of the Fishery Board for Scotland, 
11 
Governments concerned, an International Conference, under the 
auspices of the National Sea Fisheries Protection Association, has 
been called to meet in London to consider the subject. Hitherto 
there has been very little scientific evidence regarding the distribu- 
tion of immature individuals of the various kinds of sea fish at 
different depths and distances from shore, and as to their capture 
by the various engines and appliances used in fishing. 
Dr T. Wemyss Fulton, who, by the instructions of the Board, has 
carried on, by means of the ' Garland/ the most extensive and 
elaborate inquiry into this subject yet made, gives the results of 
the investigations in a report in the present volume. A review is 
given of various Acts of Parliament dealing with the subject since 
the reign of Edward III., and of the results of the inquiries of recent 
Koyal Commissions. The fundamental question as to what an 
immature fish is, has, for the first time, been determined, 13,000 
fishes having been examined and measured for the purpose. It is 
shown that the maximum size of immature fish varies very much 
according to the species ; that an immature fish may be a large fish, 
and a mature fish may be very small. The results of this part of 
the inquiry show that those portions of the Italian Fishery Law of 
1877, and of the Danish Fishery Law of 1888, which render penal 
the sale of certain fish under a fixed size, are not based on accurate 
data as to the immaturity of the fish dealt with. Tables are given 
showing the maximum size of immature fish. The distribution of 
immature fish varies very much according to the species. Dr 
Fulton shows that the territorial waters, and especially those 
portions quite near the shore, where the bottom is sandy, serve as 
nurseries for plaice, and that young plaice are practically absent 
beyond the territorial waters. Very young lemon soles, flounders, 
dabs, cod, and whiting also frequent the inshore waters in great 
abundance. In September 1889, the 'Garland' discovered the 
presence of a vast shoal of young whitings, from three to five inches 
long, in the Firth of Forth. These young whitings covered the 
bottom for a distance of 36 miles, and were computed to number 
over 230,000,000. They were not found offshore, and their 
presence in the territorial waters shows to what an extent this 
region serves as a nursery for young fish. Very young cod and 
dabs may exist in large numbers at a distance from shore ; im- 
mature haddocks are there most abundant. It does not appear 
that on the East Coast immature turbot, brill, or ling specially 
frequent the territorial waters. At offshore fishing grounds there 
is a paucity of immature fish, except dabs and haddocks. Tables 
are given showing the distribution of immature fish at distances 
from shore up to 22 miles, and in various depths of waters. 
The proportions of immature food-fishes captured by various 
modes of fishing are detailed. In regard to the beam-trawl the 
conclusions are — (1) that, especially in inshore waters, immature 
flat fish and round fish may be captured in large numbers by the 
beam-trawl ; (2) that relatively more immature flat fish than 
immature round fish are taken; (3) that on the East Coast of 
Scotland immature flat fishes of all kinds are caught by the beam- 
trawl ; but especially, in regard to absolute numbers in inshore 
waters, immature plaice and dabs ; and in regard to relative pro- 
