128 



Part III. — Tiventieth Anyiual Report 



fallacious to deduce conclusions as to the impoverishment of the grounds 

 from comparison of the aggi'egate landings from unspecified areas than 

 from comparison of the detailed catches from the inshore and offshore 

 respectively. 



But while these statistics cannot be used for the purpose mentioned, 

 they aiford information of interest, irrespective of the grounds on which 

 the fish were obtained. The trawler No. I., as stated, trawled in each 

 month throughout the sixteen years, and as it is one of the smaller class 

 of vessels, its sphere of operations has not extended to a great distance 

 from the coast. During the whole period the quantity of fish landed 

 amounted to 61,232 cwts., and of this quantity more than half was 

 landed in the first eight years, from 1885 to 1891, viz., 32,662 cwts., 

 the quantity landed in the second eight years, 1893-1900, being 28, 570| 

 cwts., notwithstanding the fact that after May 1897 the otter-trawl was 

 employed instead of the beam-trawl. In the early year.s, when trawling 

 had not been very long carried on, and when the Moray Firth and the 

 territorial waters were still open, the largest catches were obtained, the 

 highest aggregate being 5136 cwts. in 1887.* 



The total quantity of fish landed in each of the sixteen years by this 

 vessel was as follows (in cwts.) : — 



An examination of the detailed statistics of the various kinds of fish 

 landed shows that among round fishes there was a general increase in 

 the second eight years of the period as compared with the first eight 

 years, viz., from 18,050 cwts. to 21,681 cwts., and that the largest 

 quantity was in 1898, the year following the introduction of the otter- 

 trawl. Cod (including codling) aggregated 3649 cwts. in the first and 

 6098| cwts. in the last eight years, while the quantity of haddocks was 

 almost the same, 13,698| cwts. and 13,571 cwts. Whiting showed a 

 considerable increase, from 262| cwts. to 770| cwts. The quantity of 

 ling also increased from llOg cwts. to 606| cwts., the greatest increase 

 occurring after the introduction of the otter-trawl. 



* The particulars in regard to the closure of the waters to trawlers are as follows : — 

 (1) Aberdeen Bay, inside a line from Cruden Scars rocks to I5 miles east of Girdleness 

 Lighthouse, was closed between 5th April 1886 and 4th July 1887. (2) The territorial 

 waters (within 3 miles and hays) in the Moray Firth were closed from Brora to Kinnaird 

 Hesd on 4th July 1887. (3) The territorial waters from Red Head to Kinnaird Head 

 (including Aberdeen Bay) were closed on 28th February 1889. (4) The Moray Firth, 

 inside a line between Ord of Caithness and Craighead, Buckie, was closed on 19th November 

 1900, (5) The whole of the Moray Firth from Duncansby Head to Rattray Point was 

 closed on 22nd November 1892. As previously mentioned, from 7th January to 1st 

 Marcli 1896 the Moray Firth was open. 



TTable. 



