OTTER TRAWI. FISHERY 197 



The foregoing furnishes some slight conception of the innovation in fishing 

 methods and of the revolution in the organization of the fishing industry that 

 has heen consequent upon the invention of the steam trawl. It represents 

 modern large scale production as contrasted with small individual enterprise. 

 Whether it is really efficient and economical in the long run can best be answered 

 by a consideration of the verdict of the report on each of the points at issue. 



Conclusions 



(1) The most serious accusation against the steam trawler was that first 

 enumerated, viz., that the fishing areas where steam trawlers have already been 

 operating have become seriously depleted of fish. The importance of this 

 charge was fully realized and, during the course of the investigation, particular 

 effort was made to secure all possible data in reference to it. The opinion 

 of the committee on this point, so far as the American waters are concerned, 

 is decisive. It is clearly expressed as follows : " Considering all the data 

 available respecting the supply of fish and particularly the haddock, the species 

 most conspicuous in the catch of the otter trawlers, we can see no evidence 

 of the depletion of the supply on the fishing grounds frequented by the otter 

 trawlers. The average catch per trip shows no diminution from that made 

 prior to the introduction of the steam trawlers." Again, as No. 8 of the con- 

 clusions, this verdict is endorsed: "We have been unable to discover from the 

 examination of official records, extending from 1891 to 1914, any evidence 

 whatever that the banks frequented by the American otter trawlers are being 

 depleted of their fishes." Such a finding was to be expected in view of the 

 recent establishment and relative smallness of the otter-trawl fishery on this 

 side of the Atlantic. The otter trawl would necessarily be a very efficient 

 engine of destruction to have made any appreciable effect upon American 

 fisheries in the short period during which they have been in operation. But 

 even with respect to the fisheries of the United Kingdom, for which a wealth 

 of statistical data is available, the committee strictly avoided making any dog- 

 matic assertion or definite charge regarding the destructive character of the 

 otter trawl. On the other hand, the committee are in no sense guilty of equivo- 

 cation; they have simply refrained from expressing conclusive opinions except 

 where the evidence was indubitable. This desire to be fair is well exemplified 

 in the statement referring to the alleged depletion of United Kingdom fisheries. 

 To quote: "While the statistical information, particularly that contained in 

 the English reports, is more useful for the purpose than is that pertaining to 

 our own fishery, it is in recent years only that it is given in sufficient detail. 

 Proof respecting the depletion of the fisheries, on the contrary, cannot be 

 deduced. The most possible has been the establishment of more or less strong 

 presumptions one way or the other." The fisheries considered in this connec- 

 tion were those of the North sea, Iceland, the White sea and the Faroe islands. 

 The three most important species taken in these regions are the haddock, cod 

 and plaice. Without discussing in detail the evidence adduced, the main findings 

 may be briefly stated. The North sea furnishes the most trustworthy evidence 

 and the others mentioned are taken into consideration chiefly for purposes of 

 confirmation. Two features stand out clearly. First, in practically no instance 

 of importance does the cod show signs of depletion; in most cases the reverse 

 is true. Secondly, plaice, the most important of the round fishes, almost 

 invariably shows a heavy decrease in every respect, the total catch, the average 

 per unit of effort and the proportion of large fish to the total. Here, the 

 evidence of overfishing is unmistakable. Regarding haddock, the most important 

 species of all, the decrease applies to the total catch and the average catch per 

 unit of effort, which must be considered as the most valuable criteria; the 

 decrease in the proportion of large fish is not so apparent. The other fisheries 

 on the whole confirm the foregoing. 



The general situation in the North sea is summarized as follows : " On 

 whichever basis computed, the average catch of demersal fisheries has decreased 

 from 1903 to 1912, the average catch of cod has materially increased, while the 

 yields of haddock and plaice per unit of effort have decreased by over 53 and 37 

 per cent respectively." These facts comprise the basis for the " more or less 



