9 
The Committee were advised that, before any steps could be taken for the 
development of fisheries on a large scale in a marine area, it was essential to consider 
such matters as the method of treatment of the fish caught; the possibility of 
marketing fish in sufficient quantities; the provision of suitable labour for the fishing 
vessels and factories; and the supply of tinplate, and of fuel and marine stores for 
the steamers employed. The marketing of fresh fish in large quantities necessitated 
not only a population sufficiently large to consume the fish, but also a somewhat high 
development of railway transport in the consuming countries. If the result of a 
preliminary examination of the economic conditions and biological circumstances of 
the marine area in question was sufficiently favourable, the next step was to provide 
for the examination of actual trawling conditions. This involved the employment 
of a trawler of full commercial size for a period of at least a year. The cost of the 
upkeep of such a trawler might roughly be put at £15,000 a year. At the present 
time, trawlers of the Lord Mersey type, which had been used in the war, could be 
obtained for about £30,000, but later on it might be necessary to build a special 
vessel, in which case this sum would probably be greatly exceeded. 
More detailed information in regard to the economic conditions which are 
necessary for the establishment of a fishery upon a large scale will be found in a 
note by Mr. Borley, printed as Appendix 17 to the report of the Inter-Departmental 
Committee on Research and Development in the Dependencies of the Falkland 
Islands, published in April, 1920, as [Cmd. 657]. 
The Committee have had under consideration various localities which have been 
brought to their notice, but in their present report they content themselves with 
drawing attention to the area lying between the Falkland Islands and the continent 
of South America. This area amounts to 250,000 square miles, and could probably 
support two hundred trawlers. 
The Committee considered that the employment of an experimental trawler 
was beyond their present means, but they desired to give publicity to the matter in 
their report in order that it might receive full consideration by the fishing interests 
in this country and the Dominions. 
The population of the Falkland Islands is only 2,000, and is already fully 
employed, mainly in pastoral industry. It will, therefore, be understood that- but 
little iocal labour would be forthcoming for any fishery enterprise. 
The Committee considered a number of proposals for the investigation of 
fisheries, received from various -Colonies, but did not feel justified in taking any 
action upon them at present. Reference to one of these proposals is made under the 
head of Seychelles. 
Among the collateral questions brought before the Committee was that of the 
further investigation of cases of poisoning due to eating certain tropical fish, 
was explained that the cases referred to were sporadic cases of poisoning due to 
eating fish which was in general wholesome, and that it was clear that the ill effects 
could not be attributed merely to putrefaction. Fish poisoning of this kind had 
long been known in the West Indies and had also been reported from the Pacific, 
Federated Malay States and other places, all in the tropics. It was of course impos¬ 
sible for any large industry to be established in species of fish suspected of being 
occasionally poisonous in circumstances not vet known. 
After considerable discussion it was decided that the importance of the matter 
did not at present warrant the employment of a special vessel for the investigation. 
The Committee intend to consider further whether there is any prospect that useful 
work could be done by means of the employment of an individual as a research 
officer. 
FINANCIAL. 
Accounts of the receipts and expenditure in connection with the Grant in Aid of 
Colonial Research are given in Appendix III. 
While the actual expenditure of the Committee amounts only to £1,012 3s. S)d, 
it has incurred liabilities more or less definite for further expenditure estimated at 
about £15,500. payment of which will be spread over several years. A number of 
Colonies which are eligible for participation in the grant, particularly some of the 
East African Colonies and Protectorates, have not yet submitted any definite 
proposals. 
' A 5 
