248 TKANSACTIOiXS LIVERPOOL BIOT,OGICAL SOCIETY. 



Now it is practically certain that the earlier totals 

 are sheer guesswork. From an intimate knowledge of 

 the district I have no hesitation in saying that the totals 

 for 1900 and 1901 are at least twice as high as they 

 ought to be. 



If the official statistics were available in detail it is 

 possible that other similar instances could be quoted. 

 The above remarks are based on the assumption that the 

 annual totals of lobsters (in the lioard's memorandum of 

 1910) have been correctly abstracted from the Annual 

 Reports furnished by the Central Authority. But have 

 they? 



A comparison with these annual reports does not 

 tend to reassure one that such is the case. Up to, and 

 including 1902, the official fishery statistics were 

 published by the lioard of Trade under tlie title of 

 " Statistical Tables and Memorandum rehtting to the 

 Sea Fisheries of the United Kingdom." 



In and since 1903 the lioard of Agiicultnre and 

 Fislieries have })ubrished the official siatisfics in the 

 " Annual Keport of Proceedings imder Acts relaling to 

 tlie Sea Fisheries." 



On comparing Ihe totals in the Board's ^NIiMnorandum 

 with these official records, we get the tolh)\\ing result: — 



