274 DEEP-SEA FISHING. 



pests will attack a haddock, cod, or other fish that has 

 been hooked, and, making their way inside in some 

 manner still a subject of doubt, but believed to be 

 through the gill-opening, devour the flesh of the unfor- 

 tunate victim, and leave nothing but the skin and bones 

 for the fisherman's share. Great destruction is some- 

 times caused by these borers in summer, which is the 

 season in which they are generally most abundant ; and 

 we have heard of even a large holibut having been 

 hauled up on a longline, with nothing but the skeleton 

 left inside the skin. These borers are generally about 

 10 or 12 inches long, and are most numerous in deep 

 water. 



The total number of fishing boats belonging to Eng- 

 land and Wales, and standing on the register at the 

 end of 1872, was 15,331. They consisted of 



1st Class. 



Boats. 

 2778 



Tonnage, 

 100,332 



2nd Class. I 3rd Class. 



Total. 



Boats. 

 9353 



Boats. I 



3200 I 15,331 



Of these the First Class boats averaged a little more 

 than 36 tons each, and probably about 1400 of them 

 were deep-sea trawlers. The relative importance of the 

 different methods of fishing, as shown either by the 

 supply of fish obtained or the capital invested, will 

 place them in the following order : — 



1, trawling ; 2, drifting; 3, line-fishing; 4, seaning; 

 5, set-nets, including all anchored nets ; and trawling is 

 entitled to the further distinction of being systematically 

 carried on throughout the year, in any kind of weather 

 except heavy gales and the lightest winds, and by men 

 of whom a very large number entirely abstain from the 

 use of any intoxicating drink. 



