DEQENEEATION OF OUR DEEP SEA FISHEBIES. 



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DEGENERATION OF OUR DEEP SEA FISHERIES. 



ABSTRACT OF ME. HEARDER'S PAPER. 



The progressive degeneration of the produce of our deep sea 

 fisheries is equivalent to the abstraction or loss of an immense 

 amount of national wealth in the form of food, and demands 

 investigation and legislative interference. 



In respect of one single species of fish — viz., the hake — it is 

 reported that in 1832 as many as 100,000 were caught in one 

 week; whilst it is questionable now if that number is taken 

 in a whole season, notwithstanding the increase in number, and 

 improvement in construction of our trawlers. 



A single drift boat, which accompanies the pilchard seines, 

 brought in 84 dozen hake, all taken with hook and line, as the 

 produce of one night, and this was only one out of fifty boats thus 

 engaged. 



These hakes could be bought for 2d. or 3d. each; now they 

 fetch from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. each. Other fish have degenerated 

 in like proportion, and fishing is only maintained by the exorbitant 

 prices of small quantities of best fish. 



Formerly small fish were thrown overboard ; now bushels of 

 small fry, of four or five inches long, are retained for sale ; whilst 

 cart-loads of still smaller fry, collected along the coast, are destined 

 for manure. 



In 1814 there were about fourteen trawlers in the Port of 

 Plymouth ; now there are sixty, each of which is equal to three 

 of the old ones, and yet fewer fish are caught now than at the 

 former period, whilst the long line fishing is almost abolished. 



Question first — Whence arises this mischief? Several causes 

 conspire to produce it, and self-interest stands much in the way of 

 getting at the truth. Some feel that they liave nothing to gain by 

 disclosing the truth, and arc therefore apathetic. Others feel that 

 they have everything to lose, and therefore conceal it. Hence it 

 is difficult to get at the precise amount of mischief done by certain 

 fishing practices. 



The wholesale capture of shrimps, involving the destruction 

 of fish fry by shrimp dredging, is a most fertile source of mis- 

 chief. Thousands of tons of fry of our most delicate fish are 



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