Vll 



In each of the several fishing areas or regions there are, 

 generally speaking', certain predominant species which 

 remain fairly constant, whilst fluctuating in comparative 

 abundance in successive years. Thus in the North Sea 

 the most important demersal fishes are Haddock", Cod, 

 Whiting, and Plaice; in the more open waters of the 

 Atlantic, off Iceland, the Faroes, and Rockall, Coalfish 

 and Catfish ; whilst in the White Sea by far the most 

 important species is Plaice, although both Haddock and 

 Cod are well in evidence. From the West Coasts of Scot- 

 land and Ireland, i.e., roughly between latitudes 56 and 

 ^5, to the Moroccan Coast, the principal catch (-(insists 

 of I lake, which at the most southern area has amounted 

 of recent years to as much as 75 per cent, of the total 

 (jtiantity of fish taken in the trawl. As regards the English 

 Channel, the western half affords the most profitable 

 fishing grounds, but of recent years there has been virtually 

 a plague of Dogfish, the several species described under 

 this name constituting the predominant feature, and 

 amounting to as much as 20 per cent, of the entire catch, 

 which in this area is otherwise rather varied. 



GROWTH OF THE FISHERIES. 



The more extensive use of steam vessels for trawling, 

 long-lining and drifting, the greater advantages derived 

 from the use in some form or another of cold storage and 

 increased railway facilities, together with the system 

 prevalent in certain areas of direct transport from the 

 fishing fleet to market, are the more important factors 

 which have conspired to bring about an almost startling 

 increase in the quantities of wet fish landed in this country 

 within the last quarter of a century. 



The Government statistics clearly show that during this 

 period the landings have risen by about 90 per cent., but 

 it is to be regretted that this increase is largely due to the 

 greater quantity of pelagic fish, notably herring, whilst 

 the landings of certain demersal fishes of the highest com- 

 mercial importance show a more or less steady decline. 



When it is remembered that the herring fishery derives 

 its greater importance as forming the subject of an extensive 

 export trade, it will be seen that from the home consumer's 

 standpoint this material increase is not a matter of 

 advantage to this countrv. 



