42 



JOITRNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



picture] ought, with equal fairness, to be judged by results, not 

 condemned for combining several negatives, but his works tested to 

 see if by "these means he has laid open noble truths, or aroused 

 noble emotions." 



On the 27th January a Paper will be laid before the Society on the 



DEGENERATION OF OUR DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 



By Mr, J. N. Hearder, f.c.s. 

 PROGRAMME. 



The deterioration of our deep sea fisheries a matter demanding 

 prompt and serious investigation — Comparison between past and 

 present productiveness — Fish formerly very plentiful, now exceed- 

 ingly scarce — Whilst our fishing appliances are improved, and our 

 trawlers increased in number, the total produce of fish is steadily 

 diminishing, the hook and line fishing in particular — The three 

 following questions arise in the enquiry : First, Can any cause or 

 causes be assigned for this mischief? Second, Why has it been 

 allowed to get so far ahead ? Third, What can be done to check 

 the devastation ? — Discussion of the first question : Two essential 

 requisites are necessary to ensure abundant produce ; namely, 

 maintenance and protection of both feeding and breeding ground — 

 Circumstances which interfere with these conditions — Shrimp 

 dredging and its mischievous consequences — Devastating effects 

 of trawling and ground seining — Wholesale destruction of food- 

 producing pasturage, ova and fry, by these reckless modes of 

 fishing — Answers to arguments adduced in extenuation of trawling. 

 Second question : General apathy on matters in which we are not 

 individually concerned — Economic interests and railway returns 

 alike affected by the success or failure of sea fishing. Third ques- 

 tion : Mode of prevention ready at hand, and perfectly practicable 

 — Employment of the coastguards to watch trawling operations, 

 which should be restricted to certain localities in succession, whilst 

 others are allowed to rest and recover — No trawling should be 

 allowed within two or three miles of any headlands, nor within 

 the bays included between them — Extra expense, if any, to be 

 met by a tax on trawling, which would be more than covered by 

 the increased produce — General summary — Conclusion. 



