The Washington herald., 1912-01-02
UNITED STATES TO JOIN
IN EXPLORATION OF SEA
Permanent International Council to Take Up Unusual
Work in the Ocean Bottom.

To. acquire a thorough knowledge of
the commercial fishes of the Atlantic
Ocean, TO apply that knowledge in the
interest Of fishing and fishermen. and
70 advise the cooperating governments
In all matters pertaining to the preser-
walton Of the fish supply, the develop
meHt OF the fisheries, and fishery legis-
lation, such are The objects of the per
manent international council for the ex-
ploration of the see, which, through the
State Department, has officially invited
the Bureau Of Fisheries. Department Of
Commerce and Labor, TO become a mem
Der as the representative OF the United
States government For this purpose
the State Department. with the approval
OF Secretary Nagel, has asked Congress
to make a small and fixed annual appro-
priation.
In this connection DR.. Hugh NJ Smith.
acting and deputy commissioner Of the
Bureau OF Fisheries, states that the i'm
portant fishery problems that are de-
manding attention in Europe are almost
Identical with those which have arisen
or are destined TO arise on the western
shores OF the Atlantic: and II win be OF
great advantage to the United States
TO be able to participate I'm and profit
directly by the studies conducted by the
leading fishery authorities and experts of
Western Europe. With larger fishery
interests at stake than any other coun-
try possesses II would be illogical. DR..
Smith holds, for this country 10 neglect
any opportunity to place those interests
on the finest possible basis. The COM
bined knowledge and experience of the
worlds greatest fishery experts is Of
fered at a nominal cost.
Subjects. for International Work.
The preservation of the American sal
mon, the solution OF the mystery envel-
oping the disappearance of the mackereI,
and the question Of trawl fishing are
considered by American fishery experts
ripe subjects for international co-opera-
tion.
There are now ten countries repre-
sented in the council by Official delegates
with full powers-Great Britain, Ger
many, Russia, the Netherlands, France,
Belgium. Denmark, Norway. Sweden. and
Finland. 1t owes its origin to an invi-
tation some years ago by the Swedish
7ernment to the other states inter
CsTed in the fisheries of the Northern
European seats to conference in Stock
holm, at which plans should be drawn |
for the exploration and investigation of |
the sea in behalf of the fishing industry. |
Later a conference was held in Chris |
tiania, on the invitation OF the Nerve |
gian government, and finally the States |
represented at these two conferences do.
cided. by the formal votes OF their re- |
specttve parliaments, to enter into the /
work, and upon tho solicita-
ton of the Danish government the dele !
gates assembled in Copenhagen in 1902,
with full power to constitute themselves
an international council.
For the elucidation of vital fishery /
problems that are common to the two
sides Of the Atlantic, the governments
of the United States and Canada have
now been officially requested to join the
council.
Each nation participating in this work
a certain fixed sum for the
and other expenses OF the
council. The amount which the United
States wiz hezFeauired to-exPsndl as Its
share is S,f56, which equals the contri-
buttons of Great Britain, Russia, Ger
many. France, and Holland The minor
powers. Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark,
&c, are assessed for smaller sums.
Practical Work of the Council,