The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-20
STUDYING fHB SEA.
THE LEADING FISHING NA-
TIONS
OfEurope to Cooperate in Work of
Great Value.

OfEurope to Cooperate in "a Work OF
Great Value.
For about three years plans have
been forming for International co-ope-
ration during a number OF years in
studying the sea and the fisheries Of
northwest Europe. The undertaking
has been initiated by the various gov
ernments interested; they will supply
the vessels and pay the cost.
The Sun has already reported the re-
suits of the first two conferences held
for the purpose of discussing the pro-
ject and plans. The third meeting has
now been held in Copenhagen, where
delegates from the governments of the
United Kingdom, Germany, Holland,
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia,
and Finland organized the Information
al Council for the Study of the Sea.
Belgium is expected to cooperate.
France will be the only north sea coun-
try not represented.
The delegates, in behalf of the gov
eminent they represented, adopted a
plan of work. Simultaneous observa-
tions are to be made four times year
as the basis of a system of regular
studies of the temperature 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
nd
the northern end of the North sea,
working from a central harbOr in Shet-
land. They will also make simultane-
GUS 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 in
vestigated by German vessels. Den
mark will undertake the Investigations
between Faeroe and Iceland and Nor
way will have charge of the work in
the North Atlantic, along the extensive
western seaboard of Scandinavia.
Russia has undertaken similar work
along the Thurman coast and across
Parents sea to Novaya Zemlya, while
the Baltic will be studied in detail by
IL,
German ships.
The investigations will be specially
interesting, not only for Their scientific
value but also for the practical infor-
nation that it Is expected to gain; in
fact, the special purpose which induced
these governments to assume the finan-
cial responsibility for the work was the
Investigation of SPECIAL problems of. ur-
gent practical Importance to the fish
cries. It is expected that valuable re-
suits will be obtained from these stud
les within few years.
The central bureau of the council in
Copenhagen will publish the results of
the observations as soon as possible af-
ter the termination of each quarterly
cruise.
The Copenhagen council, for example,
appointed one committee which is
charged with the duty of investigating
the migrations of such fish as the cod
and herring; to another committee was
assigned the investigation of the whole
question of everlasting in the parts OF
the North sea most frequented by
trawlers.
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 possibility of
the resources of the sea becoming eX-
hausted by continuous fishing. 1t is
possible that the report on this subject
may afford a basis for international
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-New York Sun.