APPENDIX J: ENGLAND 



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Average price 

 of fish 



The dficrease in the quantities of haddock landed in 1901 and 1902 is noteworthy. 



The most marked increase is that displayed by the herring, and this increase has been 

 entirely on the east coast. It may be mentioned here, that the greater portion of the 

 increased landings of herrings within recent years, has been due to the fishing of the Scot- 

 tish boats in English waters (see p. 120). 



The other species captured by drift-nets, viz mackerel and pilchards, are not taken in 

 any quantity on the east coast. They are mostly taken on the south coast at the mouth 

 of the English Channel. 



The values of the fish landed show the same tendencies as the quantities. On the 

 east coast, the prime fish, sole and turbot, but not the brill, show a decrease in value. 

 Taking all coasts the decrease is not apparent, for the reason that the values of all three 

 species, like the quantities, have greatly increased on the south and west coasts. 



With regard to the remaining species, the tables show a general increase and for 

 almost all the species. For 1902, the value of some of the species, and more particularly 

 of the haddock, is somewhat less than for previous years, but if we take 190î and 1902 

 together, the increase is maintained. Of the separate species, the cod, herring and plaice 

 show the greatest increase. 



The shell fish, whose total value is given in the table, are crabs ca. 20 %, lobsters 

 ca. 9 ''/(), oysters ca. 40 %, other shell fish, including shrimps, cockles, mussels, periwinkles, 

 escallops etc. ca. 30 "/q of the total amount. The crabs {Cancer pagurus) and oysters are 

 mostly taken on the east coast, the lobsters {Palinurus und Homarus), mostly on the 

 south and west coast. 



The value of fish depends, of course, on the average price, and some interesting points 

 are displayed by an examination of the average prices paid in England since the statistics 

 began. The data for the earlier period, from 1886 — 1900, are uncertain in some details, 

 as already shown, but the probability is that the average for all the fish together is fairly 

 accurate. It thus appears, that the average price for all fish increased slightly during the 

 period 1886—1895, but has remained practically constant since that time. There has been 

 a decrease in 1902. This constancy of the average price has accompanied a very great 

 increase (over 50 %) in the total quantities landed in the country. It would therefore 

 appear, that the supply of fish has, on the whole, just kept pace with an increasing demand. 



When we remember, that the quantities of the more valuable "prime" fish have not 

 increased, we should almost expect that their average price had increased. As a matter of 

 fact, this expectation is only partially realised. The average price of all three species has 

 increased gradually up to a certain point, thereafter it has become more constant. 



The following figures will show this more closely. 



Table LXTII, Average price (in pence pr. lb.) of brill, sole & turbot Id England, since 1898 



