APPENDIX K: KYLE _ 26 — 



For general purposes, the difference is unimportant, but it makes a little difficulty 

 with regard to the amount of the Norwegian fisheries, which should be included in the 

 North Sea. 



The total area of the North Sea, defined as above, is c. 144,500 sq. miles or 

 496,400 sq. km. Within the limits taken by Krümm el, the area is 547,623 sqare km. 

 The whole of this area, however, is not fished in. The extreme limit of trawling at the 

 present time is 100 fathoms (182 meters), and comparatively little is done beyond 60 

 fathoms. Further, within the fishing area, there are large tracts which cannot be fished 

 on. If the Oyster Bank (see Chart) is omitted, the extent ot the rough ground or untrawl- 

 able area is about 9% of the whole, but including the Oyster Bank, the untrawlable 

 area is 13% of the whole'. 



2. Statistics of the plaice fishery in the North Sea 



It seems appropriate to begin the consideration of the North Sea fisheries statistics 

 with the plaice, the species most prominent in discussions on the overfishing problems. 

 As with the remaining species to be considered, difficulties in connection with the statistics 

 are given in the form of notes appended to the tables. 



The estimate of the total quantities of plaice landed at North Sea ports since 1892, 

 is shown in Table VII. The quantities taken by Belgium are not forthcoming, but their 

 absence probably makes no more difference to the conclusions one may feel inclined to 

 make, than the errors actually known to be present in the figures given. It is certain, 

 for example, that the figures for England are from 2 to 6 million kg. too high, for each 

 year. This is due to the quantities taken outside the North Sea but landed at ports on 

 the east coast of England. How far this affects the difference between the first and the 

 last years is, of course, not known. Again, some quantities of plaice are landed in Germany 

 and Scotland from beyond the North Sea, and in the Scottish figures the increase since 

 1898 is referable in great part to species other than plaice. On the other hand, the 

 figures for Denmark are from 1 to 2 million kg. too low during the later years. Balancing 

 these against one another, it is probable finally, that the total quantities given are about 

 5 million kg. too high. 



It is not possible to conclude from these figures, that the total quantity of plaice 

 landed annually from the North Sea has decreased over the years mentioned, even if 

 allowance be made for the quantities taken outside this area. It seems more reasonable 

 to think, that the quantities have remained practically constant — just as was concluded 

 for the Kattegat plaice fishery. 



The question then arises, what is the composition of the total quantity of plaice 

 landed annually from the North Sea? From the number of years the fishing for plaice 

 has been going on in the North Sea — and the entire area frequented by the plaice has 

 been fished over for the whole period considered — it is reasonable to conclude, that 

 the "accumulated stock" has been fished up and that the -current stock" is now the 

 main source of supply, as in the Kattegat. This is certainly the case for the southern 



• Mr. Martin Knudsen of Copenhagen has kindly assisted in making these calculations. The 

 extent of the rough ground as shown in the Chart is taken from the 1903 Chart compiled by Olsen 

 and pubHshed by Imray, Loudon. 



