8 



Part III.— Seventh Annual Report 



3. Special Inquiries. 



In addition to the general inquiries above referred to, special 

 investigations have been carried on into various questions closely 

 connected with fisheries. For want of space it has been found 

 necessary to withhold several papers, and only the more important 

 of the papers included in the present report are referred to here. 



The Demand for Scottish Fish in Foreign Countries. — The great 

 extent and value of the Scottish herring fishery renders it at all times 

 worthy of special consideration, and since the prosperity of the 

 large number of persons engaged in this industry depends so 

 largely upon the exports of cured fish to the Continent, it is 

 highly important that everything that influences this trade should 

 be very carefully studied. This is particularly necessary at 

 present when Norwegian and Dutch-cured herrings are competing 

 so successfully with the Scotch-cured fish and driving them 

 largely from the best markets. To admit of this being done, the 

 .Board, at the request of Professor Ewart, obtained a series of Reports 

 through the Foreign Office from the British Ambassadors and 

 Consuls abroad, as to the best means of increasing the demand for 

 Scotch-cured fish in foreign countries. These Reports, which are 

 most suggestive and valuable, have been of great assistance in 

 showing the Board, as well as thosa practically engaged in the 

 fisheries, in what respects the foreign trade may be best improved 

 and developed. In a re'smne' of these Eeports by Dr T. Wemyss 

 Fulton, some of the causes which have led to the recent falling off 

 in the export trade, and the requirements necessary to maintain 

 and strengthen its hold in Foreign markets, are indicated. An 

 account is also given, based on all the statistical information avail- 

 able, of the condition of the Scottish herring fishery in recent years. 



Inquiries into the Food, Maturity, and Habits of the 

 Food-Fishes. 



Every one who has had to deal with the scientific or practical 

 aspects of fishery questions has deplored the absence of accurate 

 and extensive information as to the habits, spawning, and migratory 

 movemsnts of fish. In accordance with a scheme devised by Dr 

 T. Wemyss Fulton, continuous and concurrent observations have 

 been made at the request of the Committee on the following points : 

 — (1) the food of the edible and other fishes at different seasons 

 and places ; (2) the maturity or immaturity of their reproductive 

 organs in relation to their size during the several months of the 

 year ; (3) the duration and place of spawning ; and (4) their 

 migrations. 



The observations have been made principally on board the 

 ' Garland,' in the Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay ; but also 

 in the Moray Firth, Montrose Bay, Aberdeen Bay, and on board 

 trawlers working on offshore banks. Above 6000 fish, comprising 

 all the kinds of edible fishes obtained, as well as several of the 

 enemies of the food-fishes, have been already examined, and the 



