_ 105 — APPENDIX J: ENGLAND 



Table LXTIII. Average Price of Fish landed In England, In pence per pound (lb.) 



It would seem, therefore, as if the demand in England for this class of fish at such 

 prices, had reached its maximum. That the supply of fish on the market has only in 

 part to do with the prices, is seen from a comparison of the prices paid for the sole and 

 other prime fish in 1901 and 1902. As the quantities landed were considerably less in 

 1902, we should have expected the average price to be greater, instead of which it is 

 distinctly less. It may be mentioned also, that a cessation in the increase of steam traw- 

 lers occurred at the same time as the cessation of the upward tendency in the average prices. 



With regard to the commoner fish, there has been a general upward tendency in the 

 prices until the year 190L', when a great fall occurred for all the principal species, namely, 

 cod, haddock, herring and plaice. The greatly increased landings would account for the 

 fall in the case of the first and last, but as the quantities of haddock had considerably 

 decreased in 1902, the decline in the average price here must be due to other causes 

 — perhaps the increased quantities of other species on the market, perhaps to poorer 

 quality. 



The increase in the average prices previous to 1901, would seem to be due to a greatly 

 increased demand. This is fairly clear in the case of almost all species, but more especially 

 for the cod, haddock, herring and plaice. The increase in the quantities landed has been 

 accompanied by an increase in the average price. It is remarkable, however, that the 

 price of plaice in 1902 was lower than in any year since statistics began to be collected 

 with regard to it, simply because the quantities landed in that year were greater than in 

 any previous year. 



The English statistics furnish data also, with regard to the quantities taken during 

 each month of the year. In the Memorandum published as introduction to the Statistical 

 Tables for 1902, p. 12, a table is given showing the average value, over a period of years, 

 of the quantities landed on the east coast of England during each month of the year. The 



Monthly 

 .Statistics 



Appendix J 



14 



