INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1894. 195 



the usual variations, that this total is made up of fishes brought 

 from Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands — to which 

 distant regions the ships have now to go to keep up the supply. 

 Every Scotch bay, according to these " practical " gentlemen, is 

 " swept out," or " cleaned out," so that it is no longer profitable 

 for liner or trawler to fish there, and the ruin of our fisheries 

 and our fishermen is already accomplished. But, in the first 

 place, they forget that unproductive periods in haddock-fishing 

 occur very frequently, and have occurred from time imme- 

 morial, times when the men prepare their boats for herring- 

 fishing (the unfailing nature of which is marvellous), and which 

 often richly rewards their efforts. Moreover, if the ships go to 

 a great distance for large and certain gains in regard to white 

 fishes, it is not because their own waters are depopulated, but 

 because with less effort they secure a rich harvest in other 

 seas. Facts, like those produced by the experiments now 

 under review, are therefore not to be compared with the crude 

 suppositions which serve the purpose of the " fisherman's 

 friend." If by dipping a small trawl like that of the " Garland " 

 in the Moray Frith, 220 saleable haddocks of 10 — 14 inches in 

 length, and at least 33 others of a small but also of a saleable 

 size, are brought on board each haul, not to speak of other 

 fishes, he would be more than a bold man who holds that our 

 haddock-fisheries are ruined. Other areas and other forms are 

 dealt with elsewhere, but that one fact alone disposes of the 

 idea that any such area as that of the Moray Frith is " swept 

 out " by trawlers. 



Dabs still maintained a high average, viz. 87 per haul, or 18 

 more than the previous year. Lemon-dabs remained the same, 

 while the captures of the long-rough dab had been trebled. 

 Whitings and gurnards were also more numerous, as also were 

 " witches " or pole-dabs, which gave an average of 4 per haul 

 instead of 1 in 1893. Cod, on the other hand, were fewer, 

 about 2 per haul instead of 5 in 1893. 



It is curious that all the stations except XI. and XII. show a 

 decided increase. These two stations form a cross over the 

 centre of Smith Bank. It is possible that special influences of 

 season or ship were connected with this condition. 



13—2 



