APPENDIX J: GERMANT _ 38 — 



Drift-nets ("Buttgarne"), fixed nets and trawl: for flat-fish. 



Stop-nets: for lampreys, sprats and herring. 



Shove-nets: for Crustacea (shrimps). 



Traps and dams: for plaice, herring and garfish. 

 In the annual reports published by the "Deutsche Seefischerei-Verein", the products of 

 the coast fishery are also dealt with. The first notices are for the year 1885 and are 

 restricted, like those for 1886 and 1887 — so far as the North Sea coast fisheries are 

 concerned — to the fisheries on the lower Elbe. From 1888 onwards, the entire North 

 Sea coast fisheries are taken account of in these reports. 



In these annual reports, the data are given according to the principal species considered ; 

 the same procedure will be adopted in this summary and the quantities of the principal 

 taken, will be briefly indicated. 



Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio). In 1885, 6500 specimens were taken on the lower Elbe, in 1887, 

 9900 specimens; in 1901, 1413, in 1902, only 1278. On the Weser, the highest number was 

 38 in 1892, in 1901, 11 were taken there, in 1901, 4 and in 1902 none at all; on the Ems, 

 the numbers decreased fairly evenly from 250 in 1888 to 59 in 1902. In the years 1890—96 the 

 steamers fished in the North Sea from 400 to 1000 specimens each year; they seem to have 

 been mostly small sturgeons: the 600 landed in Geestemiiude in 1895 weighed barely 20 kg. 

 each. In 1900, 38, in 1901, 91 and in 1902, 178 sturgeon were caught by the steamers. 



Salmon (Salmo solar). Salmon are caught on the lower Elbe, the lower Weser and lower 

 Ems. The quantities seem to have remained fairly constant in recent years; in 1902, 2261 were 

 taken on the lower Elbe, 717 on the lower Weser, 278 on the lower Ems. 



Shad (Clupea fintaj. The so-called "Maifisch" of the Elbe, Weser and Ems has turned out 

 to be the twaite shad. The number taken has rather increased than decreased since 1885. In 

 1902, 180,800 were taken on the Elbe, 330,000 on the Weser, 24,000 on the Ems. 



Smelt (Osmerus eperlanusj. The numbers of the smelt taken on the Elbe have very greatly 

 decreased (to judge from the figures in the annual reports). In 1886 and 1887, 4,572,000 and 

 2,700,000 kg. respectively, were taken on the lower Elbe; in 1901 and 1902, 450,000 and 

 480,000 kg. respectively. For the lower Weser and lower Ems, there are statistics since 1891. 

 During this period the shad fishery has remained practically constant. 



Lamprey (Petromyzon fluviatilisj. The numbers of the lamprey taken on the lower Elbe 

 (since 1886), and on the lower Weser and lower Ems (since 1891), have remained practically con- 

 stant; it is only on the lower Weser and lower Ems that one can detect a decrease since 1899. 



Eel (Anguilla vulgaris). Statistics exist for the lower Elbe since 1886, and for the lower 

 Weser and lower Ems, since 1888. The figures show great fluctuations but do not seem to have 

 greatly decreased. 



Flounder f Pleuronectes flesus). Statistics exist for the lower Elbe since 1885, and for 

 the lower Weser and lower Ems since 1888. The figures show no backward tendency. 



Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). Some figures have been published for the coastal waters of 

 East Friesland since 1890, concerning the production of the plaice fishery. The numbers are too 

 scarce to draw conclusions from. One may say, however, that great fluctuations occur and no 

 distinct decrease is evident. 



Sprat and small Herring are taken at the mouth of the Elbe and included together in 

 the statistics. The reports give the quantities caught in the Elbe since 1888, at the mouth of 

 the Weser (Geestemünde) since 1891, and for the Eras and Dollart since 1898. The numbers 

 show great variations, but the product of the fishery in general has not decreased. This is the 

 case also with the herring fishery on the East Frisian coast, on the lower Ems etc. The annual 

 reports give the total quantities caught since 1891. 



