NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 135 
known the smallest North Sea haddock fetch so little, though they 
are often none of the sweetest. 
The “ Norway haddock” also found a very poor market, but that 
is no more than could be expected in the case of a fish quite new to 
the consumer, and possessing, at least according to my own taste, 
but little intrinsic merit. They seem to me to resemble sea-bream 
more than anything else, but have less flavour and are drier. Still, 
being worth about 4s. a box, they paid the fisherman in 1892 better 
than the haddock, though it is probable that if brought ashore in 
larger numbers the market would soon have been glutted. In 1893, 
though as abundant as ever, very few indeed were brought ashore, 
in consequence, as I suppose, of the failure of an attempt to cure 
them during the previous year. 
Taking advantage of the early summer of the present year, a start 
was made in April, the first boat landing its catch on the 14th. A 
very marked improvement was noticeable in the condition of the 
plaice, which were mostly fine firm fish, not yet ready to spawn, but 
as large as any that were brought in last year. The haddock were 
also in good condition, and as there was a good demand for fish, 
there was a ready sale. ‘The plaice fetched 50s., and the haddock 
9s. per box. This seemed to promise better business for the Iceland 
boats, and it was not long before other “ voyages ” were landed, but 
the price was not maintained. ‘Thus on the 2nd May plaice fetched 
only 17s. 9d., and haddock 4s, per box, but witches found a ready 
sale at 27s. 6d. Prices remained about the same throughout the 
mouth, but in June we find plaice as low as 9s. 9d., and never 
higher than 15s. The change is, of course, due in part to the 
greater abundance of fish in the market, and in part to the deterio- 
ration of the quality of the Iceland plaice, many of which were by 
that time shotten. Good prices were still obtainable for witches, 
but the haddock were driven out of the market, and it became the 
practice of fishermen to heave overboard all haddock except those caught 
in the last haul. Witches acquired an importance which they had not 
previously been suspected of, and the success of an Iceland voyage 
depended greatly on the quantity of that species landed. Cod con- 
tinued to be brought ashore in considerable numbers, but, whatever 
their quality, the appearance of this fish after it has been some time 
in the fish-hold becomes unattractive, and I have known Iceland fish 
sell for only 8s. per score. 
It is only natural that fishermen should have made endeavours to 
procure Iceland plaice more in accordance with market requirements 
than those with which I have been dealing, and in this they have 
been to some extent successful. I have seen several ‘‘ voyages”’ of 
fish similar in size, and to a great extent in appearance, with ordinary 
