BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 97 



Vol. V, No. 7. Washington, D. €. Jan. 23, 1885. 



The French Government makes no distinction between " coast " and 

 "deep sea fishing;" herring and mackerel salting and cod-fishing ex- 

 cepted. 



Denmark. — There is no diminution on the " scaw " or on the west 

 or east coasts. There is a diminution in the " sound" and some parts 

 of the " Kattegat" where gar-fish, mackerel, and whiting have nearly 

 disappeared, as have also to a great extent large cod, ray, halibut, and 

 smeardab. In the deep channel running from Helsingborg,haddock have 

 totally disappeared. The diminution is ascribed to the increase in the 

 number of fishermen and natural causes resulting from changes of 

 weather and stream and the abundance or dearth of food. 



Belgium. — No general diminution has been noticeable, though at 

 places of minor importance there has been a sensible diminution in the 

 inshore herring fishery, the herring keeping further out to sea. 



Norway. — There is no diminution in deep-sea fishing, though 

 the fish disappear and reappear from time to time. There is a local 

 diminution in the inshore fishing. 



Sweden. — There is no general diminution, though the fish disappear 

 and reappear from time to time. 



Holland.— -Except in the Texel there has been a general diminution 

 in the coast fishing, which has been attributed to the increase in fish- 

 ermen, especially of trawlers, among whom are many Englishmen. The 

 diminution is also attributed to the destruction of immature fish by the 

 shrimp dredge-net, the mesh of which is very small. 



Germany. — There has been a diminution in the " coast" fisheries of the 

 North Sea, especially among flat-fish, cod, and halibut. The size of flat- 

 fish has materially diminished during the last few years. This is at- 

 tributed to the destruction of fry and immature fish by trawl-net fishing 

 in the North Sea. 



United States. — On certain parts of the coast of the United States, 

 particularly on the Atlantic coast between Eastport, Me., and the 

 Chesapeake Bay, there has seemingly been some decrease of the abun- 

 dance of certain species of food fishes, but the supply varies so much at 

 the different seasons ihat it is difficult to make any precise statement. 

 The halibut, however, is one species in which there has been a very re- 

 markable diminution during the past thirty years, both inshore and on 

 the outer banks. This appears to be due to the operation of man ; for 

 wherever sought the halibut have usually become scarce in a limited 

 number of years on grounds where they had formerly existed in re- 

 markable abundance. Cod and its allied species have in some instances 

 become locally scarce from unknown causes. 



Are fish generally talen in deeper water and at greater distances from 

 Bull. U. S. F. C, 85 7 



