APPENDIX J: BELGIUM _ 86 — 



foregoing month. For each month, the total value of the fish landed by the Belgian 

 steamers is given, that of the sailing vessels as well. The number of the steamers and 

 sailing boats which landed the fish is not mentioned, however; the number of fishings 

 (pêches) for the steamers and the sailing boats together, is given. The total value of the 

 fish landed by foreign fishing boats is published at the same time: one item for the Eng- 

 lish, one for the French, one for the Dutch and one for the German ships. The quantities 

 of fish landed are not given, neither totals, nor for the different species which compose 

 the catches. 



With regard to prices as paid at the fish markets of Bruxelles and Ostende, lists of 

 these prices for different fishes in kg. have been published since many years in local 

 papers, and also on the cover of the Belgian monthly "Pêche et Pisciculture". 



b. Manner in which the statistics are collected 



With regard to the official statistics published by the government, the tables on the 

 seafisheries, mentioned in the foregoing chapter, have been composed out of data furnished 

 by "M. M. les commissaires maritimes à Anvers, Blankenberghe, Nieuport et Ostende". 



The figures published by the Ostende Chamber of commerce are sent in monthly by 

 the Director of the Fish-Market. 



In the smaller harbours of the Belgian coast, the quantities of fish landed seem not 

 to be registered, or at least, published in a regular way. ' 



c. Forms of publication 



The only statistics which have been published in a distinct form are those mentioned 

 p. 85. About the form in which they are published nothing need be added here. 



III. General information which may be deduced from the statistics 



a. Regarding the quantity of fish caught by Belgian fishermen over a period of years 



About the quantities of fish caught and landed by Belgian fishermen, the available 

 statistics give no information, the only exception being the cod fishery. For that fishery 

 the table published by the government gives the quantities in kg. caught in each year, 

 since 1872 (see Table LIV). 



b. Regarding the value of the fish landed by Belgian fishermen over a period of years 



The official statistics give figures regarding the value of the fish caught by Belgian 

 fishermen in separate tables, for the so-called small herring fishery (petite pêche du hareng) 

 and for the fresh-fish that is caught (pêche de marée). 



For the fresh fish (marée), the table gives for the years 1882 — 1902 for each of the 

 fishery-harbours Anvers (until 1895), Ostende, Nieuport, Coxyde, Blankenberghe, Heyst and 

 La Panne (Adinkerke), the number of fishing boats and the total value of the fish caught 

 by the fishermen from each place. As the difference in size between the boats from the 



' Through the efforts of the Director of the Belgian section of the international exploration of the 

 sea, the statistical work has been greatly improved. In future, the number of baskets of each kind of fish 

 and of the different sizes will be recorded and a private service of information, concerning the origin of the 

 catches, is already acting. 



