208 INVESTIGATIONS IN MORAY FRITH, 1897. 



much fished water contrasts most favourably with the three 

 hauls of a commerial trawl* made on Smith Bank nearl}^ on the 

 same date in 1884, and resulting in the capture of 2711 fishes, 

 or 903 per haul. In both cases the chief fish was the haddock, 

 604 per haul occurring on Smith Bank in 1884 and 69.5 outside 

 the Frith in 1898, a fact which demonstrates that the dis- 

 tribution of this species is so wide, and its numbers so great, 

 that a thoughtful survey of the whole subject leaves little room 

 for doubt as to the wisdom of removing all unnecessary 

 restrictions from fair fishing. The haddocks of 1884 on Smith 

 Bank had fewer small in their ranks than those of 1898 in the 

 open water, but it is probable that a special congregation of 

 spawning fishes had occurred, or, at any rate, had come in the 

 way of the trawl on that occasion. The haddocks of 1898, just 

 beyond the enclosed waters, were more numerous by 91 per 

 haul, and of the total of 4173 only 42 were unmarketable, 

 though some of these would have been eaten at St Andrews. 

 We know that haddocks abounded as of old in the great 

 enclosed area of the Frith, and extended far beyond it in the 

 numbers just indicated, but we fail to observe the slightest 

 trace of any effect on this fish in or near the Moray Frith by 

 the closure of the huge area against British trawlers. Such a 

 step was never dreamt of in the cautious proposal to close the 

 areas of the Forth, St Andrews Bay and Aberdeen Bay for 

 experimental purposes, — and yet it has been done without any 

 clear evidence being produced to warrant its adoption. Step 

 by step every available argument has been examined, and its 

 facts duly weighed or its want of facts exposed, but no scientific 

 basis remains on which to uphold such a proposal. A con- 

 sideration of the condition of the haddock alone in this area 

 in 1884 and in 1898 dispels the fanciful notions of certain of 

 the so-called "practical men," who are responsible for much 

 of the confusion in fisheries' problems still lingering in our 

 country. No imaginary figures or theoretical percentages are 

 dealt with here, but facts resting on personal observation. 

 There is no sign that the extensive fishing-operations in the 

 Moray Frith and its neighbourhood have proved seriously 

 ^ Beam-trawl of about 51 feet. 



