60 THE IMMATURE FISH QUESTION. 
fish caught in a given time by the same or a similar boat in successive 
years. The Fisheries Department of the Board of Trade has not yet 
attempted this. Indeed, it has not attempted anything in relation to 
this subject beyond the collection of the quantities of fish landed, dis- 
tinguishing certain kinds of fish, different coasts, and different ports. 
There is absolutely nothing in the statistical tables and memorandum 
concerning the number of men and boats or the size and character 
of the boats employed in the fisheries, if we except a brief refer- 
ence in the memorandum of the first return, that for 1886. In this 
memorandum the number of boats and men was quoted from the 
Annual Statement of Navigation for 1885, and the value of fish 
landed was calculated per boat and per fisherman. In order, then, 
Boats registered in England and Wales under Sea Fisheries Act, 
1868. 
Total number Total Total Total Total number | Number of 
of 1st class tonnage number all tonnage all of regular men required 
boats. Ist elass. classes. classes. fishermen. for boats. 
1871 2,582 90,224 15,615 131,092 — — 
1872 2,778 100,332 15,331 140,535 —_ = 
1873 2,851 104,642 15,049 145,134 —_— 45,398 
1874 2,934 110,500 15,029 150,268 25,576 46,525 
1875 2,979 111,784 14,830 151,041 26,245 44,142 
1876 3,142 121,445 14,809 | 160,332 | 28,238 43,399 
1877 3,425 137,768 13,294 | 174,174 30,4.08 35,883 
1878 3,637 149,343 10,786 182,415 | 30,480 31,277 
1879 3,767 155,941 10,639 189,006 29,408 31,375 
1880 3,840 161,450 10,524 194,532 28,835 28,085 
1881 3,870 162,417 10,357 195,348 | 29,141 27,792 
1882 3,931 170,367 10,373 203,355 30,802 27,512 
1883 3,743 161,830 8,880 | 190,517 31,810 30,152 
1884 3,840 169,161 8,622 197,300 32,631 28,020 
1885 4,040 183,694 8,826 212,176 33,422 28,520 
1886 4,011 189,375 8,447 | 216,349 | 34,080 32,086 
1887 4,014 190,464 8,390 217,346 | 34,526 30,914 
1888 3,982 189,292 8,417 | 215,725 33,509 | 32,823 
1889 3,928 187,724 8,271 | 213,542 33,474 | 33,429 
1890 3,879 183,910 8,050 | 208,389 32,5038 30,3380 
1891 3,873 183,421 8,063 207,515 | 33,044 28,885 
1892 
to ascertain the number or particulars of boats and men employed in 
our fisheries in successive years we have to examine the Annual 
Statements of Navigation and Shipping. We find there the number 
of boats registered under the Sea Fisheries Act of 1868, arranged in 
three classes. The Navigation Statement has, since 1876, been pre- 
pared by the Commercial Department of the Board of Trade, and, 
since it is signed only by the Assistant Secretary of that department, 
it appears that the Fisheries Department has nothing to do with it. 
So that, notwithstanding the organisation of the Fisheries Depart- 
