262 BRITISH FISHERIES 



in men and materiel was not accompanied by a 

 marked increase in the quantity of fish caught. A 

 much more complete investigation of the same 

 relationship was made by the same writer in 1900, 

 and was submitted in evidence to the Select Com- 

 mittee of 1900.^ In this calculation the flat 

 fishes, turbot, halibut, lemon sole, flounder, plaice, 

 and brill only were considered. The number of 

 steam trawlers registered out of Scottish ports 

 was known, as well as the total quantity of flat 

 fishes landed annually by them. If, then, these 

 annual total quantities of fish are divided by the 

 number of vessels catching them, results are obtained 

 which express the average quantities of flat fish 

 caught by each vessel employed. This relationship 

 will be easily understood on reference to the chart 

 which I have constructed from Fulton's figures. 



Only the total quantities of flat fishes captured 

 are considered in the chart. Much the same 

 results would be obtained, whether we consider 

 turbot, lemon sole, or " flounder, plaice, and brill." 

 The chart shows clearly that the catching power 

 (number of steam trawlers) increased up to 1892, 

 then for four years was practically stationary, and 

 from 1896 to 1899 rose very rapidly. It will be 

 seen, too, that, in spite of this increase in the catch- 

 ing power, the total catch of fish remained much 

 the same, and only increased in a slight degree 

 towards the end of the period. On the other 



1 Rept. Sel. Comm., igoo, p. 148. 



