22 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



shown an increase rather than a diminution in number 

 and size ; the deep-sea line fishermen have also added to 

 their fleet ; and we have no reason to think that, taking 

 the coast generally, a smaller share of fish of all kinds 

 falls to the lot of the individual fisherman than was the 

 case ten or twenty years ago. We are quite willing to 

 admit that there may be places on the coast where the 

 takes of herrings or of line-fish are not always so good 

 now as they have been ; but if the fish are not caught 

 there, it is not because they have disappeared from the 

 sea, for the markets tell us that the general supply is 

 larger than ever. Improved prices have no doubt 

 helped to develop the fisheries ; but it must be remem- 

 bered that the fisherman has to pay more for almost 

 everything he requires for his household and his busi- 

 ness, so that his increased gains are not all profit to him. 

 There has been a general tendency to increase the size 

 of fishing boats, and this of course involves the expen- 

 diture of more money. Now nothing is more certain 

 in connection with our sea fisheries than that, as a rule, 

 the money invested in the means of carrying them on 

 is obtained by fishing ; advances, it is true, are fre- 

 quently made to fishermen by the special tradesmen with 

 whom they deal — that is, they are sometimes in part 

 fitted out by tliem ; but this is done in full confidence 

 of being repaid, and till the debt is cleared off, some 

 security is generally given on the property. The simple 

 question in such cases is the character of the man, for 

 no doubt is felt about his ability to free himself if he 

 work steadily at his fishing and have ordinary success. 

 If then we find the fisherman building larger boats 

 and spending move money on his fit out, it is not 

 mireasonable to suppose that fishing has been a profit- 

 able occupation to him, and that, in s})ite of all his 



