180 Part III, — Seventh Annual Report 



begin at the beginning and go on clearly and consecutively to the end ; 

 and the tables should, as far as possible, admit of comparison with those 

 drawn up by the corresponding Boards of other countries. 



Dr Daniell has drawn up a series of tables representing what he thinks 

 the most desirable statistical system ought to be. The first table deals 

 with fishery harbours, the location, depth of water, area, &c, the number 

 of boats usually frequenting the harbour, the facilities for landing fish, 

 the distance (in time) to the nearest railway station, the number of tons 

 of fish landed and the fishing population. When there is no harbour 

 and boats are simply beached, the fact should be indicated. Such tables 

 might be published every five years. Another table represents the 

 apparatus and capital under four main heads, (1) Vessels, boats, &c, 

 (2) catching appliances, (3) shore appliances, (4) vessels incidentally 

 employed. The first class includes all kinds of fishing vessels and fish 

 carriers, their registered number, tonnage, value, &c; the second class 

 all kinds of nets, lines, trawls, dredges, &c. • the third, the requisites for 

 treating and packing the fish, the value of curing establishments, &c; and 

 the fourth, vessels occasionally employed, as in the importation of cask- 

 wood, salt, and in the coast and export carrying trade. The next table 

 represents the ownership of boat and vessels, and then comes a synopsis of 

 the boats, gear, &c. lost during the year. The next table represents the 

 activity of the fishing fleets in each district, the number of boats laid up, 

 the number of voyages and the area where the fishing is carried on, and 

 the number and nationality of boats fishing off the Scottish shore in a 

 selected week. In this table details concerning salt, ice, &c. find a 

 place. Table 6 deals with loss of life. Table 7 represents the persons 

 employed in the various fisheries, distinguishing between those who are 

 fishermen wholly and those also engaged in other pursuits or only 

 partially employed, and on shore, distinguishing between coopers, gutters 

 and packers, curers, &c, and showing the number of persons engaged in 

 the fishing industry during a selected week. Table 8 relates to the 

 economic conditions and the risks to life of the persons employed. 



Table 9 represents the total catch in the various districts, distinguishing 

 between the different fish and shell-fish, and between the winter, spring 

 and summer catches of herrings. It is also suggested that a special 

 record should be made of the seal and whale fisheries, as is now done by 

 the United States, Canada, Norway, &c. The values of the total fish landed 

 in each district, based upon the prices obtained by the fishermen, is shown, 

 and thus, by comparison with the previous tables, the average return to the 

 fishermen can be estimated. The next series of tables deals with the dis- 

 posal of the fish when landed, and of the fish cured in various ways, and 

 shows the number of barrels cured aud branded under the various brands 

 in the different districts. Another table deals with the curing of cod, ling 

 and hake, and the next with fish prepared in special ways. It is very 

 striking, in perusing foreign statistics, to note in what a variety of ways 

 fish are now being prepared to suit different markets, and the care taken 

 to utilise the bye-products. A special table deals in quantities and 

 values with the exports to various countries of the world, both of fish and 

 fish products, and it is suggested that returns should be obtained from 

 the railway agents at Berwick and Carlisle to show the inland trade 

 with England. Another table represents the railway traffic and rates 

 from each district to some of the great consuming centres, the terminal 

 charges, &c, with supplementary information as to the coast trade. 



In addition to the economic tables, periodical local reports should 

 contain particulars as to local fishings at different seasons, the prices 

 obtained, the principal markets and the cost of transport thither, the 



