tEESIDENT's ADBRESS. 



303 



1891, thus reducing the catch per ton from 92*9 in 1888 to 49*8 

 in 1891. It seems, then, impossible to doubt that this rate of 

 depletion is much more than the area can sustain without serious 

 deterioration. The falling-off illustrated in this table occurred 

 chiefly in the larger and more valuable flat-fish, but was com- 

 mon to all kinds. Yery few halibut are ever caught in the 

 trawl-net, — only about 0-1 7 per cent, of the total catch : but the 

 beam-trawl is the great instrument by which supplies of turbot 

 and other flat-fish are obtained. And notwithstanding the con- 

 stant increase in the number and efficiency of trawling vessels 

 the quantity of flat-fish caught is diminishing. As evidence of 

 this let us take another of Dr. Fulton's valuable tables, refer- 

 ring to the quantities of flat-fish landed on the East Coast of 

 England : — 



Year. 



Turbot. 



Soles. 



Prime Fish 

 not separately 

 distinguished. 



Totals. 





CWTS. 



CWTS. 



CWTS. 



CWTS. 



1887 



57,561 



67,874 



109,424 



234,859 



1888 



48,760 



52,151 



105,057 



205,968 



1889 



44,272 



47,747 



25,848 



117,867 



1890 



40,763 



46,187 



46,137 



133,087 



1891 



47,594 



61,287 



43,728 



152,609 



Dr. Fulton remarks that the increase in the last year may be due 

 to the substitution of steam for sailing vessels, — but in any case 

 the falling-off since 1887 is very conspicuous, and this, notwith- 

 standing the increased area and greater distances compassed by 

 the modern boats. To quote again from the Scotch Fishery 

 Keport : — Mr. John Bain, the fishing officer for the Peterhead 

 district, says that ''any increase that has taken place in the 

 quantities of fish landed must be largely, if not wholly, attri- 

 buted to the increased appliances in operation. A large depletion 

 has taken place on the inshore fishing grounds, and the boats are 

 now, to a large extent, fishing on what may be called virgin soil. 

 Some large quantities of halibut were got on these new grounds, 

 but after a time a large decrease took place in the catch. ■^ ^ ^ 

 All our fisheries — lines and nets — have of late years been pro- 



