132 Part III.— Twentieth Annual Report 



caught in the various years no conclusions can be drawn as to the 

 impoverishment of the fishing grounds. ^ ^ ■> ■ +i ^ 



The other four steam-trawlers whose catches are included m tlie 

 tables began fishing in 1890 and 1891, _ 



Trawler No. III. is also a large deep-sea-gomg boat, which 

 commenced fishing in October 1890, and continued trawling m each 

 month of the following years, except December 1896, when it was 

 landing its fish at an English port, and August 1898. This vessel m 

 the teiT years 1891-1900 landed a gross quantity of 48,558 cwts. of fish 

 -viz., 22,038|cwts. in 1891-1895, and 26,519| cwts. m 1896-1900. 

 The former period represents 60 months, and the latter o 8 months 

 and the quantity caught in the second period was greater by 44»i 

 cwts. The beam-trawl was employed throughout the whole of the first 

 period, and the otter-trawl in nearly the whole of the second period, it 

 having been put on board in July 1896. 



The aggregate quantities (including skates, &c.) and the proportion 

 of flat-fishes and round fishes in the various years are as follows :— 



The total quantity of round fish landed in the first five years was 

 18,757 cwts., and in the second five years 23,332| cwts., while the 

 corresponding quantities of flat-fishes were 31281 cwts. and 2706^ 

 cwts. The decrease in flat-fishes was therefore not so great as in the 

 case of the trawlers No. I. and No. II., a circumstance no doubt m 

 great part due to the territorial waters and the greater part of the 

 Moray Firth having been closed before the vessel began fishing, and to 

 the greater regularity of the fishing offshore. 



Comparing the two periods of five years (60 and 58 months) with 

 regard to the quantities of the various kinds of fish taken, it appears 

 that cod increased from 2789 to 5537 cwts., Img from 241 to 676 cwts., 

 saithe from 167 to 450 cwts., hake from 106 to 144 cwts., and whitings 

 from 129 to 557 cwts. Haddocks showed only a slight increase, from 

 15,250 to 15,548 cwts. Amongst flat-fishes, the quantity of turbot m this 

 case increased from 74i to 193| cwts., halibut from 49| to 67 cwts., and 

 lemon soles from 388f to 737^ cwts. ; brill decreased from 4 to o cwts.^, 

 plaice from 2304 to 1088|, while witches increased from 280^ to 377^ 

 cwts., and megrims (included under plaice m 1891 and first half of 189.) 

 increased from 31 cwts. to 2051 cwts. The increase in skates and rays 

 was considerable— from 881 cwts. to 4011 cwts. 



The trawler No. lY is one of the smaller class of vessels, and most ot 

 its fishing is carried on near the coast. It has, moreover, a reputation 

 for landing more flat-fish than fall to the lot of most trawlers, caught 

 to a large extent, it is said, in the neighbourhood of t^^^^^^la^^^ 

 and Orkneys. It began fishing in December 1890, and was not 

 Ending trawled fish It Aberdeen in July 1895 and August and 

 September 1899. The first period of five years in this case is a mont 

 shirt, and the second two months short. The ^^tal quantity of fish 

 landed in the ten years was 51,1231 cwts.-viz., 25 872 from 1890-95 

 and 25,2511 from 1896-1900. There was a month s less fishing m the 



