Abstract
IN the first lecture the earlier history of the pre-scientific period was alluded to, from the third century onward, and even in those early times fears as to the permanence of the sea-fisheries were prevalent, as shown by regulations as to meshes of nets, small or immature fishes, and other features. Indeed, ever-recurring fears as to the decline of these fisheries have been conspicuous. Inquiries and commissions were numerous, and in the seventeenth century many protective Acts were passed, and companies floated to encourage the struggling sea-fisheries, whilst in the eighteenth century the bounty system was instituted and was only abolished in 1830.2 The Commission of 1833 reported that the fishes of the British Channel had declined since the peace of 1815, and that the fishermen and their families were dependent on the poor-rates for support. It is clear that at that time the finny wealth of the Channel was unknown. The Commission of 1866, on the other hand, came to the conclusion that the supply of sea-fishes was increasing, and admitted of progressive increase. Then the United States Fish-Commission came into existence, from the complaints as to the diminution of the fishes on the American fishing-grounds; and artificial hatching of sea-fishes commenced in 1878. In Britain, again, a commission of two reported in 1878 much as that of 1866 had done.
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References
"A Second Decade of the Sea-Fisheries," 1903.
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Scientific Work in the Sea-Fisheries 1 . Nature 76, 301–303 (1907). https://doi.org/10.1038/076301b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/076301b0