of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



9 



history and habits of fishes, such as might be of interest and use 

 to them, and to see the processes of fish-hatching. 



The fishermen were so much interested in the instruction they 

 received that, in some instances, on returning home, they held 

 public meetings to discuss and communicate what they had 

 learned ; and as it appeared to the Board desirable to encourage 

 this inclination among the fishing population for knowledge of the 

 kind, they invited other seaboard County Councils to send fishermen 

 to the demonstrations, if they felt so disposed, no expense being 

 incurred except for the travelling and maintenance of the men. 

 The response has been gratifying, fishermen from the counties of 

 Argyll, Bute, Caithness, and Elgin having attended the last course 

 of instruction. 



The subjects taught include the life-history of such fishes as the 

 herring, cod, haddock, and plaice, as well as of the mussel and 

 edible Crustacea, the instruction being given in as simple a manner 

 as possible. The food, reproduction, growth, &c, of fishes are 

 explained and illustrated by specimens and experiment, and the 

 men are shown the process of fertilisation and the development of 

 a fish within the egg. Demonstrations are also given on various 

 methods of " barking " nets and lines, a subject which, touching as 

 it does on their daily occupation, is always interesting, and the 

 opportunity is taken to show them some of the fish-curing and ice- 

 making establishments in Aberdeen, as well as the fish-market. 



With reference to the " barking " of nets, it may be stated that 

 experiments are being tried as to the relative value of certain 

 methods for the preservation of herring-nets, and that the Congested 

 Districts Board have courteously agreed to defray the cost, and to 

 have the trial of the nets made on board the experimental motor- 

 fishing boat Pioneer. 



It may be worth stating that on the whole question of the 

 technical education of fishermen and those engaged in the fishing 

 industry most other countries in Europe are in advance of our- 

 selves. In France and Germany there are a number of schools 

 devoted to this work, directly or indirectly under the patronage of 

 the State ; there are several in Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, 

 and Sweden. Most of them are concerned chiefly with that part 

 of a fisherman's knowledge which relates to navigation, fishing- 

 grounds, and actual fishing, but many offer elaborate facilities for 

 instruction of a more purely scientific kind, and are provided with 

 laboratories, museums, libraries, and a teaching staff ; some have 

 ships as floating schools for practical work. By far the most 

 important and the best-equipped institution of the kind is the 

 Imperial Fisheries Institute at Tokio, Japan, which was recently 

 rebuilt by the Japanese Government at a cost of £17,000. The 

 buildings and grounds occupy 8J acres, including a dock for the 

 experimental vessels ; there are sixteen lecture rooms, as well as 

 laboratories, museum, and libraries ; the staff includes ten professors 

 and many assistants ; and the course, which is divided into three 

 sections — fishing, fisheries technology, and pisciculture — extends 

 over three years. The aim is to educate the young Japanese 

 connected with the fishing industry in the most thorough and 

 scientific manner ; but much work is also done in training teachers 



