26 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



The fact is that practically we know very little indeed 

 about the habits of our commonest sea fish ; and the 

 sooner that is recognized, the better position we shall 

 be in for making accurate observations on the subject. 



The increase in the general size of fishing boats does 

 not necessarily imply that fishermen are obliged to go 

 farther to sea in order to obtain a living ; that increase 

 has taken place in boats of almost every kind, and is 

 even more conspicuous among the trawlers which had 

 lonjr been accustomed to remain at sea for weeks at a 

 time, than among drift and line boats which return 

 home every day. Fishermen, however, are more enter- 

 prising than they used to be, and, with the increase in 

 their numbers, are disposed to a wider range for their 

 operations. Inshore fishing is giving place to more 

 deep-sea woi'k, and larger boats enable it to be carried 

 on at distances from home which it was neither safe nor 

 easy for the small ones to attempt. That the result 

 has been satisfiictory is manifest from the increasing 

 tendency to continue the improvements in all that 

 pertains to the fishing boat. 



We now come to one of the most important questions 

 in connection with the prosperity of the sea fisheries — 

 that relating to tlie spawning habits of the several 

 kinds of fish in request for the table. A knowledge of 

 the habits of the salmon in tliis respect has been the 

 basis of most of tlie legislation which has taken place 

 for increasing tlie supj^ly of that fixvourite fish; and 

 although the protection of sea fish is fiir less within our 

 power, an acquaintance with tlie localities in which 

 their spawn is deposited and developed will enable us 

 to ascertain whether any of the methods of fishing in 

 use are likely to injure the germs of our future supply. 

 For information on the subject we naturally turn to the 



