52 BRITISH SEA-FISHERIES 



large extent in the protected waters, and many of 

 them in the offshore waters are able, in conseqence 

 of their small size, to escape through the meshes of 

 the commercial trawl, even when mature. 



Two further experiments, carried out in 1890 and 

 1901 by the Scottish Fishery Board and the Marine 

 Biological Association respectively, showed for the 

 first time that the annual harvest of a given area bears 

 a much larger proportion to the stock of fish than had 

 been previously supposed. These were experiments 

 with marked fish, designed originally to trace their 

 migrations. Out of more than 1,200 plaice liberated 

 in the Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay, more 

 than 10 per cent, were recovered almost exclusively 

 by hook and line. Owing to these waters being closed 

 against trawlers, there is reason to believe that the 

 number actually recaptured by trawl and line together 

 was very much greater. Again, out of more than 

 400 marked plaice liberated on the Torbay fishing- 

 grounds, 27 per cent, of those liberated in the bay, 

 and 35 per cent, of those set free on the offshore 

 grounds, were recaptured by trawlers. 



The evidence derived from statistics has hitherto 

 been, in many respects, unsatisfactory. In spite of 

 the recommendations of more than one Royal Com- 

 mission, nothing was done towards a systematic 

 collection of fishery statistics until the late Duke of 

 Edinburgh, at a conference held at the Fisheries 

 Exhibition of 1883, happened to read a paper on some 

 statistics collected by coastguards as to the quantity 

 and quality of fish landed. This paper being sent to 

 the Board of Trade, 'it was decided to establish a 

 collection of fishery statistics for England and 

 Wales on the same lines, and generally by the same 

 machinery, as has been recommended by His Royal 

 Highness.' Unfortunately, neither the lines nor the 

 machinery have proved sound. The officials have also 



