246 BRITISH FISHERIES 



to an extent which could not be foreseen. Gener- 

 ally speaking, the Commissioners based this opinion 

 on three distinct lines of evidence : 



1. The statistics available at the time. These 

 were not very abundant or enlightening ; but the 

 returns furnished by the leading railway companies 

 for the three years (1862-64) preceding the 

 report of the Commission showed that there was 

 a well-marked increase in the quantity of fish 

 carried from the principal fishing ports. The 

 statistics of the Scottish herring fisheries showed 

 also that for a period of twenty-five years the 

 quantity of herrings cured and exported had, on 

 the whole, increased. There was also an increase 

 in the quantity of the same fish sold in a fresh 

 condition. So far, then, as statistical information 

 went, there was no room for apprehension. 



2. The prices of fish in certain public markets 

 during a period of ten years. If the prices main- 

 tained the same general level, it was clear that the 

 supply was keeping pace with the demand. On 

 the whole, the prices were fairly constant, and 

 since the demand had steadily increased, owing to 

 a growing population and increasing means of 

 transport, it was evident that the supply, too, was 

 steadily increasing. 



3. What we may call an a priori argument. 

 This is less clearly expressed in the report of the 

 1863 Commission than in the report of one held 

 a year or two before that date, but it is to be 



