6o 



BRITISH FISHERIES 



FISHING VESSELS 



These figures 1 (which relate to the United 

 Kingdom) show that, during the period under 

 consideration, the number of steam fishing vessels, 

 which were mostly trawlers, had been nearly 

 trebled, and that they were, on the average, larger 

 boats than those used ten years previously. At 

 the same time, the number of sailing vessels had 

 actually decreased, although, since the total tonnage 

 was slightly increased, their average size was 

 greater than at the previous period. Another 

 important change, the substitution of the otter- 

 trawl for the beam-trawl, had also taken place with 

 regard to the fishing apparatus of the steam vessels, 

 and this change represented a very great increase 

 in efficiency. 



A result of great significance attended these 

 changes in the catching power of the British fish- 

 ing marine : changes which also took place, though 



1 Report of the Select Committee on Sea-Fisheries, 1893, Appen- 

 dix II., p. 379. 



