SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 161 
tion, organisation, and opportunities to start during the 
coming year this 
‘‘CENSUS OF THE T'ERRITORIAL WATERS” ; 
and I now ask that if the Committee approve of this sug- 
gestion, they should forthwith refer the matter to the 
Scientific Sub-Committee for a detailed practical scheme. 
The investigation would naturally fall into two great 
divisions: first, the collection of fisheries statistics to 
replace or supplement those at present taken by the Board 
of Trade, and which are admittedly inadequate and incor- 
rect ; and secondly, what may, for the sake of brevity, be 
called the ‘‘ scientific’’ part, in contra-distinction to the 
“statistical.” The scientific investigation would consist 
of periodic (weekly, if possible) observations at fixed points 
on the distribution and approximate numbers of the adult 
and young fishes, of the spawners, of the embryos and 
larvee, and of the Molluscs, Crustacea, and other inverte- 
brates on the feeding grounds of the fish. I have thought 
out some of the further details of the work, but pending 
the approval by the Committee of the general principle 
of the scheme, I need not yet go further into that part of 
the matter. 
I must, however, say in conclusion, that it seems to me 
that it is only by such a scheme as this that it is possible 
for us to settle such important questions as :— 
(1) The proportionate number of fishes on the different 
erounds, 
(2) the seasonal or periodic distribution (and migration) 
-1n our district, 
(3) the existence, or not, of definite localities as ‘‘ feed- 
ing grounds ”’ and “nurseries,” and their extent, 
(4) the proportionate number that spawn in the year, 
(5) the ratio between the annual production of spawn 
