The first characteristic of the fisheries biologist must be slipperiness. Recognizing that fish and their environment are variable, and that even with the best of observations, he has only a general understanding of what's going on, he is forced to approach every problem with a becoming caution. Things are never so; they seem to be, are apparently, they are indicative, it is suggested, maybe they are true. And always from a biologist expect lots of adjectives and adverbs, slightly, moderately, reasonably, average. Fishery biology is largely the art of saying ‘probably’ in 1000 ways.

If a fisheries biologist is known as an expert, it is probably because he says nothing or because everything he says can be construed as a completely satisfactory prediction regardless of what happens.

The poor fisheries biologist on the other hand is characterized by his over-confidence. Fancying himself as something of a jet age scientist, and feeling compelled by our scientifically minded society to put up or shut up – he recklessly tries to put up – promising the moon, hoping memories are short, and looking for scapegoats at the hour of disenchantment ….