Rapport Et Proces-Verbaux Des Reunions
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GENERAL REVIEW (WITH A CHART) T h e aim of the international cooperation for the study of the sea is: to pre- introduction pare tor£ a rationalj . ' 1 exploitation1 • . ofr thei i sea on a scientific. r • ibasis1. • _ nationalAim of thestudy inter- of the sea Since the time, when the International Council for the study of the sea was formally constituted and held its first meeting on the 22nd of July 1902 at Copen hagen2, a comprehensive study of the hydrographical conditions, biology of the food-fishes and plankton of the northern seas, has been begun in the interests of the fisheries and of fisheries legislation, under the direction of the International Council and the Bureau in Copenhagen, by the various national committees of the nine participating states, namely: Belgium — Denmark — Germany England and Scotland — Finland — Holland Norway — Russia — Sweden. The principal endeavours of this study, which strives to arrive at practical ends by common international work along scientific lines, are: I. The investigation of the hydrographical conditions obtaining in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea, White Sea, as well as in the English Channel Principal and Baltic, and the connection of these conditions with the circulation of the inventions ' waters in the ocean. II. The study of the biological conditions of the animal and plant worlds in these seas, with special regard to the food, the reproduction, growth, and the distribution and migrations of the different food-fishes. III. The solution of the problem, how far the deep-sea fishery as a commercial industry stands in general on a rational basis; whether the quantities and the consumption of fish, taken from the seas mentioned, are in a proper proportion to the production occurring under the prevailing natural conditions, and whether any disproportion between production and consumption arises from a general or local overfishing, or from an injudicious employment of the fishing apparatus at present in use. 1 Résolutions textuelles de la Conférence internationale pour l’exploration de la nier, réunie à Stock holm 1899, p. 1. 2 Procès Verbal de la réunion du Conseil permanent international pour l’exploration de la mer. Copenhague, Juillet 1902. Rapports et Procès-Verbaux des réunions. Vol. I. p. 1—37. Each of these principal endeavours embraces a number of special questions, which were formulated in detail at the Conferences in Stockholm 189g1 and Chris- tiani 19012, and were definitely included in the program of the international investigations by the résolutions of the authoritative meeting in Copenhagen 19023- It is clear, that the large and varied tasks undertaken by the international investigation of the sea, could not be completed within the space of two years. Foreseeing this, the first international Conference in Stockholm in 1899 unanimously recommended to the participating states, that the proposed program of investigations should be given at least five years for its accomplishment4- The Christiania Con ference also resolved to recommend to the participating states, that a space of at least five years should be at the disposal of the investigations. As it appeared, however, at the authoritative meeting in Copenhagen 19025, that grants had been preliminarily voted by some of the participating states for the period of three years only, and the wish was in some cases expressed at the same time, that Concentration practical results should be chiefly aimed at, the International Council, having regard of the biological investigations for these limitations in fact and in time, resolved6 to concentrate the biological investigations of the first years on certain practical and important problems, and in particular, to make the two following problems the object of investigation in all the countries interested in the fisheries of the North Sea and neighbouring waters. Special problems (a) The migrations of the principal food-fishes of the North Sea fisheries, especially of the cod and herring. (b) The question of overfishing of those parts of the North Sea, including the Skager Rak and Kattegat, mostly fished in by the British, Dutch, German and other trawlers, with special regard for the plaice, sole and other flat-fish, as well as the haddock. To ensure uniformity in carrying out these investigations, two Committees7 were formed by the International Council, each under the direction of a convener; one of these, Committee A, was to investigate the problems connected with the migrations of fishes, the other, Committee B, the problems connected with over fishing. The investigations of Committee A extend over the entire region under survey in the international scheme, more especially, the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea; the investigations of Committee B are restricted to the North 1 Conférence Internationale pour l’exploration de la mer à Stockholm 1899. Résolutions tex tuelles. p. 2—28. 