Abstract
THE movement for the international discussion of matters connected with the sea-fishing industry has made such progress during the past few years that a summary of the proceedings of the recent international congress held at Dieppe should interest readers of NATURE, especially as the regulation of the industry tends more and more to be determined in accordance with the evidence accumulated by scientific investigators. The Dieppe Congress was organised by the Sociéte d'Enseignement professionel et technique des Pêches Maritimes, and is the second international congress promoted by that society. The previous congress was held at Sables-d'Olonne in 1896, on which occasion Mr. (now Sir) John Murray was the British representative. More than 300 delegates assembled at Dieppe, among whom may be mentioned Mr. C. E. Fryer, of the Board of Trade; Dr. J. H. Fullarton, formerly of the Scottish Fishery Board; Mr. Walter Garstang, representing the Marine Biological Association; Mr. O. T. Olsen, of Grimsby; Mr. Johnsen, of Hull; Drs. Brunchorst and Bull, of Bergen; Dr. Malm, of Gothenburg; M. Tabary, of Ostend; Prof. Vinciguerra, of Rome; Dr. Valle, of Trieste; Dr. Kishinouye, of Japan; Mr. Thorndike Nourse, of the United States; and of course a large number of French delegates representing the Government and various fishery societies and schools, fishing centres and municipalities, including M. Roché, Inspector-General of Fisheries; Prof. Perrier, Baron Jules de Guerne, MM. Lavieuville, of Dieppe; Canu, of Boulogne; Odin, of Sables-d'Olonne; Gourret, of Marseilles; and Le Seigneur, of Granville. The proceedings of the Congress opened on the morning of September 2 with an address from the President, Prof. Ed. Perrier, Membre de l'Institut de France. The greater part of the President's address was devoted to an examination of purely French problems—the relative scarcity of steam trawlers and liners, the need of greater solidarity, of a spirit of co-operation and compromise among rival fishing industries, the present unsatisfactory arrangements—or lack of arrangements—for fishery research. This, he said, seemed to demand the creation of a central Fishery Board for France, similar to that of Scotland, which should be charged with the duty of coordinating the work of the numerous marine laboratories in which fishery research is now carried on without concerted aim. Proceeding then to matters of more general interest, he pointed out the advantages which would ensue if the study of plankton could be put upon an international basis by a regular organisation of the marine laboratories of different countries, or by international cooperation in deep-sea expeditions for the solution of problems connected with the migrations of fishes. At the same time, he said, it would not do to be too ambitious. The extravagant expectations which were held some years ago as to the beneficent effects of sea-fish hatcheries had not been realised either in America, in Scotland or in Norway. Even if the idea were sound, the actual plan of operation needed modification, since the young fish were being turned into the sea at too early an age. Moreover, he asked, would it not be simpler, and in the end more profitable, to complete the investigation of the whole life-history of valuable fishes before launching upon costly and problematic schemes of fish multiplication? To ensure the adequate discussion of these and similar problems, the President, in conclusion, expressed the intention of himself and his colleagues to propose the creation of a permanent international committee for the organisation of future congresses on sea-fisheries, which would extend and complete the work initiated by the French Society.
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International Sea Fisheries Congress at Dieppe. Nature 58, 511–512 (1898). https://doi.org/10.1038/058511a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/058511a0