One potential problem with following this process would be that often
those versions reviewed by colleagues prior to submission to a journal
are at much earlier stages than the final ms. Using those reviews would
thus not be appropriate in my opinion, since a great deal more work may
in some cases be put into the ms to improve it, before it reaches the
journal's reviewers.

Patricia Almada-Villela

In message <1.5.4.32.19970606062602.006d8464@igb-1>, Thomas Mehner
<[log in to unmask]> writes
>At 15:34 05.06.97 GMT, you wrote:
>>For over a year  ago,  there  was  a debate in FISH-ECOLOGY about
>>timely publications.  I understand,  from  a  few  editors,  this
>>issue  is  getting  worse  as  time  passes  and the conventional
>>publishing system seems to be useless:
>>
>>- Does any one have any unconventional suggestions here ?
>
>
>Fish-Folks,
>I have an unconvential suggestion. Many authors send their first drafts of
>manuscripts to colleagues and ask for first criticisms and suggestions
>(before submitting the ms to any journal). If these colleagues will write a
>formal 'referees report', these reports and the answers of the authors could
>be sent to the journal's editors together with the manuscripts. Then the
>editor may decide whether a further reviewer is neccessary or not. This
>procedure would shorten the time delay. In addition, the suggestions of
>colleagues who are very familiar with the special topic of the paper are
>sometimes more helpful than any criticism by 'senior' scientists. This also
>would result in the fact that more young colleagues (PhD-students, young
>post-docs) have the opportunity to being involved in the reviewing process.
>
>Cheers
>Thomas
>===============================================
>Achtung: Neue Postleitzahl/New city code!!!
>
>Dr. Thomas Mehner
>Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
>Dept. Biology & Ecology of Fishes
>POB 850119
>D-12561 Berlin
>Germany
>
>Phone: ++49/(0)30/641 81 613
>Fax: ++49/(0)30/641 81 750
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>more information: http://www.igb-berlin.de/www/abt4/oki/mehner.htm
>PEG-proceedings: http://www.igb-berlin.de/www/abt4/oki/PEG-proceedings.htm

--
Dr Patricia Almada-Villela
Consultant in Conservation and Aquatic Biology
Co-Chair, IUCN SSC
Coral Reef Fish Specialist Group
60 Newington, Willingham
Cambridge, CB4 5JE, UK
Tel: (+44 01954) 260520; Fax: (+44 01954) 202291
email: [log in to unmask]