The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-12-04
FISHING NATIONS COOPERATE.
Seattle and All That ApDer-
taina Thereto.

For about three years plans have
been forming for international CO.
operation during a number of years
in studying the sea and the fisheries
of northwest Europe. The undertake
ing has been initiated by the various
governments interested; they will
supply the vessels and pay the cost,
reports the New York Sun.
The Sun has already reported the
results of the first two conferences
held for the purpose of discussing the
project and plans. The third meeting
has now been held in Copenhagen,
where delegates from the govern
ments of the United Kingdom, Ger
many, Holland, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, Russia and Finland organ
lied the International Council for the
Study of the Sea. Belgium is expect
ed to cooperate. France will be the
only North Sea country not repre-
scented.
The delegates, in behalf of the gov
ernments they represented, adopted
a plan of work. Simultaneous Obser-
vations are to be made four times a
year as the basis of a system of regu-
lar studies of the temperatures of the
ocean, the density of sea water, and
sea life.
The two ships which the British gov
eminent has decided to devote to the
work will make periodical trips in the
Faeroe-Shetland channel and across
the northern end of the North sea
working from a central harbor in
Shetland. They will also make stimuli
taneous trips in the western part of
the British channel.
The field of work of the Dutch ships
will be the southern half of the North
sea, while the northern half will be
investigated by German vessels. Den
mark will undertake the investiga-
tions between Faeroe and Iceland and
Norway will have charge of the work
in the North Atlantic, along the ex-
tensive western seaboard of Scandi-
navia.
Russia has undertaken similar work
along the Thurman coast and across
Barents sea to Novaya Zemlya, while
the Baltic will be studied in detail by
Danish. Swedish, Finnish, Russian and
German ships.
The central bureau of the council in
Copenhagen will publish the results
of the observations as soon as posi-
BILE after the termination of each quar-
terly cruise.
The Investigations will be specially
interesting, not only for their scien-
tific value, but also for the practical
information that it is expected to
gain: in fact, the special purpose
which induced these governments to
assume the financial responsibility for
the work was the investigation of spe-
cial problems of urgent. practical i'm
portance to the fisheries. 1t is ex-
pected that valuable results will be
obtained from these studies within a
few years.
The Copenhagen council. for exam
pie, appointed one committee which
is charged with the duty of Investigate
ing the migrations of such fish as the
cod and herring; to another commit
tee was assigned the investigation of
the whole question of everlasting in
the parts of the North sea most fire.
quented by travellers.
1t has been asserted for several
years that the fisheries of the North
sea were declining. The investigation
about to begin will deal with the pos
sibility of the resources of the sea be-
coming exhausted by continuous fish
ing. 1t is possible that the report on
this subject may afford a basis for in
ternational action in protecting
threatened areas.
Every country having important sea
interests will undoubtedly study the
results of the researches that are now
to begin. The council recommended
that the periodical cruises be begun
as soon as possible and at the latest by
the spring of 1908.
This is the first time that number
of the leading nations have united for
the purpose of concerted study of the
scientific and practical problems
which the ocean presents. 1t is hoped
that the results will be beneficial to
the whole world.