42 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



their allies ; 2. Herring, which would include the herring, 

 pilchard, anchovy, and shad, the first of these fisheries being 

 the most valuable along the coast of Scotland ; 3. Flat 

 fishes, as turbot, brill, halibut, flounder, sole, plaice, &c. ; 

 4. Mackerel ; 5. Rays and skates ; 6. Gurnards, sea breams, 

 dories, &c. 



These fisheries not only afford food to a great extent for 

 the ever-increasing people of these islands, but employ- 

 ment for the fishermen, and likewise to a large number of 

 individuals on shore engaged in the various trades with 

 which fisheries are intimately bound up. Uninfluenced by 

 droughts, they would, if economically worked, be capable of 

 affording an almost inexhaustible harvest of food, and it is 

 remarkable in what different lights fishing has been viewed 

 in different times. 



It is not my purpose to enter upon the laws which were 

 in existence up to within the last fifteen years, when all 

 were abolished. Our fish salesmen and our fishermen 

 assert that some of our sea fish are visibly decreasing, for 

 although the gross weight of fish brought to our larger 

 markets is increasing, such is due both to inferior forms 

 being withdrawn from the local fish markets, and larger 

 boats, more men and nets, aided by steam power, being 

 employed in order to supply the markets ; irrespective of 

 which the fisheries are gradually receding from our coasts, 

 while the general size of the captured trawl and line fish is 

 visibly diminishing, and the price augmenting. 



Were a weekly return published of the various sorts of 

 fish, their weight and their cost, the public would soon be 

 in a position to judge for themselves whether the augmented 

 price of fish is due to a combination of fish salesmen as 

 some suppose, or rather to increased cost in capturing the 

 finny tribes and conveying them to market. 



