SEA-FISHEHIES LABORATORY. 



119 



of the lamented death of Sir Courtenay Boyle, he referred 

 to communications between them on the subject of the 

 best means of " improving and following up that scientific 

 research into the life and habits of fish, the practical 

 importance of which is coming to be more and more 

 recognised." Then, in referring to the Keport of the Select 

 Committee on the last Immature Fish Bill, he said, "It 

 came to the conclusion that it would not be expedient to 

 press forward the Bill in the absence of further information. 

 It fully recognised the danger we were running of having 

 our seas depleted of fish. It further recognised that one 

 cause of such depletion was the capture and destruction of 

 small, immature fish." And then he went on to point out 

 the recommendations of that Committee, which were briefly 

 (1) the international regulation of the North Sea, and (2) 

 the effective pursuit of scientific investigation, and said 

 " In the face of the conclusions arrived at by the Select 

 Committee and of those recommendations, I think it is 

 absolutely essential now that we should proceed upon the 

 lines indicated by them before attempting any further 

 legislation." He then referred to the action of the Govern- 

 ment in international negotiations, with the view of arriv- 

 ing at some agreement as to protected areas, which has not 

 yet resulted in any definite conclusions ; and proceeded as 

 follows : — 



"Next with regard to scientific investigation of the life 

 and habits of fishes. The Board of Trade are at the 

 present time arranging for a Departmental Committee, of 

 which Sir Herbert Maxwell has undertaken to be Chairman, 

 with the following reference which I will read out. ' To 

 inquire and report as to the best means by which the State 

 or Local Authorities can assist scientific research, as 

 applied to problems affecting the fisheries of Great 



