COUNCIL — JULY 1905 — APPEND. D 
Appendix D 
Memorandum 
On the Value of Market-Statisties in yielding Information with regard 
to the Distribution of Fishes 
(With 5 tables and a chart) 
6 
It has been generally recognised for many years, that the principal and 
indeed the only method of obtaming adequate information regarding the quantitative 
distribution of the food-fishes over a wide area was by means of market-statisties. 
The experience of the past few years shows, however, that the fish-population on 
small areas can also be investigated in a similar manner, and when a large number 
of small areas have to be studied, as is the case under the program of the inter- 
national investigations, it is becoming more and more evident, that the assistance 
of the market-statistics in scientific enquiry is quite indispensable. 
Three kinds of statistics are now being collected at fishing-ports: 1. actual 
measurements of samples of the catches landed by fishing-boats, with information 
as to the date and place of capture, etc.; 2. data regarding the catches of a number 
of boats (“representative statistics”), indicating the total weight, or average weight 
of known quantities, of each species landed by these boats, with information 
regarding the date, duration and region of fishing, ete.; 3. data regarding the total 
quantities of each species landed by all boats (“ordinary market-statistics”). 
We may take it for granted, that the usual division of the principal species 
“into large, medium and small is made in each case and that the returns are 
given monthly. : 
It is self-evident, that these three kinds of statistics supplement one another, 
and together or separately furnish most valuable material regarding the distribution 
of the various species of foodfishes, also, that such a body of reliable material can 
be gained in no other way. The present question is, how this material can be 
utilized and arranged for scientific purposes. 
The accompanying Tables and Chart have been drawn up to answer this 
question. The information is derived mostly from the returns of Danish fishing- 
