of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 397 



* (another class of draw-net), so-called from its being used with the help 

 ' of windlasses, is even more injurious than that of El Bou, on account of 

 ' the greater contraction of the mesh, and because draw ing it directly on 

 ' to the shore it kills all the young fish taken.' 



A great sweep-net called Jabec/a real) originally of Arabic origin, is in 

 use over the southern coasts of Spain, and is not included in the general 

 objection to such nets, because they are mainly dedicated to the capture 

 of species of fish, such as the sardine, the Spanisbaops, &c., which appear 

 periodically on the coast. These nets are also drawn upon special ground, 

 free of obstructions and of vegetation, and consequently only capture the 

 migrating shoals. Much information is given throughout the volumes as 

 to the Mmadabras, or great tunny nets, and as to the cause of the decay 

 of the tunny fishery. They conclude that this fish is not local, but is 

 passing the coast of Spain on the way to the further waters of the 

 Mediterranean, and that it is well to capture as . many as possible, as 

 otherwise they merely pass into the hands of the competitors of Spain. 



A curious discussion is raised upon the subject of small lines, cailed 

 Los enemigos (the enemies). ' The instrument called the enemies is an 

 ' arrangement of small- hooks, so skilfully prepared with silkworm-gut that 

 i it takes all kinds of fish, however small they may be, and destroys the 

 1 young, clearing them even from their nurseries without their being able to 



* reach maturity.' The Commission decided not to interfere, except to 

 define the size of the hooks to be used — No. 9. 



Important papers on many local fisheries are supplied, amongst the 

 most interesting being those on the Mar Menor (smaller sea), the name 

 given to a lagoon in the vicinity of Cape Palos, 4 leagues from Cartagena. 

 The main fish in the lagoon is the mullet, of several species, and in 

 ordinary years it is calculated that 50,000 arrobas, or 558 tons weight, 

 of these fish are taken. The females taken far exceed the males. 



At the mouth of the Ebro the shoals formerly supplied fair encourage- 

 ment to fishermen, but the cultivation of rice and the establishment of 

 Saladcros (salt-pans) have done great injury. It was found that the com- 

 plication of Government Departments — those of Agriculture, Marine, and 

 Fisheries — was also injurious, and fresh regulations were accordingly issued. 

 It is important to note the progress of Norway here. By royal decree 

 of November 1867, the cities of Bergen and Drontheim were admitted as 

 Fishery Ports. ( In Great Britain the islands of the Orkneys, the Hebrides, 

 and those of Shetland ; in Denmark, Iceland ; in the United Kingdom of 

 Norway and Sweden, the Ports of Aalesund, Christiansand, Molde, and 

 all those comprised in the departments of Norland and Finmark.' 

 Cargoes of dried cod from all other ports may be proceeded against if 

 landed. 



In 18G9 the Commission proposed to close half the oyster grounds of 

 Spain for several years. 



In 1870-74, 655 vessels with 45 carriers, 700 in all, employed in the 

 Arte del Bou, were calculated to capture 1,041,450 arrobas, or 13 thousand 

 tons of fish annually, at a first cost 12 million pesetas .£500,000. The 

 cost of a pareja con su arte (pair of boats with engine) is under 15,000 

 pesetas <£625 ; the average take is 17,000 kilos .£708 ; the owners share 

 15 parts, or 4500 pesetas <£187 10s., — more than 25 per cent. 



Much attention was paid at this time to oyster culture, and sixteen natural 

 beds were reserved, a scientific memoir by Dr Graells published, and 

 regulations issued for the protection of shell fish. This is of value from 

 what it covers, including such molluscs as Pholas, Solen, Psammobia, 

 Scrobicularia, Tapes, Pecten, &c, many of them never utilised either for 

 food or bait in this country. 



