362 THE ZO0OLOGIST. 
captures by liners and by trawlers up to 1897 (inclusive) was 
entered, and, for the sake of the continuity, a similar abstract 
is given up to 1911, so that the yearly fluctuations may be 
observed and explanatory remarks made where necessary. 
Line-caught round fishes (exclusive of Herrings) in 1898 
amounted to a total of 926,257 cwts. = £398,912, a reduction of 
no less than 350,445 cwts. and £93,191 from the previous year. 
The Board attributed the decline partly to inclement weather 
and partly to deficient appliances. An increase of price, viz. 
8s. 7d. as contrasted with 7s. 8d. in 1897, however, tock place. 
There was a decrease in the case of Cod, as had occurred 
the previous year, yet 390,000 cwts. were taken, and only 
287,000 cwts. of Haddocks. The decline in the Cod fishery was 
thought to be due to the failure in the district of the Moray 
Firth. There was a decrease also in Ling, Haddock, Whiting, 
and Conger, Saithe and Torsk alone showing increases. 
Round fishes captured by the trawl had a weight of 
661,000 cwts., valued at £322,780, or 9s. 9d. per cwt. as com- 
pared with 9s. 2d.in 1897. The increase on the previous year 
amounted to 161,741 cwts., and £93,274. An increase on the 
previous year in Cod, Ling, Saithe, Haddock, and Whiting 
occurred, but Conger presented a decrease. In the western 
districts the catch of Ling was greatly reduced. 
The liners had a total of 111,554 cwts. of flat fishes, or 
1403 cwts. less than last year, for which £66,543 were obtained, 
a sum less by £5525 than in 1897, but the price was lower, viz. 
11s. 6d. instead of 12s. 9d. A serious decline took place in the 
quantity of Halibut taken by the liners. 
Trawlers landed 84,275 cwts. of flat fishes, an increase over 
the previous year of 12,467 cwts., and the price obtained was 
£120,572, or nearly double that obtained from flat fishes by the 
liners. This is further brought out by the average price in each 
case, the liners receiving about 20s. per cwt., whilst the trawlers 
obtained 82s. 4d. Such is not, however, due to the inferiority of 
the catches of the former, but to the fact that the trawlers 
capture the most valuable kinds (Skate, for instance,’ being 
chiefly caught by the liners), and also obtain a better market. 
The uncertainty of fishing operations was well illustrated in 
the case of the Scotch herring-boats which went to English 
