44 THE COMMERCIAL SEA FISHES OF 



second, and by far the largest class, consists of fresh fish, 

 which cannot be supplied from abroad. Here the price in 

 the market will depend on the amount received ; if large, it 

 is low ; if small, it rises ; consequently the loser is the 

 purchaser, not the fisherman or salesman. Should, how- 

 ever, an increased quantity be desirable, and which is not 

 obtainable from the better kinds, quantity is made up by 

 hake, rays, skates, and other forms, which formerly were 

 mostly consumed at the localities where they were captured, 

 by the lower classes. 



The various methods in use by the fishermen in order to 

 obtain our most important commercial sea fisheries, may be 

 divided into (i) net and (2) line fishing. The main forms 

 of net-fishing are the drift-net, the seine-net, the bag-net, 

 the kettle-net or weir, the trammel or set- net, the beam 

 trawl, and the stow-net. Each of these will require a short 

 and general description. 



The drift-net is mainly employed for the capture of gre- 

 garious fishes, or such as swim in shoals, as the mackerel, 

 herring, pilchard, and in some localities sprats, and is 

 serviceable for securing such when residing some distance 

 from land, and over deep water where they occasionally 

 come to the surface. It may be likened to a wall of net, 



size and condition, until the fishery had become almost ruined. The 

 captures during the years from 1879 to 1882 were as follows : 



In 1879 there were sent to the rail 668 pads. 

 1880 656 



1 88 1 2066 



1882 3463 



It is now petitioned that these restrictive measures be continued. The 

 figures speak for themselves, both as demonstrating the effects of 

 unrestricted license in fishing as well as the results of wholesome 

 restrictions. 



