86 



Part III. — Twentieth Annual Report 



1199 cwts. in 1901 ; cod increased by only 57 per cent., haddocks by 

 nearly 110 per cent., and whitings by nearly 1100 per cent. The 

 increase in round fishes may be partly due to the superior efficiency of the 

 otter-trawl, f^er se, apart from its employment on richer grounds (see p. 119). 



What has been stated above in regard to fish caught by trawlers is true 

 also with respect to fish caught by great-lines, and especially by steam- 

 liners. These vessels may go considerable distances, and further from 

 shore than the trawlers, since they can fish in deeper water. In March, 

 for example, most of those belonging to Aberdeen work in the Atlantic 

 from 12 to 50 miles, or more, north-west of Hoy, Orkney ; others at the 

 Faroes and N.E. of Shetland, and others E.S.E., where many fish later. 

 The shots from the different grounds vary considerably. I give four 

 examples (in cwts.) — I., 45 miles N. ^ W. from Hoy ; II., at Faroe ; 

 III., 200 miles E.N.E. of Aberdeen; IV., 135 miles E.S.E. :— 



To summarise these facts in relation to the question of the impoverish- 

 ment of the North Sea, it is necessary (1) that the fish caught within the 

 North Sea should be separately distinguished from those caught else- 

 where. It is not sufficient for the purpose in view merely to separate 

 the fish taken in distant regions, as at Iceland, the Faroes, and the Bay 

 of Biscay, and to leave those caught at all other parts of the British seas — 

 the North, West, and South coasts, and around the Irish coast — com- 

 bined with the North Sea fish. (2) It is also necessary to distinguish 

 different areas in the North Sea, because the gross abundance, and the 

 proportional abundance of different species, especially of flat-fishes, vary 

 greatly in different parts ; and if in any year the fishing predominates in 

 one region more than another the statistics may show a decrease or an 

 increase which has nothing to do with decreased or increased produc- 

 tiveness of the grounds (although that might appear on their face), but 

 merely with a predominant change of the place of fishing. Recently, for 

 example, there is a tendency to resume trawling in greater force in the 

 region of the Fisher Bank, and one consequence of this will be an 

 increased quantity of plaice landed. In that case, without specification 

 of the grounds, it might be assumed, erroneously, that plaice was 

 increasing in abundance, while the increased quantity was due merely to 

 change in the place of fishing. Trawlers go, not necessarily where fish 

 are most abundant, but where the most profitable catches may be got. 

 The price of flat-fish, and especially plaice, has enormously risen, and thus 

 a relatively small catch of plaice may be more profitable than a large 

 catch of haddocks. It is probable, as the northern grounds are more 

 worked over, they will become less productive, and the older grounds 

 may be more frequented ; and the movement of recent years to some 

 extent reversed. Should this continue, the quantity of plaice landed in 

 the next few years will be augmented, although that fish in the North Sea 

 may be really less abundant than before. It would require an equal dis- 

 tribution of fishing operations throughout the whole of the North Sea, in 



