APPENDIX J: SCOTLAND 



— 120 — 



ings calculated from the maximuca numbers. The average catch per boat is therefore 

 too low probably, but every year suffers similarly, so that the comparison over the years 

 given here should be a fair one. 



It has been mentioned on a previous page, that a large number of Scottish boats 

 pursue the herring fishery in English and Irish waters. The quantities taken there, espec- 

 ially during the past few years, have been very considerable. With the exception of 1894, 

 when only the values were given, the quantities of herring taken outwith Scottish waters 

 by the Scottish boats have always been given in the introduction to the Annual Reports. 

 They are included here in estimating the average catches. 



A more scientific method of comparing the average catch of fish over a period of 

 years might be, to estimate the average catch per mile of net, seeing that the square area 

 of the nets employed is given in the Reports. 



It has to be remarked, however, that the average catch per mile of net depends also 

 on the depth of the net. This is taken here to be 16 yards in depth on the average, but 

 it may be a little less, in which case, the length would be greater and consequently the 

 average per mile less. B'or the larger boats, the depth of the net is 16 yards, according 

 to the data given in the 1903 Report (p. LXV), and this is the same as the Dutch herring 

 nets, but in the older nets, the depth was from 9 to 10 yards (see Holdsworth 1. c.) 



It is of greater consequence, that the fishing boats always have one or more spare 

 nets, and though not stated, the probability is, that the area of the nets given in the Re- 

 ports includes also these spare nets. The net-area actually fishing throughout the year is 

 therefore unknown, but probably less than one half of that employed to calculate the 

 averages given. 



Table LXXTlll. Average gross amount (quantity and value) taken annual!; b; the flsberinen on the east coast of 



Scotland (Including Orkney and Shetland). 



' The value of the fishing in Irish and English waters is also included here. 

 ' Value of shell-fiah included. 



