- 49 



AtPËNDÎX K: KYLÖ 



As they stand, the figures seem to offer a good basis for comparison of the prices 

 paid for fish in the ditïerent countries, but it has to be remembered, that the average price 

 is significant, not only of the quantities landed and the demand for fish, but also, and 

 more especially, of the quality of the fish. A low price, for example, is not always a 

 sign that fish is cheap, it often means that the fish is of poor quality. Although it might 

 seem quite reasonable beforehand, to assume that the quality of fish landed in the differ- 

 ent countries from the same or similar regions would be the same on the whole, closer 

 examination of the available data shows, that this assumption cannot be maintained. Not 

 only is the quality different in different countries, it is very different at different ports of 

 the same country. 



It is well-known already, that different prices per pound or per kilogram are obtained 

 for fish of the same species but of different sizes. In general, the medium and larger 

 sizes obtain a higher price per pound than the smaller. This is of the greatest impor- 

 tance in devising methods for improvement of the fisheries. In the case of the plaice, 

 for example, the statistical data mentioned previously (p. 26) shows, that no consideration 

 need be given to an augmentation of the quantities; the problem is simply and solely 

 how to improve the quality of the fish brought to market. The same holds good, more 

 or less, for the other species mentioned. Taking the average price per pound, therefore, 

 as an index of quality, it may be of some practical importance to show the prices paid 

 for the different sizes of fish, so far as data can be obtained. 



Plaice: On the west coast of Denmark (Jutland), which is alone considered, the 

 plaice landed are all of small size, under u inches (28 cm.) on the average (see Part I, 

 p. 26). The price seems therefore somewhat high. 



In Germany, the statistics for Geestemünde and Bremerhaven distinguish between 

 large and medium together and small. The exact distincfions are not stated, but pre- 

 sumably the small fish are on the average under u inches (28 cm.). Since 1900, the 

 total quantities of the small and large and the average price of each sort, have been 

 as follows: 



1900 — 1903; large and medium, 856,000 kg.; average price per kg. 0-56 shillings 

 small 4,548,000 kg. ; — —, - 0-20 — 



For Holland, the difference in the average prices is even more remarkable. As 



already shown (p. 30), the great majority of the plaice landed there are small, and this 



is reflected in the low average price. The actual data for Ymuiden may be summarised 

 as follows: 



1900—1903; large, 150,930 kg.; average price per kg. 0.8 shillings 



medium, 575,700 - ; — _ - - 0-52 - 



small 11,239,590 - ; — _ - - o'i5 — 



(1903 only) second class of small, 1,557,840 - ; — — - - O'li — 



The small plaice here dominate the price of the whole, as is evident from Table XXVIII. 



So far as England is concerned, statistics are not yet forthcoming with regard to 

 the proportions of small and large in the total quantities. Evidence is given by Archer, 

 however, (1. c. p. 182) of these proporfions on the eastern grounds of the North Sea. The 

 catches refer to the period from March 1902 to December 1903. The total quantities 

 and the average prices are as follows: 



Appendix K 7 



