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Remarks on Trawling. 
By 
Professor M‘Intosh, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.E. 
FIRST SERIES.* 
Reprinted, by permission of the Author, from the Twelfth Annual Report of the 
Fishery Board for Scotland. 
I. GenerAL REMARKS. 
Fty ten years having elapsed since the Report on Trawling on the 
eastern shores was presented to the Trawling Commission (composed 
of the late Earl of Dalhousie, chairman; Right Hon. Edward 
Marjoribanks, M.P., now Lord Tweedmouth; Prof. Huxley; Mr. 
W.S. Caine, M.P.; and Mr., now Sir, T. F. Brady), it appears to 
be desirable to review the statements contained therein in the hght 
of the information which the impetus given by the Commission has 
produced. Moreover this examination of results is all the more 
necessary, since last year another important body—viz. the Select 
Committee of the House of Commons on Fisheries, presided over by 
Mr. Majoribanks, M.P.—issued a new blue-book containing the 
finding of the Committee, and a mass of evidence. 
In criticising this Report on Trawling, it is necessary to bear in 
mind that certain definite instructions were given by the Commission 
in regard to the hauls of the trawl. These fall under Section 6, 
and are as follow :—“ The results of each haul of the trawl, so far 
as regards food-fishes, should be carefully registered, in order that 
positive data may be obtained. 
“‘(a) As to the proportional quantity of immature fishes taken 
at various seasons. 
* J have to acknowledge, in the preparation of the “ Remarks,” the courtesy of Mr. 
Esslemont, Chairman of the Board; of Dr. Fulton; of Mr. W. C. Robertson, the secretary ; 
of Mr. Couper, Fishery Officer, Aberdeen; of Messrs. Joseph Johnston and Sons, 
Montrose ; of Mr. Scott, of the General Steam Fishing Company, Granton; and of the 
owners and captains of the various vessels, who invariably exerted themselves to furnish 
information. It was especially interesting to find some of the captains of the General 
Steam Fishing Company’s ships, with whom T had worked in 1884, still at their posts. 
