International Council for Fishery Investigations

Abstract

THE writer (X. Y. Z.) on this subject in NATURE of April 29 seems to beat the air. There is no confusion of the general discussion with the deliberate statement of the council that “the study of the effect of the war in having closed great areas would materially assist the council in arriving at the most practical results.” The closure of certain areas, for ten years or more, by the Scottish Fishery Board has already shown that such is without material effect on Nature's ways. Further, it is just the consideration of the almost valueless mass of certain statistics that, amongst other things, has led to the view that, judged by its promises and performances, the “ International Council for the Investigation of the Sea,” so far as the welfare of the British fisheries is concerned, is a serious waste of public money. The Development Commission's “almost judicial committee” cannot alter that conclusion.