APPENDIX J: ENGLAND _ 98 _ 



Steam was first introduced by the liners about 1860, but the number of steam-liners 

 has never been very great. In 1893 there were 56, in 1902, 67. In addition to the 

 steam-liners, there is a considerable number of sailing smacks engaged in lining, either 

 with hand-lines or long-lines, unfortunately, the English statistics do not separate liners 

 from trawlers, so that one has no accurate data concerning their relative importance in 

 supplying the fish of the country, but, judging from the relative numbers fishing, the 

 quantities landed by the liners now form less than 10 "/o of those landed by the trawlers. 

 Whether the line fishing is decreasing or not, cannot be learnt from these statistics. 

 Drift-net Fishing rpj^g drift-net fishing is second in importance only to the trawling, and during recent 

 years, has increased enormously owing to the great development of the autumn herring 

 fishery on the east coast. In former times, there was also a considerable spring and mid- 

 summer fishing in the southern parts of the North Sea and, though of very little impor- 

 tance, it is still carried on. 



Other drift-net fisheries of importance are carried on in the English Channel, chiefly 

 at its western end on the coast of Cornwall. The mackerel is the chief species there, but 

 herring are also taken during the winter, and pilchards in late summer and autumn. 



The progress of the drift-net fishing within recent times may be judged from the 

 increase in the number of steam -drifters, i.e. steamers specially engaged in drift-net 

 fishing. For 1894, no mention is made of these in the Inspectors Annual Report, in 1902, 

 there were over 150 engaged on the east coast alone. 

 Food-Fishes The principal species in point of value are the haddock, herring and plaice. These 



three species together constitute over 50 "/o of the quantity and value of all the fish landed 

 by the English fishing boats. Next in order come the cod, sole, mackerel, halibut, hake, 

 turbot, skates and rays, whiting, lemon soles, ling etc. (See Table LXIV). 

 Fishing Grounds Tjje Separate grounds, which have received names from the fishermen of England, are 

 almost as numerous as the ports from which they sail. The North Sea and English 

 Channel have been explored from one end to the other and very little trawlable ground in 

 these waters, is now left untouched throughout the year. In the earlier days of trawling, 

 it was possible to signal out the Terschelling and Borkum Plats, the Leman Shoal, the 

 Pits and south-west corner of the Dogger etc. as special grounds to be visited at certain 

 seasons, but the constant fishing of later years has had the effect of depressing great 

 reputations and of making a more common level everywhere. Fish tend to congregate 

 together, at seasons and on particular grounds, just as they use to do, but nowadays they 

 are more sought for before they get to those grounds. 



Since the otter-trawl was introduced , trawling has been regularly carried on to the 

 northward right to the 100 fathom line, and in more recent years, southward in the Bay 

 of Biscay and even on the coast of Portugal. In the west, the Irish coasts have been 

 more or less explored, and likewise the slopes of the Atlantic further to the north as far 

 as Rockall. The Fseroes and Iceland were known to the line-fishermen long before the 

 trawlers and a considerable amount of fishing is still carried on at both places. 



unfortunately, the statistics up to 1902, make no distinction between the different 

 fishing-grounds inside or outside the North Sea, so that no information is as yet to hand 

 concerning their relative importance. 



