228 BRITISH FISHERIES 



of the United Kingdom," as they are officially 

 termed^have now appeared since 1887, and they 

 profess to give — 



1. The quantity and value of all the fish landed 

 annually on the coasts of England and Wales 

 belonging to thirteen separate species, and to an 

 unknown number of species placed in two cate- 

 gories : " prime fish not separately distinguished," 

 and " fish not separately distinguished " ; of crabs, 

 lobsters, and oysters ; and " other shell-fish " ; 



2. The quantity and value of all the fish landed 

 annually on the east, south, and west coasts of 

 England and Wales ; 



3. The quantity and value of all the fish landed 

 monthly on all the coasts ; 



4. The quantity and value of all the fish landed 

 at each port of which the Board took cognisance ; 



5. The average prices of the fish landed ; 



6. A summary statement of the number of 

 fishing boats registered, and the number of fishermen 

 engaged in the industry ; and 



7. Imports, exports, and re-exports ; statements 

 of the fisheries of Scotland and Ireland, and of 

 foreign countries. 



Now, it is unfortunate that such an array of 

 figures as are presented in the Statistical Tables and 

 Memoranda should have a kind of fictitious value 

 by virtue of their mere appearance, and from the 

 accuracy of the manipulations to which they are 

 subjected by the statisticians of the Board ; for 



