339 
An Examination of the Present State of the Grimsby 
Trawl Fishery, with especial reference to the De- 
struction of Immature Fish. 
By 
Ernest W. L. Holt. 
PAGE 
Introductory : : : : : : . 339 
OHAP. Parr I. 
I. The North Sea Fisheries - . . : . . 345 
II. A “ Voyage” on a Steam-trawler c ¢ . 355 
IIL. An Outline of the Rise of Trawling in fie North Sea 4 . 363 
IV. The Introduction of Trawling at a Northern Fishing Station, and ie Influence 
on the Fishery . : : : : : . 367 
lena Di 
I. The Definition of an Immature Fish : . 372 
Il. The Evidence of Deterioration in the North Sea Trade, and es need Causes . 382 
ILI. The Life History of North Sea Food-fishes A . 388 
IV. An Examination, with Statistics, of the Destruction of Tmauiainee Fish . 401 
V. Proposed Remedial Measures . . : C - . 426 
Chart of the North Sea : : : c < . 446% 
General Analysis of the Present Paper . : é : . 447 
In'rropucrory, 
Ir will be within the recollection not only of the comparatively 
small section of the community which is consciously interested in 
fishery matters, but of all those whom a sense of public duty or a 
lack of other occupation compels to some acquaintance with the 
current topics of the day, that the question of the deterioration of 
our sea fisheries commenced some few years back to assume some- 
thing approaching to prominence. One of the earlier indications 
of the importance with which the question was invested, in the 
minds of those principally concerned, was the formation, in 1882, by 
a number of fish merchants, smack-owners, and others, of the 
National Sea Fisheries Protection Association,—a title which may 
