statistics 



Work of til 

 Bureau 



HOEK— INTRODUCTORY _ XIV — 



a limited area and for one or other species, yet in general it may be said, that this 

 has not been the case for the North Sea and for the principal species. 

 Fisheries j^ jj^jj thcrcforc to be determined, as far as possible, whether the total catch of 



the more important species in the North Sea has shown a marked decrease during 

 the latest years, and it is obvious, that the solution of this question was only to 

 be expected from the study of the fisheries statistics. This study belonged origin- 

 ally to the program of Committee B constituted by the International Council; it 

 appeared necessary, however, during the second year of the common work, that 

 this work should be taken over by the Bureau. The manner in which the Bureau 

 has proceeded with the work, may be mentioned. 



It appeared advisable to begin the statistical work with a description of the 

 statistical material available in the various countries which fish in the North Sea. 

 From the beginning, the Bureau has had no illusions as to the absolute worth of 

 this statistical material for the solution of the principal questions concerned. In 

 most coimtries, however, great pains have been taken for many years, and great 

 expense incurred, in the collection and regular publication of annual reports over 

 the fisheries and in the formation of statistics regarding these matters; it there- 

 fore seemed of practical value to investigate, what was already available and to 

 test how far it might be utilised. The work has now arrived at the stage, that 

 the first two portions can be published here. It is divided into three parts, two 

 of which are already completed. 



Part I is based on the published annual reports and the available statistics 

 etc., and brings the existing material together in the form of short descriptions 

 of the principal sea-fisheries of the various countries. 



Part II gives a summary of the available statistical material, and endeavours 

 by its means to elucidate, if and how far, overfishing has taken place. 



The third part is not yet finished; it will consider the methods and manner 

 in which, judging from the knowledge gained of existing fisheries statistics, the 

 statistics of the future may be arranged in the various countries. 

 The fisiieries pg^j-^ J ^y^^ p^j-)- jj ^rc added to this General Report as Appendix J and 



'" differe°nt ' Appcudlx K. Part I has been drawn up, partly by Dr. Hoek (for Germany, 

 countries Hollaud , Bclglum and France), partly by Dr. Kyle (for Sweden, Norway, Den- 

 mark, England and Scotland). In the main, the method of treatment is the same 

 for all the countries; where it is not quite the same, this depends for the most 

 part on the different manner in which the administration of the fisheries, the 

 compilation of the fisheries statistics and the annual reports, are arranged in the 

 various countries. 

 The statistics j^ Part II (Appcudix K) which has been drawn up by Dr. Kyle, the statistical 



' «*"""'"' data of the various countries regarding the principal North Sea fishes have been 

 summarised, in order to ascertain how far these may be utilised for conclusions 

 concerning the overfishing problem. The plaice is dealt with in most detail, and 

 a description is given, first of all, of the plaice fishery at certain parts of Norway 

 and in the Kattegat, whilst the North Sea fisheries are dealt with later. In many 

 ways, the North Sea fisheries are similar to those of the Kattegat. As the latter 

 is smaller, however, the physical conditions simpler and the available statistical 



