Herdman, D.Sc, F.R.S. 



The past year has been noteworthy for two events, 

 either of which may have an important influence upon 

 the future course of scientific investigations bearing upon 

 our national sea-fisheries. One of these was the an- 

 nouncement, on January -31st, that our Government had 

 given its adhesion to the International Scheme of jNTorth 

 Sea Investigation ; and the second was the presentation 

 to Parliament, and subsequent publication, of the Report 

 of the Committee on Ichthyological Research. This 

 Committee was appointed by the President of the Board 

 of Trade on August 13th, 1901, and meetings were held 

 at which witnesses were examined and results discussed 

 during the twelve months from September, 1901, to 

 September, 1902. The Report of the Committee was 

 signed and sent to the President on October 18th. 1902, 

 was laid before both Houses of Parliament early in 

 December, and was issued as a parliamentary paper about 

 the end of the year. 



At two successive annual meetings (11th June, 1901, 

 and 10th June, 1902) of the Sea-Fisheries Authorities at 

 the Board of Trade, the President (Mr. Gerald Balfour] 

 has referred to the appointment of the Ichthyological 

 Committee, has taken credit for the comprehensive scope 

 of the terms of reference, and has given as a reason for 

 postponing the consideration of various important 

 questions connected with sea-fisheries investigation that 

 these matters were being considered by the Ichthyological 

 Committee, and that he must await the Report. 



His words at the last meeting are so important, and so 



