22 



Figure 25 shows in lilce manner thie average catclies of Large Haddociv. The numbers 

 are greatest off the north-west of Scotland, and also towards the Danish coast. They are 

 distinctly larger in the northern areas of the North Sea than on the middle grounds, 

 and they are greatly diminished in the areas adjacent to the east coast of Scotland. 



In regard to the areas off the east coast of Scotland (XXIII, XXVIII, XXIV) we 

 find not only in this case, but in that of several other fishes, that the average catches 

 are lower than in any other part of our area. The cause of this difference is partly to 

 be found in the undoubted fact that on these near grounds a number of the older and 

 smaller trawlers work, using somewhat smaller nets than the larger vessels that make the 

 more distant voyages. It would be highly important to investigate this matter more 

 closely, but we are as yet quite unable to compare closely the catching power of these 

 smaller vessels working with nets on a ground-rope of 130 to 150 feet and headline of 

 84 to 100 feet with that of the larger class that use a ground-rope of 180 feet and 

 headline of 130 feet. It must also be remembered that the total amount of fishing is 



Fig. 26. Small Haddock. 

 Iceland ... 10 

 Faeroe .... 17 



North Sea Average . 46'8 



Fig. 27. Extra Small Haddock 

 Iceland . . . o 



Faeroe. 



North Sea Average . I's 



exceptionally great upon these grounds, and that the amount of fish drawn from them 

 is in the aggregate much greater than that brought by our vessels from any other region 

 of equal size in the North Sea. And, if we exclude certain of the southern grounds to 

 which the English trawlers resort in great numbers, this statement will probably remain 

 true of all that part of the North Sea with which we are concerned, even if we reckon 

 the English and foreign trawlers together with the Scotch. It is by no means therefore 

 to be wondered at if these areas show a lower average catch than do the other areas 

 with which we deal, but it is much to be regretted that we cannot yet trace out the 

 actual difference, or the cause of the actual difference, in a more thorough manner. 



The mean catch of Large Haddock on our North Sea grounds may be stated at 

 about 58 cwt. per 100 hours' fishing. At Faeroe the average rises to about 100 cwts., 

 but it falls at Iceland to 36 cwts. In the latter case it is probable that a great many of 

 all but the largest size are thrown away. 



