G^' 



MlXUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEX BEFORE THE 



10 2farch 190-l.J 



J\lr. J. T. CUXXINGHAM, F.Z.S. 



[Continued. 



Cha irman — continued. 



cif tish, and I do not tliink it would injure the 

 fishermen. 



1209. Do you think it would be a greater ad- 

 vantage to have a tixed limit for all parts of 

 Great Britain, or to have a discretionarj^ power 

 of a Government department to vary the limit 

 in accordance Avith the experience gained ? — 

 I would prefer the latter method very much. 

 I think it is scarcely reasonable to go to the 

 House of Commons and ask them to consider a 

 half-inch on a limit for plaice every now and 

 then ; and in fact, if a limit was fixed by Parlia- 

 ment, it could not be altered very well for a long 

 time. 



1210. Doyou agree mth what Mr. Holtsaid, that 

 time may change the conditions on these eastern 

 grounds, and that what would be a proper limit 

 at one period, some years afterwards might be 

 found to be insufficient, and vice versa ? — I think 

 the conditions might change to a great extent, 

 but I am not quite sure how far the average 

 size could be reduced for the summer season. I 

 think it might be to a certain extent. What I 

 mean is, that on the whole the conditions tend 

 to repeat themselves every summer ; that the 

 fish found in the summer months are fish of a 

 certain age, that is to say, one year and two-year- 

 old fish. If the two-year-old fish were dimin- 

 ished by excessive fishing the average size would 

 be less, because then there would be a larger 

 proportion of one-year-old fish. 



1211. There, again, elasticity would be desir- 

 able ?— Yes. 



1212. Mav I take you now to the question of 

 other, flat fish besides plaice ? Take soles. Has 

 there been a decline in the number of soles 

 landed on the east coast ? — That is a matter, on 

 which I have not very good evidence to give 

 personally, because I have to rely upon the 

 statistics which are obtained and published by 

 other people ; but there has been a decline 

 according to the Board of Trade statistics, in 

 the quantity of soles landed on the east coast 

 during the last 10 or 12 years, I believe. 



1213. While at the same time there has been 

 an increase, has there net, on the south and 

 west coasts ? — Yes, a considerable increase. 



1214. And with regard to plaice, is the reverse 

 proposition true — that there has been a decrease 

 on the west coast and an increase on the east 

 <;oast ? — I do not remember whether there has 

 been an increase of plaice on the east coast ; but 

 I should like to remark, before passing from 

 that point, that the increase of soles on the 

 south and west coast is, according to my belief, 

 entirely due to the increased number of boats 

 fishing there, not to an increase in the number 

 of fish. 



1215. Perhaps that may be appHcable to 

 almost any fish, that it is due to increase in the 

 number of vessels, the increase in their catching 

 capacity, and the greater distances that they go '. 



TakiJag the total quantity of fish landed, that 



I beheve is so. 



1216. Therefore the mere fact that more fish 

 have been landed in recent years is no proof 

 that the supply of fish in the North Sea has 

 been increasing ? — Certainly not. 



Cltairman — continued. 



1217. Have you any observations to make 

 with regard to the size of the mesh ; do you 

 believe that any regulations afifecting the size of 

 the mesh would protect the undersized fish ? — 

 I have no doubt that the undersized fis)i could 

 be protected by an increased size of me^h ; but 

 the matter is one of great practical difliculty, 

 because if the, mesh at present used, in the 

 traAvl is increased to any considerable degree, 

 a certain number of other valuable fish will 

 be lost, principally haddock and cod — round 

 fish. 



1218. With regard to the question of vitality, 

 is a sole a fish of considerable vitality ? If ho 

 were thrown overboard, would he be likely to 

 live ? — According to my experience, the sole is 

 the most tenacious of life of nearly all the fishes 

 I have had to do with. I think it is the most 

 tenacious of life. 



1219. Then with regard to turbot, ivhat is 

 your experience of the size of turbot on the 

 eastern grounds ? — There were a good many 

 small turbots obtained and landed also on the 

 voyage when I was present on the eastern 

 grounds. 



1220. What size limit would you consider 

 sufiicient to protect undersized turbot ? — It is 

 rather difficult to say. I calculated that nearly 

 25 per cent, of those obtained on my voyage 

 were under 12 inches; but I think an even 

 higher lirnit might be imposed with regard to 

 turbot, because it is such a large fish. 



1221., What have you to say with regard to 

 brill ? — Brill is very similar to turbot in most 

 respeets, but it is on the average slightly smaller 

 when it reaches maturity. 



1222. At what age do the fish become mature; 

 that is to say, capable of reproducing their 

 species ? — There is a good deal of difference of 

 opinion as to that. My own opinion is that, 

 generally speaking, they become mature at three 

 years of age., Dr. Fulton, I believe, has argued 

 that it takes much longer — even five years ; 

 but I think there is some miscalculation about 

 his results.. 



1223. What age would you regard these plaice 

 of 6 to 10 inches ? — Not more than two "years 

 old ; some of them one year. 



1224. If they were spared for another year, in 

 your opinion they would then become reproduc- 

 tive ? — Yes, I think so, some of them ; they 

 would be from 13 to 15 inches long, I should 

 think, or 12 to 14 inches. 



1225. As regards the regulations which migh'' 

 be brought into operation in territorial waters, 

 do you think there might be a material 

 difference in the size of the small fish that might 

 be caught within territorial waters and those 

 that might be caught in the eastern grounds 'i — 

 No, I do not think I should be incHned to make 

 a distinction in that way. I should keep entirelv 

 to the distinction between the larger race and 

 the smaller race. I think if there were a limit 

 in the Channel of 10 inches for plaicejit should 

 apply also to territorial waters. 



1226. The object would be to prevent vessels 

 from going in those months to thUe places 



where 



