10 THE SEA FISHERIES 



of kinds of fish separately distinguished in the returns was increased 

 "by the addition of bream, coalfish, dogfish, dory, mullet and pollack. 



In 1905 the statistical returns were designed to show : — 



(i) The annual changes occurring in the total quantity and value 

 of fish landed, distinguishing the quantity taken " within " from 

 that taken " beyond " the North Sea. (2) The annual changes 

 in the quantities of the two principal classes of fish landed at various 

 ports. (3) The monthly changes in the quantities of different kinds 

 of fish landed throughout the year. 



In 1914, in addition to the collection of statistics of the quantity 

 and value of fish landed, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 

 were engaged in the collection of statistics relating to the distribu- 

 tion and size of sea fish, the variations in their abimdance and their 

 place of capture. A series of samples of certain kinds of fish are 

 also weighed and measured by the officers of the Board at certain 

 important ports. Plaice were the fish first dealt with in this manner, 

 then haddock, and finally cod. The main object of this statistical 

 work is — apart from the acquisition of information regarding 

 quantities and value of fish landed — ^to determine the variations 

 in the abundance and distribution of food fish, and the effect of 

 different methods of capture with a view to determining whether 

 the stock is decreasing, and to form a basis for estimating the effect 

 of possible protective measures, as well as of determining what 

 protective measures are required and where. 



In 1913 the Board employed eight whole-time officers, seventy 

 private persons, eighty-four coastguard ofiicers and one customs 

 officer as Collectors of Fishery Statistics. The expense of collection, 

 including the ichthyometric statistics, was £3245. Each collector 

 is required to enter daily the total quantity and value of each kind 

 of fish landed at his station (Form A) . On the first day of each month 

 he has to add up the quantities and values entered on Form A 

 during the previous month. The totals are entered on another 

 (Form B). Both forms are then to be sent to the Board. Separate 

 records are made in respect of each voyage of every first-class 

 trawler and liner (Form D2), and also (Form D3) daily of the total 

 quantity of herring, mackerel, pilchards and sprats, that is the 

 pelagic fish, landed at each station. Forms D2 and D3 are forwarded 

 weekly to the Board. The Board has no compulsory powers to 

 make fishermen or fishing vessel owners give accurate returns. 

 There are no statistics for England and Wales for cured fish. During 

 the war the detailed forms (A and B), which were very elaborate 

 and wasteful of paper, were withdrawn and simpler forms sub- 

 stituted. In March, 1919, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 

 published a list of Collectors of Fishery Statistics. The names of 