2 2. Conférence Internationale pour l’exploration de la mer à Christiania 1901. Texte des Réso lutions. p. 1—27. £ 3 Procès-Verbal de la (première) réunion du Conseil Permanent International pour l’exploration de la mer à Copenhague, Juillet 1902. p. 1—37. Rapports et Procès-Verbaux. Vol. I. 1902—03. Copenhague, 1903. 4 Résolutions textuelles de la Conférence internationale pour l’exploration de la mer réunie à Stockholm. 1899. p. i. 5 Procés-Verbal de la réunion du Conseil international pour l’exploration de la mer réunie à Copenhague. Juillet 1902. Annexe A. Rapports & Procès-Verbaux. Vol. I. 1902—03. p. 32. b 1. c. : p. 16— 19. 7 Procès-Verbal de la réunion du Conseil international à Copenhague de 1902. p. 18 et p. 29. _ 3 - Sea, Skager Rak and Kattegat. In order that the investigations of the fisheries conditions in the Baltic should keep pace with those of the other seas, a third committee, Committee C, was instituted for the Baltic. It was evident from the beginning, that the statistical portion of the investiga Statistics tions would play a prominent role, especially for the problem of overfishing. Accordingly, special weight was laid on statistics in the program of Committee B. The experience of the first year showed that it was necessary, however, both for the working out of certain problems as for a general treatment of fisheries statistics, that the Bureau itself should undertake the elaboration of the material sent in by the various countries1. As regards the hydrographical work during the seasonal cruises, no occasion Program of. the hydrographical arose for introducing any further limitations into the program accepted at the investigations Stockholm and Christiania Conferences, than those which would arise of themselves, during the progress of the investigations, from the force of external circumstances and natural conditions. It was foreseen, indeed, that great hindrances to the work would arise from storms and unfavourable weather conditions, especially in the colder periods of the year. These hindrances would chiefly appear in the first few years, so long as all the participating countries did not have steamers at their disposal specially constructed and equipped for such investigations. This was declared an indispensable condition for the successful accomplishment of such a program, by the Conference at Christiania2- Unpreventable shortcomings in the scheme of observations also arose, because some of the countries taking part in the work were not yet ready with their preparations in 1902, and Belgium did not join the investigations until the spring of 19033. It seemed advisable, however, to postpone any changes in the original hydrographical program, until the first few years’ experiences had been gained. In the elaboration of the hydrographical program at the very beginning, at the Stockholm Conference, the greatest care had been taken to ensure the agree ment and uniformity of the methods of observation, and tc\ determine exactly the accuracy and the amount of error in the instruments, as well as the physical and chemical constants of sea-water of different origin. The aims first-mentioned were attained by the institution of the Central Labora tory at Christiania4. The determination of the constants of sea-water, which was considered an Constants of sea-water extremely important preliminary investigation for the international study of the sea, was made by M. K n u d s e n in the interval between the Stockholm of 1899 and 1 Procés-Verbal de la Réunion du Conseil international à Hambourg de 1904, p. 12, 13 et p.20, 21 2 2. Conférence internationale pour l'exploration de la mer, réunie à Christiania 1901, p. 2, sub. D. 3 Procès-Verbal de la réunion du Conseil international Copenhague Février 1903. Annexe G Rapports & Procès-Verbaux. Vol. I. p. 86. 4 Procès-Verbal de la réunion du Conseil international Copenhague, Juillet 1902, p. 22 & 23. Rapport sur le laboratoire central à Christiania. 1902—1903. Rapports & Procès-Verbaux. Vol. I. p. XL. Id. 1903 —1904. R apports & Procès-Verbaux. Vol. II, p. XX. - 4 - Knudsen's tlic first meeting of the International Council in Copenhagen in 1902. The costs of the preparation of the “Hydrographische Tabellen”1, amounted to 18,400 Kroner. About one half was defrayed by contributions from scientific societies and academies in England, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Russia, and the remaining half by a contribution from the Copenhagen Carlsberg Fund and the International Council for the study of the sea. Reports on A review over the general aims and administration of the international investiga- admmjstrai'on, (-;011S) contained in the two administrative Reports, for 1902—1903 and 1903—19042, submitted to the governments of the participating countries, and in the Proceedings of the International Council3 and of the three Committees A, B and C 4, published in the course of these years. In the present Report, the Bureau wishes to supplement the earlier Reports by the following Repon on the Review over the organisation of the scientific and practical th?*MWMt"on°aiw 0 r k th e international investigations, its methods, means and work results, in so far as these have assumed a definite character at the present time.