20 



Part III. — Seventh Annual Report 



than in the same months of 1877 ; while in each of the last six months of 

 1888 it was less than in the corresponding months of 1887 — the reverse 

 of what occurred in the case of the large haddocks. 



In 1888 the largest number of small fish taken was in June (390-7) 

 and the smallest number in December (58-3). In 1887 the largest 

 average was in August (436) and the smallest in April (13 -3). " In 

 regard to the relative proportions of large and small fish captured in 

 each month of the two years, these statistics show that in 1887 the takes 

 of large fish exceeded the takes of small fish in April and May, while in 

 February and March they were about equal. In 1888, on the other hand, 

 the takes of small fish exceeded the takes of large in every month 

 except December. 



The statistics in regard to the cod fishing show that in 1888 there 

 was a great increase in the amounts of fish landed as compared with 

 1887, the averages being 0'45 per ' shot ' and 0'23 per 1 shot ' respectively. 

 This increase occurred in eight months of the year, the takes in 

 January, February, July, and August being less than in the same months 

 in 1887. 



2. Relative Quantities of Fish taken by Line and by 

 Beam Trawl. 



The statistics dealing with this subject are given in detail for each 

 fishing port or village in the Leith, Anstruther, Montrose, Stonehaven, 

 and Aberdeen districts. Table E. represents the monthly totals of the 

 various kinds of fish landed in the districts, the quantities of shell-fish, 

 and the total value. In Table H. the relative monthly amounts of round 

 and flat-fish landed by line fishermen and by beam-trawlers in 1888 in 

 the northern and southern group of East Coast districts, and the monthly 

 and yearly totals for the whole East Coast, are given. 



The leading features of this Table are represented in the graphic diagram 

 on Plate II. It appears from the statistics, that fish caught by beam 

 trawl are landed only in three of the five districts comprising the 

 southern group, and in five of the ten districts comprising the northern 

 group. 



Taking the southern group of districts first, we find that the line fisher- 

 men land by far more round-fish than do the beam-trawlers, and this 

 is true of every "month of the year, although in July, August, and 

 September, when the fishermen are largely engaged in the herring fishing, 

 the amounts are more equal. 



The total amount of round-fish landed in 1888 in the southern section 

 of the coast was 43p,566 cwts. by line fishermen, or a monthly average of 

 35,880 cwts.; and 93,193 cwts. by beam-trawlers, or a monthly average of 

 only 7766 cwts. The line fishermen also landed a larger monthly average 

 of flat-fish than did the beam-trawlers, and hence a larger yearly total ; 

 but in July, August, September, October, and December, the quantities 

 of flat-fish landed by beam-trawlers exceeded the amounts landed by line 

 fishermen. The totals for the year for this group of districts are : — line 

 fishermen, 20, 172 J cwts., or a monthly average of 1681 cwts. ; beam- 

 trawlers, 17,037 J cwts., or a monthly average of 1410 cwts. 



In the northern section, which, as has been stated, includes ten dis- 

 tricts, the line fishermen landed during the year a total quantity of 

 599,395 cwts. of round-fish, giving a monthly average of close upon 

 50,000 cwts., while beam-trawlers landed only 85,881 cwts. throughout 

 the year, or a monthly average of only 7156 cwts., and in no month did 

 the amount landed by trawlers approximate to that landed by line fisher- 



