12 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



obviously no present means of getting an account of it. 

 Even of cured fish our knowledge is very imperfect. 

 It is true that the Scotch Fishery Board gives us an 

 accurate return of the number of barrels of herrings 

 cured wet, but it has nothing to do with any kind of 

 smoked fish; and while the Cornish merchants send 

 out their trade circulars with particulars of the annual 

 export of pilchards, they can tell us little or nothing of 

 the home consumption of these fish, for there is no 

 record of the quantity caught. In fact, no means exist 

 of making even a rough estimate of the produce of our 

 sea fisheries at the present day. 



But although we have no figures to show what is the 

 actual quantity of fish now caught, or how much was 

 taken twenty years ago, it is quite possible to form a 

 decided opinion on the question of whether the supply 

 of fish to the market has been increasing or diminish- 

 ing. The evidence in favour of a large but gradual 

 improvement in this respect cannot be mistaken ; and 

 it is to be found in the immense number of markets all 

 over the country which now have their regular supplies 

 of fish; in the much larger number and generally better 

 class of fishing boats in use ; and in the fact that, not- 

 withstanding the greatly increased demand for fish in 

 recent years, the prices obtained for it by the fisher- 

 men — the producers — have not advanced in the same 

 proj^ortion as those of beef and muttou. The price to 

 the consumer is another question, of which we shall 

 speak presently. 



We need hardly say that the extension of railways 

 all over the country has gradually opened up markets 

 which were formerly inaccessible to fish salesmen, and 

 has led to the increasing demand for fish of all kinds ; 

 for it is not merely the better sorts which are sent 



