46 BRITISH IND USTEIES. 



of one of his smacks during each of five following 

 years, and which may be taken as fairly representing 

 the work of a trawler with average success, we may 

 put the proportion of prime to offal as about one-fifth ; 

 but the money obtained for even that small proportion 

 of the best fish, was more than twice as much as was 

 received for the larger quantity of inferior kinds. 

 This record was of a North Sea trawler ; but at Brix- 

 ham, where large quantities of red mullet are landed 

 in the latter part of the summer, the proportion of 

 prime fish would probably be larger, and the money 

 returns increased. Ked mullet are mostly confined to 

 the south and west of England, and they are there 

 properly included among the prime fish. 



Haddocks and plaice are caught in almost incredible 

 numbers in the North Sea; and some years ago the 

 former were looked upon as almost worthless, for the 

 means of selling them fresh, before the extension of 

 railways from the coast, were extremely limited ; but 

 now, in addition to the increased demand for the fresh 

 fish, the practice of drying and smoking the haddock 

 is so largely adopted, that every one of them that . 

 comes to market is sure of finding a purchaser. 



The number of sea-going trawlers now working on 

 the English coasts cannot be less than between 1600 

 and 1700 ; and of these more than 1200 systematically 

 fish in the North Sea. 



I may here say a few words on a subject to which 

 the attention of fishermen may be profitably directed, 

 viz. the spawning habits of sea-fish. There is nothing 

 about which they speak with greater .confidence than 



