1 6 BRITISH FISHERIES 



generally used for preserving the catches. The 

 first steam trawlers were tug-boats which, owing 

 to the increased development of steam power in 

 merchant vessels, had insufficient towage to keep 

 them fully employed. 



The principal fishery in Scotland was that for 

 the herring. The development of beam and otter 

 trawling, which now bids fair to render Aberdeen 

 the first fishing port in the United Kingdom, had 

 not commenced in 1863. Cod, hake, and ling 

 were caught by means of lines. Herrings, cod, 

 ling, and hake were sold, to a limited extent, 

 in the fresh condition, but the bulk of these fishes 

 caught were cured for export. 13,191 boats, 

 manned by 43,358 men and boys, were fishing from 

 Scottish ports. The capital invested was about 

 ^845,724. The total value of fish landed cannot 

 now be obtained, but in 1863, 654,816 barrels of 

 herring were cured, and 407,76 1 were exported ; 

 129,725 cwts. and 7337 barrels of cod, ling, and 

 hake were cured, and 53,736 cwts. were exported.^ 



Ireland presented a miserable contrast with 

 England and Scotland. Instead of the " progres- 

 sive increase " which the British fisheries showed, 

 those of Ireland had exhibited on the whole a 

 steady decrease during the thirty years preceding 

 the Report of the Royal Commission of 1863. 



1 Rept. Comm. of British Fisheries for 1863. 



