56 BRITISH SEA-FISHERIES 



Coast, we note a marked decline in the total catch of 

 steam-trawlers during the years 1904, 1905, and 1906, 

 and an increase in the catch of sailing trawlers. The 

 former declined from 4f million cwt. in 1903 to 3f million 

 cwt. in 1 90s ; the latter increased from 277,000 cwt. in 

 1903 to 296,000 cwt. in 1905. It is shown, however, that 

 these changes were accompanied by a considerable 

 fall in the amount of fishing by steam-trawlers and a 

 rise in the case of the sailing trawlers, so that infer- 

 ences concerning impoverishment or the reverse would 

 be premature. Nevertheless a fall in the abundance 

 of haddock may be inferred from the fact that not only 

 the total catch of this species, but also the average 

 catch of the boats fell off continuously from 8'4 cwt. 

 per diem in 1903 to 6'i cwt. per diem in 1905. The 

 fall is also seen to be mainly due to a scarcity of 

 'small' haddocks in 1904 and 1905 as compared with 

 1903. With the conclusions to which such data as 

 these are likely to lead we are not now concerned ; 

 but these examples are sufficient to show that the 

 official statistics are no longer a confused mass of 

 useless figures, but a rational and fairly accurate 

 system capable of analysis. 



We have now to examine those experimental 

 branches of investigation which are equally necessary 

 for the effective solution of fishery problems. The 

 chief possible causes of an impoverishment of the sea 

 are three in number. First, as in the central United 

 States the accumulated richness of a virgin soil pro- 

 duced at first huge crops, so, when fishing began in 

 the North Sea an accumulated wealth, both in the 

 number and in the greater size of the individual fish, 

 was drawn upon. This ' accumulated stock ' has been 

 fished out. 



Secondly, a given area of the sea, like a given area 

 of land can support but a limited quantity of produce. 

 There is a definite amount of food for fish in a definite 



