PRESENT CONDITION OF FISHING GROUNDS. 97 



lemon-dabs being more abundant. For the night of the 29th 

 May 18 boxes of haddocks and flat fishes were landed, besides cod 

 and ling. For each box of good haddocks (7 stones) IQs. were 

 obtained, a much lower price than in Aberdeen, where, however, 

 the box was heavier (8 stones or more). The 'catch' for the 

 night was about a ton in all. A small liner, with five men on 

 board, which went out between 9 and 10 A.M. on the 29th, 

 landed at 5 P.M. (i.e., in 8 hours) f box of large, -J- box of medium, 

 2 boxes of small haddocks, many about 9 inches long ; 1 lemon- 

 dab, 2 very fine cod, and 4 codling, and this though their lines 

 were ' shot ' in broad daylight. The fishing-ground was from 8 

 to 10 miles off. This is a small ' catch,' but the circumstances 

 under which it was made were not favourable. There can be 

 no doubt that the entire eastern coast abounded with multi- 

 tudes of small haddocks, and that these had been captured 

 in immense numbers by both liners and trawlers. 



The best trawling ships at Aberdeen, which were about 30 

 in number in 1894, chiefly frequent the Great Fisher Bank, 

 about 200 miles off, and from 30 to 40 fathoms in depth, it 

 being a general opinion amongst fishermen that this and up to 

 60 fathoms is the most favourable depth for their pursuit, for 

 they think that in deep water (100 — 175 fathoms) they get only 

 conger, halibut, and skate ; and elsewhere, as off the coast of 

 Portugal, only sharks are procured at 500 fathoms. Yet the 

 Rev. W. S. Green, off the west coast of Ireland, got ' witches/ 

 ling, haddocks, and conger at 170 fathoms, and skate and 

 forkbeards at 500 fathoms. On this ground (Great Fisher 

 Bank), which is about 120 miles from east to west, and from 60 

 to 80 miles from north to south (a larger area than the inclosed 

 region of the Moray Frith), the 'catches' of these trawlers vary 

 from 80 to 180 boxes or more, consisting of plaice, haddocks, 

 turbot, and other fishes, which are procured in from 8 to 13 

 days, including the time spent on the voyage. Since the Moray 

 Frith was closed, these ships, therefore, find it remunerative to 

 undertake this long journey, and bring their fishes preserved in 

 ice to the market in Aberdeen. They do not seem, however, to 

 find it so profitable to fish in the waters near the Scottish shored 

 ^ Some worked lately with success within 30 miles of Aberdeen. January, 1899. 

 M. R. 7 



