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Part III — Eighth Annual Report 
with these nets during the three months May to July, which are precisely 
those months in which these nets are in all probability by far the most 
injurious. In those months, also, nearly all the fishermen of the Zuider- 
Zee, use these nets for catching anchovies — for which reason none of them 
wished to have it prohibited at that time. Another reason was that the 
1 wonder '-kuil is practically the same net as the ' kwak '-kuil, used for 
catching shrimps. Both nets are nearly equally prejudicial ; and even 
the third * kuil'-net, the ' d wars '-kuil, though smaller than the others, in 
one important respect quite corresponds with them, inasmuch as it retains 
everything that enters it, and therefore catches immature fish as well as 
mature. The existing law, however, permits the fishing with the 'kwak 1 - 
and ' dwars '-kuil, only prohibiting the use of the 'wonder '-kuil, a very 
anomalous measure in the eyes of every one who looks at the question 
from a somewhat more general point of view. 
Dr Hoek suggests in the conclusions to his report another method, viz. 
to limit the damage caused by the fishing with ' kuil-nets.' It is not 
possible here to enter in detail on his proposals, but a word or two may 
be said. According to Dr Hoek the Zuider-Zee is not a sea in the ordinary 
sense of the word ; with its brackish water and limited area, it much more 
resembles an estuary, and in regard to the natural history of fishes it plays 
the part of a large spawning ground for some, and a nursery for others. 
The herring, anchovy, smelt and the flounder are accustomed to spawn 
there, while the plaice, though not spawning there, enters when very 
young to find protection and food during the first period of its existence, 
precisely as we have found on the East Coast of Scotland. The methods 
of fishing used in this sea should relate to this circumstance j those nets 
should be avoided which are specially destructive to immature fish. The 
ideal condition to be aimed at, at a not too distant future, would there- 
fore be that all 'kuil ' fishing should cease. Every ' kuil-net,' be its shape 
and mode of attachment what it may, should in time be driven from the 
Zuider-Zee. As it would be impossible, however, to introduce this ideal 
condition suddenly, as a preliminary measure Dr Hoek proposes to stop 
by law the free fishing in the Zuider-Zee for all nets and other fishing 
apparatus ; to give annual concessions to the existing fishermen for using 
such nets as are judged harmless or nearly so, gratis ; and to allow the 
fishing with ' kuil-nets ' only to those fishermen who are willing to pay 
a relatively high sum for this allowance. This system would in time 
foster the use of harmless nets, as it would no doubt facilitate the 
purchase of harmless fishing apparatus by those fishermen who at present 
only possess ' kuil-nets.' By raising the amount of the allowance the 
Government would be able by degrees to prohibit all the 'kuil-nets.' 
As yet only the general part of Dr Hoek's Report has been published ; 
the appendices, containing tables of his observations, detailed lists of the 
herrings which were investigated &c, will be published with a reprint of 
the general part in the Annual Report on Dutch sea fisheries for 1889. 
Other scientific investigations in regard to Dutch fisheries were not 
completed last year. Among the branches of the fishing industry to 
which most attention is paid I may mention the salmon fishery and the 
artificial propagation of salmon in the Rhine and the Maese ; the coast 
fishery in the North Sea, and oyster fishing and oyster culture in the 
Zealand Waters. 
6. SPAIN. 
I am indebted to Senor Rafael Gutierren Vela, of the Fisheries 
Department, Madrid, for information as to the Spanish fisheries, and for 
