140 Part III. — Tirentieth Annual Report 



XIV. plaice varies from 25"4 per cent, to TO, witches from 80'6 to 332, 

 and megrims from 51 '9 to 6"2 ; in area XV. plaice vary fi'om 0-04 to G'6, 

 witches from 87'5 to 40*0, and megrims from 42"8 to 0"5 ; in area 

 XXIII. plaice varies from 57*7 to 12-0, witches from 25-4 to 0-5, and 

 megrims from 32"2 to 0*8. In order to determine the meaning of these 

 variations and the fluctuations which occur, it would be also necessary 

 to ascertain the quantity per haul of the net or per hour's fishing, and 

 this information is now being obtained. 



During the first thi'ee months of 1891 similar information was 

 recorded regarding the places of fishing of the whole of the steam- 

 trawlers then landing fish at Aberdeen — 65 in number ; and the com- 

 parison of the results with those in the corresponding months of 1901 

 is of interest. The total number of landings made in the period referred 

 to in 1891 was 760, and the quantity of fish landed amounted to 48,969 

 cwts., an average of 64"4 cwts. per landing. In the three months of 

 1901 the number of landings or voyages of the trawlers, from which 

 particulars were obtained, was 644, and the quantity of fish landed was 

 78,558 cwts., an average of 122 cwts. per landing or voyage, or very 

 nearly double what it was ten years before. 



There were, however, two diflerences of importance in the conditions. 

 Firstly, in 1891 the beam-ti'awl was alone used, while in 1901 it was 

 the otter-trawl ; secondly, the grounds were to a very large extent 

 different, and mostly more distant than 1891, involving longer voyages 

 and more fishing on each voyage. It is probable, also, that the new 

 grounds fished over in 1901 were more productive in the gross quantity 

 of fish taken than the grounds fished over in the earlier period. 



The change in the fishing grounds is of interest. The areas from 

 which the supplies were drawn in the three months of 1891 are shown 

 in the chart, Plate II., and the corresponding areas in 1901 in Plate 

 III. It will be seen that in the former period thirteen areas, or parts 

 of areas, were frequented, while in 1891 fishing was carried on in 

 eighteen areas, or parts of areas. The extent of the grounds was thus 

 greater in the latter period. Moreover, while in 1891 seven of the 

 thii'teen areas of fishing were south of 57" N. lat. {i.e., a line between 

 Stonehaven and Hanstholmen in Denmark), in 1901 only two were south 

 of this line, the remaining sixteen being to the north of it. The predomi- 

 nant region of fishing had been shifted northwards. Only seven of the 

 areas were frequented in both periods, and one of these (XVII.) only 

 partly in 1901 . Broadly sj)eaking, the new grounds represent the region 

 between the 50-fathom and the 100-fathom line, which the introduction 

 of the otter-trawl enabled to be exploited. 



The chief feature in regard to the fishing grounds in the two 

 periods was thus the transference of trawling into the deeper water to 

 the north and north-east. Another change that occurred between 1891 

 and 1901 was the closure of the Moray Firth. The territoiial waters from 

 Brora in Sutherlandshire to Kinnaird Head were closed to trawlers on 

 4th July 1887, and the area within a straight line between the Ord of 

 Caithness and Craighead, near Buckie, was closed on 19th November 

 1900, and the whole Firth, from Duncansby Head to Rattray Point, 

 on 22nd November 1892. In 1891 the greater part of the Firth was 

 thus open, comprising about 1500 square (geographical) miles, most of 

 which was excellent trawling ground, between twenty and fifty fathoms, 

 and including Smith Bank. Thus, on the one hand, from the closure of 

 these grounds and the abandonment of the grounds south of 57° N. lat. 

 (areas XXX., XXXI., XXXII., XXXIV., XXXVL), which are also in 

 from about twenty to about fifty fathoms, and, on the other hand, from the 



