48 THE IMI'OVEKISHMENT OF THE SEA. 



Now a considerable portion of the increase in the catching power of 

 the steam trawler is due to the exchange of beam for otter trawls in 

 1895, and it is shown below that this change of fishing gear has 

 increased the catches of steam trawlers by 37 per cent,, or, approxi- 

 mately, one-third of the total, i.e. has multiplied the catching power by 

 one and a third. 



If this deduction be made from the gross catching power of the 

 otter trawler (estimating the latter at eight times the catching power 

 of the sailing trawler), we obtain a figure which approximately repre- 

 sents the relative efficiency of the vessel less the advantages recently 

 conferred on it by the adoption of the otter trawl. Assuming for a 

 moment the accuracy of the foregoing estimates (which will be dealt 

 with in greater detail below), we thus find that the modern steam 

 trawler, if fitted with beam trawls, would catch approximately six 

 times as much fish as the average sailing trawler, an increase in 

 efficiency of 50 per cent, since 1883-5, viz. from fourfold to sixfold. 



Now, according to Mr. Alward's figures, the gross tonnage of Grimsby 

 steam trawlers has increased by exactly the same amount in the 

 interval ; and, on working out the average of the registered tonnage 

 of English steam fishing vessels from the data given in the Annual 

 Statements of Navigation, I find that precisely the same increase has 

 taken place in the average registered — or nett — tonnage, viz. from 

 34 tons in 1884 to 52 tons in 1898. 



We may therefore conclude that the efficiency of steam trawlers, 

 apart from the question of the otter trawl, has increased j^an ^^as.s?* 

 with the increase in their average registered tonnage, or rather with 

 the increase in the registered tonnage of English steam fishing vessels 

 in general, the great majority of which, however, are steam trawlers. 

 If therefore for each year since 1884 the average registered tonnage 

 be plotted out, and the relative efficiency of the steam trawler be 

 placed at four for 1884 and six for 1898, the rate of increase in the 

 efficiency during the period may be obtained in proportion to the rise 

 in tonnage. This has been done in Table X. The result is, briefly, 

 that in 1889 the efficiency was fivefold that of the smack, and in 1893 

 five and a half times. 



Table X., showing the increase in Average Registered Tonnage of English 

 Steam Fishing Vessels, and the increase in Relative Efficiency of 

 Steam Trawlers, from 1884 to 1898. 



1884 18 89 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 

 Average tonnage . 34 42 45 48 48 48 48-5 49-5 50 51 52 

 Efficiency (beam trawls) 4 5 5*25 55 5-5 5-5 5-G f)-? 5*8 5-9 6 

 Otter trawls (factor). —————— — 11 1-2 1-3 1-3 



Total efliciency . 1 5 5-25 5-5 5-5 5-5 5^6 6^3 7 I'l 8 



