Ylll 



VALUE OF THE FISHERIES. 



For although the total value of the fish (other than shell- 

 fish) landed in these islands in the year 1913 exceeded, 

 according to the Government statistics, a sum of 

 10,000,000, and surpassed the record of any previous 

 year by a matter of .1,126,000, we gather from the same 

 source an impression of the steady increase of prices of 

 the well-known varieties of demersal fishes which meet 

 with universal demand, a fact which has a bearing upon 

 the matter discussed in a previous paragraph. 



There is a certain interest attached to the record values 

 of catches made by commercial fishing vessels, and it may 

 be mentioned that during the European War, in January, 

 JQI5, a sum nearly approaching ,4,000 was realised upon 

 .1 catch of Plaice from the White Sea made by a Hull 

 trawler in three weeks' fishing, a figure unprecedented for 

 a trawler's catch, but made, of course, during what was 

 virtually a fish famine. 



COMPARATIVE VALUES OF VARIOUS KINDS 



OF FISH. 



The following table has been compiled from an examina- 

 tion of the market reports extending over several years. 

 The numerical factors, however, have no significance so 

 far as the retail prices of fish are concerned, and are here 

 used solely for purposes of comparison. Undoubtedly 

 the most remarkable feature lies in the high value of Soles 

 in comparison with that of other prime fish. The varieties 

 of medium and low value appear to commence with 

 Witches, the cost of these falling far below that of White- 

 bait, but in the species immediately following it seems 

 that value cannot be taken altogether as a criterion of 



t^ 



quality. One has necessarily to take into consideration the 

 abundance or paucity of supply of each individual species, 

 and it is interesting in this connection to note the compara- 

 tively low price of Cod and Whiting against that of Hake. 

 The periodicity of abundant landings in the case of all the 

 pelagic fishes naturally explains the fact of the low price of 

 such species as Mackerel, Herring, and Sprat, and anyone 

 who has noted the profuse supply of the last-named during 

 its brief season, can fully understand the reason why it 

 holds the lowest place on the list. It is certainly more 

 difficult to find cause for the comparatively slight value 

 of Sea-bream, unless it be due to a certain popular idea 

 that the species included under the name are of a question- 

 ably wholesome nature. 



