92 CAPTURES BY LINERS AND TRAWLERS, 1897. 



own in the race. Hence the new system invented by Mr Scott, 

 of the Granton Steam Fishing Company, became a necessity. 



The year 1897 was marked by a considerable diminution 

 in line-caught round fishes, the total being 1,276,702 cwts. 

 = £492,103, a reduction of 172,557 cwts. and £16,825 on the 

 previous year. The amount was also exceeded by that of 1895, 

 though it was higher than in 1894. The greater part was 

 caused by a decrease of 154,758 cwts. of haddocks, valued at 

 £26,053. This reduction chiefly affected the nearer waters, 

 for the captures in the more distant waters by the trawlers 

 were satisfactory. These nomad fishes had apparently been 

 somewhat peculiar in their distribution. Cod had diminished 

 by 3,990 cwts. but increased in value £2,615. Torsk likewise 

 fell 2,158 cwts., and saithe no less than 34,584 cwts. Whitings 

 were less by 9,274 cwts. and £1,696, but congers remained in 

 the former position. On the other hand ling had substantially 

 increased by 82,154 cwts. and £10,583. The line-fishing, there- 

 fore, appeared to have been less successful generally than usual. 



The total for round fishes caught by the trawl was 499,259 

 = £229,506, an increase on the previous year of 55,009 cwts. 

 and £50,902. It is interesting that this substantial increase 

 was made up of 30,874 cwts. and £40,727 for haddocks over 

 the previous year, showing that at least they were abundant 

 somewhere. A decided increase also occurred in cod, viz. 

 19,679 cwts. and £7,759, and in saithe (green cod) of 2,484 cwts., 

 whitings 3,606 cwts. and £2,357, while congers remained about 

 the same. On the other hand there was a decrease of 1,641 cwts. 

 in ling. The trawlers therefore must have been of signal service 

 in making up the deficit of the liners in haddocks, and in 

 demonstrating that this species holds its own in the sea. More- 

 over, the powers of reproduction in such a species as the hadr 

 dock also make it certain that wherever a thinning has occurred 

 the swarms of eggs and young from the neighbouring regions 

 will by-and-by restore the balance at the usual seasonal period. 



The liners had a total of 112,957 cwts. = £72,068 for flat 

 fishes, a result only 146 cwts. under last year in weight, and 

 exceeding the value in 1896 by £5,034. Little change occurred 

 in regard to turbot, but halibut had a decrease of 3,450 cwts., 



