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species and single-species models will disappear as straw men do.

D.H. CUSHING 198, Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, Great Britain

REFERENCES

Andersen, K.P. and Ursin, E., 1977. A multispecies extension of the Beverton and Holt theory of fishing, with accounts of phosphorus circulation and primary production. Meddr. Danm. Fisk. Havunders., 7 : 319--435.

Beverton, R.J.H. and Holt, S.J., 1957. On the dynamics of exploited fish populations. Fish. Invest. London, Set. II, 19, 533 pp.

Brown, B.E., Brenhan, J.A., Grosslein, M.D., Heyerdahl, E.G. and Hennemuth, R.C., 1975. The effect of fishing on the marine finfish biomass in the North West Atlantic from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras. Res. Bull. Int. Comm. North West Atl. Fish., 12: 49--68.

Rauck, G. and Zijlstra, J.J., 1978. On the nursery aspects of the Waddensea for some commercial fish species and possible long term changes. Rapp. P.-V. Cons. Int. Explor. Met., 172: 266--275.

Ursin, E., 1979. Single species and multispecies stock assessment. MS presented at 16th Nordic Fisheries Conference, Marrehamn, Finland.

FISHERY ECOLOGY OF A TROPICAL FLOODPLAIN

Man and Fisheries on an A m a z o n Frontier. Michael Goulding. W. Junk BV, The Hague. Developments in Hydrobiology, Vol. 4, 1981. 137 pp., 96 figs., 5 tables, Dfl. 90.00/US$ 47.50, ISBN 90-6193-755-8.

This is an account of the fishery ecology of the Rio Madeira basin, a major watershed of the Amazon River system. The author describes the physical characteristics and general ecology of the basin, cultural history and fisheries. Further sections deal with catch statistics and natural history of the impor- tant food fishes. Finally, Goulding discusses ecological problems and per- spectives on the future of Madeira basin fisheries.

Any student of South American flood plain fisheries will find little hard information on yields, catch per unit of effort, and economic condition of the fishing fleet. He will have better luck with life history information, but will find little relating life history to ecological interactions. Goulding's book serves best as a source of baseline fishery statistics and an introduction to ecology of Amazon fishes.

One problem with Amazon catch statistics is that they are usually derived from landings at major ports by "commercial" vessels and drastically under- estimate total catch by small-village canoes. Goulding partially rectifies this, providing some estimates of catches by traditional gear.

Goulding helps establish the critical importance of flooded vegetation in the annual cycle of production of fish flesh; vegetation that is changing and disappearing as more of the lowlands are cleared.

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On the negative side, I found the frequency of typographical errors quite irritating. Someone didn' t proofread. I also see little benefit in frequent use of Portugese terms, e.g. "relatorios" for reports, "criar" for to produce. This is not to discourage use of Portugese or local names for fishing methods or species.

In spite of the negatives, this volume is a useful addition to the library of anyone interested in tropical floodplains and floodplain fishery ecology.

DONALD CHAPMAN Box 1362,

McCall, Idaho 83638, U.S.A.

FISHERIES LAW

Derecho Pesquero. Academia Internacional de Derecho Pesquero. No. 1. Lic. Carlos J. Sierra, Apdo. Postal 49-004, Mexico, 06060 D.F. Mexico un. Ano $ 600.00.

In July 1981, a group of 44 jurists from 22 countries met in Mexico City, with Mexican colleagues from the National University's Institute of Juridic Research and from the Mexican Government 's Department of Fisheries, to hold the first International Colloquium on Fisheries Legislation. One product of that meeting was the formation of the International Academy of Fisheries Law (Derecho Pesquero), with founding membership of 27 jurists from 17 countries. The Academy is an "organism of consultation, interchange of expressions [=opinions?] at the highest level and of studies of Fisheries Law". A further consequence of that meeting is the appearance of the first issue of the Academy's journal "Derecho Pesquero". This first issue contains 2 articles in Spanish, one in French and one in English, plus transcripts of fishery laws of Poland and Brazil, the statute of the Academy itself, and a bibliographic section which is a combination of abstracts and reviews of some 15 items in French, Spanish, English and Italian languages. The journal is thus, like its parent, the Academy, quite international and should be a wel- come addition to fisheries literature. However, one wonders whether the members of the Academy or the potential readership of the journal can really have a need for a new service of fisheries legislation transcripts, con- sidering the existence of the comprehensive service provided by FAO.

G.L. KESTEVEN 12, O'Briens Road,

HurstviUe, N.S. W., Australia