138 NORTH SEA INVESTIGATIONS. 
Hull some time in the forties, that little or no attention was paid to 
them; they were amongst the perquisites of the apprentices, and 
this circumstance may have prevented them from being thrown 
overboard in very great numbers, but certainly many of them must 
have been treated in this way. I have endeavoured to show in the 
last number of this Journal that it is of little use returning trawled 
haddock to the sea, and there can be no doubt but that the 
shovelling overboard of large quantities of dead fish is injurious to a 
fishing ground. We may suspect, indeed, that this practice, which 
was extensively carried out in the case of small plaice, on some, at 
any rate, of the North Sea grounds, may have had its share in the 
diminution of the general fish supply, and it is matter for the 
greatest regret that it has been commenced, in the case of large 
haddock, on the Iceland grounds. It is hardly to be supposed that 
much effect would be felt as yet, but it is a fact that the liners can 
no ‘longer get their fish on the grounds where the trawlers have 
been at work this season, and I am inclined to think that they, the 
liners, are right in attributing this circumstance as much to the 
fouling of the bottom with great quantities of dead haddock as to 
the disturbance caused by the trawl. As I have said, no improve- 
ment is possible in the condition of the haddock, and we must look 
to market considerations only to check the present waste of large 
specimens ; but in the case of plaice I think we may reasonably hope 
that a shght diminution by trawling may effect an improvement in 
condition, and should this be attained, and the grounds be not unduly 
fouled, the climatic conditions of the locality not less than its 
distance from the markets may probably, by providing a most 
efficient close season, suffice to avert for many years the final and 
disastrous stage arising from over-fishing. 
Alleged Cause of Low Prices. 
A few words as to the apparent causes of the low price of Iceland 
fish may not be out of place. JI have made inquiries amongst 
members of the buying fraternity most interested in the matter, but 
I fear the relations of supply and demand in fish are beyond the 
comprehension of the lay mind, and can only give the facts as they 
are told to me, with such comments as may occur. 
The Iceland plaice are too large to be sold fresh, and have 
therefore been mostly drysalted and sent to Holland and Germany, 
but they are difficult to cure, being very watery, and do not sell well. 
Granting the present poorness of quality, which we may hope to 
see disappear as the fishery develops, I do not understand why it 
should be necessary to cure and export them. If the demand for 
