still further increased to 46,930 tons. Thus we may trace 

 to the application of ice and also in the case of Grimsby, 

 special railway and dock accommodation the great and rapid 

 development of the North Sea trawling. Hull has not 

 advanced of late years so rapidly as Grimsby, but I attribute 

 this to the want of ample and suitable dock accommo- 

 dation, and the indifference of the railway company to our 

 wants, and not from want of spirit and enterprise in her 

 fishermen or smack owners. 



% 



I give these instances as illustrations to show what can 

 be done, and to point out in what direction we may look for 

 further development. One. word gives it, viz., accommodation. 



As the increase in the number of smacks has gone on, so 

 has also their size and tonnage increased, and we find the 

 small boat of 24 tons now replaced by that of 90 tons, with 

 steam appliances and improvements for getting their gear. 

 As one thing leads to another, this has come about by the 

 introduction of ice as a means of preserving the fish. 

 Fishermen finding more fish by venturing farther away 

 have gradually extended the fishing-grounds, almost 

 covering the North Sea. Away across the Dogger Bank to 

 the Horn reefs, and across the Fisher Bank, and in deeper 

 water, up to 48 fathoms, after the haddocks and plaice, go 

 the Hull and Grimsby fishermen in the winter months ; and 

 away down there, 240 and 260 miles from Spurn, in the N.E., 

 scattered about, may now be found the single boats in great 

 numbers. It is here the deep water necessitated the intro- 

 duction of steam-power in getting the gear, and this new 

 feature in the business soon begins to show itself, and is 

 widely adopted. These vessels now frequently remain out 

 three and even four weeks getting their voyage. 



Meanwhile Messrs. Hewitts continue their system of 

 fleeting and boxing with steam cutters, and as the fish is 



