124 



Fart III. — Tivcntieth Annual Eeport 



The percentage of increase in the case of round fish is for the three 

 months 37"8, and for the twelve months 48'9 per cent., and the relative 

 indicated efficiency of the otter-trawl in catching round fishes, as com- 

 pared with the beam-trawl, is therefore 1'38 for the three months and 

 1*49 for the twelve months. 



The decrease in flatfishes, amounting to over 1 1 per cent, in the year, 

 might be ascribed (1) to the lesser efficiency of the otter-trawl in 

 capturing flatfishes — an opinion which some trawlers maintain — (2) to 

 an actual diminution in their numbers on the fishing grounds, or (3) to 

 a change of the fishing ground in the periods contrasted. The first 

 supposition is, I think, scarcely tenable, because although the horizontal 

 spread of the otter- net aj)pears to be less than is generally believed, it is 

 no doubt somewhat greater, even with the smaller nets vised in 1896-98, 

 than the width of the beam-trawl which it displaced. Moreover, Mr. 

 Cunningham, who was at Hull in the summer of 1895 when the 

 transition from the one net to the other had begun, states that the 

 otter-trawl "certainly brings in an increased number of plaice."* 



The second supposition that the statistics may show an actual 

 diminution in the number of flatfishes on the same grounds is probably 

 true with regard to some of the species, but in order to make this 

 certain one would require to know what grounds were fished over in 

 the periods under comparison, and this information, unfortunately, 

 cannot now be obtained. That the decrease in the quantity of flat- 

 fishes taken by the otter-trawl in the above cases is, at all events to 

 some extent, due to difierent grounds having been fished over is 

 evident from what follows. 



The more important round fishes are given in the following Table for 

 the twelve-month jjeriod : — . 



The increase in the take of cod was thus 62'3 per cent., of haddock 40*4 

 per cent., and of whiting 97'7 per cent. There was an increased take 

 of ling by three of the vessels, and a decreased take by the other two. 

 The increased take of saithe — which was common to all the ve.ssels — 

 amounted to 423 per cent., but the quantities wei'e small, viz., 854 and 

 445j cwts. An increased catch of hake was made by four vessels, and 

 a decreased catch by the other, the total increase amounting to 345 per 

 cent.; the quantities were small, viz., 53 and 236 cwts. Gurnards 

 were landed in larger numbers by four vessels and in smaller numbers 

 by one, the total increase being 56'3 per cent. (110-^ and 172| cwts.) ; 

 this fish, however, is not always, or even usually, brought ashore. 



'Jonm. M.B.A., iv., 118. 



