THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR FISHERIES.
(To ME EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sus,—The importance of our fisheries, which forms the text of an interesting article in your issue of the 7th inst., or rather their double importance as a valuable element of sea-power and a source of food, has been brought home to us with such emphasis by the war that I hope you will allow me to draw attention to the work of the Fisheries Organization Society.
This Society was formed shortly before the war as the direct outcome of a strong recommendation by the Departmental Com- mittee on Inshore Fisheries which reported in 1914. Its principal object is to help the small communities of inshore fishermen to help themselves by co-operative effort in the marketing of their catch, the purchase of gear, the selection of markets, transport, &c. If the inshore fisherman is to survive there must be a liveli- hood in his calling; he must be able to command a proper share of the fruits of his labour. Hitherto he has laboured for barely enough—in many cases not enough—to keep him at fishing, and though since the war his earnings have substantially improved, It is the experience of the Society that in general the fishermen at the small inshore stations have not received a proper ehare of the abnormal rise in market prices..
Although the activities of the Society have during the war been severely curtailed by conditions arising from the war, a good beginning has already been made towards correcting the artifi- cially unfavourable conditions from whioh the men suffer. In particular it has been instrumental in forming a number of co-operative societies—about a dozen in all—in various parts of the country, which by better business methods have very con- siderably augmented the earnings of their members.
Let me give an instance. A community of about twenty inshore fishermen have been enabled to earn some .S4,000 during the present season by co-operative methods. During last season the earnings of this same community were about .6800. It is perfectly true that the difference in these figures is in part attributable to the general rise in fish values, but the prices offered by local dealers for the present season were substantially the same as those current during the previous one, so that but for the change in selling methods there would have been no change in the return to the fishermen. Results such as this under all the circumstances are most encouraging.
The Society hitherto has been mainly supported by grants-in-aid from the Development Fund, and only to a relatively small extent by the subscriptions. of members and voluntary contributions. The return of peace conditions will vastly enlarge the oppor- tunities for useful work by this Society. At the same time the continuance of the grants-in-aid may depend upon the amount of voluntary support forthcoming, and an increase in such support is therefore most earnestly to be desired, lest the Society's activi- ties should be crippled just at the critical juncture when the return of the younger men and the freeing of the fishing-grounds create an increased need and a wider field for work. There are no doubt among your readers many who take an interest in these "smell-holders of the sea," and therefore should be interested in the work of the Society. I hope this letter will meet their eye.
The Secretary will be glad to answer any inquiries from intend- ing members and to supply copies of its annual Reports and other
papers.—I am, Sir, &c., KANNIRTH S. A MM.)/ SON. Fisheries Organization Society, Queen .4 nne's Chambers. Tothill Street, Westminster.
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