xxxiv Part I. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



over £7300 in advance of the preceding year's return, both liners 

 and trawlers, in the ratio of about 9 to 10, sharing in the increase. 



Lemon Soles. 



Lemon soles are landed almost entirely by trawlers. In the 

 year 1906 the total catch was 32,828 cwts., valued at £65,722, 

 these figures representing increases of 6 per cent, and 19 per cent, 

 respectively on the returns for 1905. Aberdeen, Leith, and Mon- 

 trose districts, in the ratio of 9 : 6 : 1, contributed the great bulk 

 of the catch, but the Aberdeen fish realised nearly twice as much 

 per cwt. as the Leith fish, this being due probably to the better 

 quality of the soles landed and to keener competition among the 

 buyers. 



Turbot. 



Like lemon soles, turbot are obtained almost wholly by trawlers. 

 The total catch amounted to 5699 cwts., valued at £18,197, as 

 compared with 6475 cwts. and £21,313 in 1905. Aberdeen and 

 Leith, in the ratio of 3 to 2, contributed the great bulk of the catch, 

 and the whole of the falling-off was referable to Leith district. 

 Turbot are a highly esteemed fish, but are comparatively scarce, 

 and these facts account for the high price of £3 3s. lOd. realised 

 per cwt., as compared with £2 per cwt. for lemon soles and 

 £1 15s. lOd. per cwt. for halibut. 



(c) SKATES AND RAYS, SQUIDS, AND UNCLASSIFIED 



FISH. 



Skates and rays are still landed chiefly by liners (chiefly steam 

 liners), and in 1906 these vessels secured about 57 per cent, of the 

 catch (97,375 cwts.) and 63 per cent, of the value (£28,095). 

 Aberdeen and Leith, in the ratio of 12 to 1, contributed practically 

 the whole of the trawl landings ; while Aberdeen and S tor noway, 

 in the ratio of about 3 to 1, accounted for about 71 per cent, of 

 the line catch, the only other outstanding district being Fort- 

 William with about one-half of the Stornoway return. As com- 

 pared with 1905, the catch shows a decrease of about 3000 cwts., 

 due to a decline in the line landings of about 6000 cwts. and an 

 increase in the trawl returns of 3000 cwts. Notwithstanding the 

 decrease in quantity, however, the total value shows an increase of 

 about £2500, referable chiefly to Aberdeen and Fort William 

 districts. 



Squids in this country are used entirely for bait. The total 

 quantity landed in 1906 was 2758 cwts., valued at £1938 as 

 compared with 1993 cwts. and £1380 in 1905, and the landings 

 were made by trawlers, chiefly at Aberdeen and Leith. 



" Unclassified fish " consist chiefly of sillocks and lythe. In 

 1906, the total landings amounted to 8721 cwts., valued at £1647, 

 these figures showing increases of about 600 cwts. and £300 

 respectively on the returns for 1905. About three-fifths of the 

 catch was landed by liners, and these vessels accounted for about 

 the same proportion of the value. 



The following Table shows the catch and value of fish (exclusive 

 of shell-fish) taken by the different methods of fishing since 1897 

 inclusive. 



