98 PRESENT CONDITION OF FISHING GROUNDS. 



In the same way. the powerful ships which proceed to Iceland 

 bring from 200 to 400 boxes of fishes in about 14 days. The 

 plaice procured in this region are recognised by the dark spots ; 

 and as these, the haddocks, cod, and other forms, have been 

 * gutted ' and preserved in ice, they do not have so attractive an 

 appearance as those caught by the liners. 



Besides the areas just mentioned, some trawlers proceed to 

 Blacksod Bay, off county Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland, 

 for soles and turbot, w^hile in February and March others go to 

 ground 20 to 40 miles off Scarborough, where, perhaps, 20 score 

 of cod are caught in a night. Some, again, work on the turbot- 

 groand, from 80 to 90 miles off Aberdeen, and others find on 

 the Dogger Bank catches of from 18 to 20 boxes of plaice. 



When the trawlers from Granton and Leith are considered, 

 it is found that, notwithstanding the closure of the Forth (for 3 

 miles beyond the Island of May), these ships have increased in 

 number, have been improved in equipment, and have been able 

 to overcome the difficulties with which they were handicapped 

 — in comparison with the liners. In the case of the General 

 Steam Fishing Company's ships, and probably in others, 

 however, very definite instructions — based on carefully recorded 

 data, compiled during the last twelve years — are issued to each 

 captain as to the distance to be traversed (by the log), and 

 the direction on every occasion. No haphazard selection of 

 fishing-grounds is made. Thus in December, 1893, besides the 

 ordinary fishes, numerous cuttle-fishes (so valuable for bait) were 

 procured off the Isle of May. In January, February, March, 

 and April they work from 5 to 10 miles S.E. of the Isle of May, 

 viz., more or less on the grounds frequented in 1884. In March 

 and April the cod are captured as before in considerable numbers 

 as they congregate during the spawning season, and in the 

 earlier months as they follow the herrings. In June, July, 

 August, September, October, and November they take to the 

 more distant grounds off the Forth — about 40 miles E. 

 by N.E. 



The opinions somewhat freely expressed by some in 1884 as 

 to the decline of the trawling industry in the Forth and the 

 adjoining area — notwithstanding all the advantages of a free 



